California's Top Nursing Schools & Programs

California pays registered nurses more than any other state, and demand keeps climbing. Here is what the top programs cost, how to get licensed, and what you can expect to earn.

The Best Nursing Schools in California

Weigh each program against what actually matters to you: tuition, NCLEX pass rate, format (onsite versus online), accreditation, and program length. The schools below all hold national accreditation.

The University of California, Los Angeles offers undergraduate and graduate programs and operates the UCLA Medical Center for clinical training.

• Program(s): BSN; MSN (master's entry clinical nurse; advanced practice registered nurse); DNP; PhD
• Campus: Los Angeles
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Tuition: BSN $13,804/year (CA resident), $31,026/year (nonresident); MSN $25,831/year (CA resident), $38,076/year (nonresident)
• Admission Requirements: BSN: high school or GED diploma. MSN: accredited bachelor's degree, minimum 3.0 GPA, prerequisite coursework
• Onsite Requirements: Yes

The University of California, Davis runs a master's entry program in nursing (MEPN) that takes non-nursing majors to an MSN and NCLEX-RN eligibility. Students complete 92 units in 18 months as a cohort at a flat tuition rate.

• Program: MEPN
• Campus: Davis
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Tuition: $116,862 program fee
• Admission Requirements: Bachelor's degree; minimum 3.0 GPA; minimum 2.7 GPA in prerequisite science coursework
• Minimum Time Commitment: 18 months
• Onsite Requirements: Yes
• NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 90% first-time

The University of California, Irvine enrolls non-nursing graduates in a two-year MEPN leading to a master's in nursing science and NCLEX-RN eligibility, with clinical rotations at UCI Health.

• Program: MEPN
• Campus: Irvine
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Tuition: $3,814/semester (CA resident); $7,896/semester (nonresident)
• Admission Requirements: Bachelor's degree; minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA; prerequisite coursework
• Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
• Onsite Requirements: Yes
• NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 87.5% first-time

Point Loma Nazarene University offers a BSN with a faith-based curriculum. Students complete a prerequisite year as pre-nursing majors, then more than 1,100 clinical hours.

• Program: BSN
• Campus: San Diego
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Tuition: $20,200/semester
• Admission Requirements: Apply as a pre-nursing major for one year of prerequisites
• Minimum Time Commitment: 4 years
• Onsite Requirements: Yes
• NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 82.5% first-time
• Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $85,210 (bachelor's), per College Scorecard

The BSN at San Diego State University enrolls first-year students, transfers, and second-degree applicants, and includes an international experience.

• Program: BSN
• Campus: San Diego
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Tuition: $2,871 per 6.1 credits (CA resident); nonresidents add $396/unit
• Admission Requirements: First-year: minimum 3.0 GPA in A-G coursework, minimum B in algebra/biology/chemistry. Transfer: minimum 3.2 GPA, prerequisites
• Minimum Time Commitment: 4 years (first-year students)
• Onsite Requirements: Yes
• NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 93.9% first-time
• Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $87,380 (bachelor's), per College Scorecard

The University of San Diego offers an MSN with tracks in nursing informatics, executive nurse leader, and adult-gerontology clinical nurse specialist, plus a dual CNS/executive track.

• Program: MSN
• Campus: San Diego
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Tuition: $925-$1,640/credit
• Admission Requirements: BSN; minimum 3.0 GPA; active, unencumbered California RN license
• Onsite Requirements: Yes

Fresno State offers an MSN built around rural practice and culturally diverse populations, ending in a thesis or project.

• Program: MSN
• Campus: Fresno
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Tuition: $2,082 per 0-6 units (CA resident); nonresidents add $396/unit
• Admission Requirements: BSN from an NLN- or CCNE-accredited program, or a non-nursing bachelor's; minimum 3.0 GPA; prerequisites
• Onsite Requirements: Yes
• NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 93.1% first-time
• Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $102,410 (master's), per College Scorecard

Chico State offers a BSN that can be completed in 2.5 years; graduates can apply for a public health nurse certificate.

• Program: BSN
• Campus: Chico
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Tuition: $2,726 per 0-6 units (CA resident); nonresidents add $396/unit
• Admission Requirements: High school diploma; 30+ credits for transfers; transcripts; TEAS scores
• Minimum Time Commitment: 30 months
• Onsite Requirements: Yes
• NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 97.3% first-time
• Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $95,800 (bachelor's), per College Scorecard

Stanislaus State runs an RN-to-BSN that is mostly online with an onsite orientation and clinicals. RNs complete 35 units in 12 months, including 90 community health clinical hours over a 10-week summer session.

• Program(s): RN-to-BSN; accelerated second BSN; LVN-to-BSN; MSN (family nurse practitioner)
• Campus: Turlock
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Tuition: BSN $19,200 total program
• Admission Requirements: All transcripts and RN license
• Minimum Time Commitment: 12 months
• Onsite Requirements: Yes
• NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 98.2% first-time
• Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $99,450 (bachelor's), per College Scorecard

Cal State LA offers four undergraduate paths, including a traditional BSN that leads to licensure in three years and accepts up to 70 transfer units from a community college.

• Program(s): Traditional BSN; RN-to-BSN; AD-to-BSN collaborative; accelerated BSN
• Campus: Los Angeles
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Tuition: $6,782/semester (CA resident); nonresidents add $396/unit
• Admission Requirements: Traditional BSN: prerequisites; minimum cumulative and prerequisite 3.25 GPA; TEAS scores
• Minimum Time Commitment: 36 months
• Onsite Requirements: Yes
• NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 97.4% first-time
• Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $87,550 (bachelor's), per College Scorecard

How to Choose a Nursing Program in California

Start with tuition, since it shapes your finances for years after graduation. Then compare NCLEX pass rates, acceptance rates, accreditation, financial aid, and whether the program offers an accelerated or online option that fits your life. If you are weighing online programs, check the field-experience requirements and total length.

Why Become a Nurse in California

The California Board of Registered Nursing reports more than 330,000 RNs and over 14,000 nurse practitioners with active licenses, and BRN data still projects rising demand over the next decade. The cost of living runs high, especially in Los Angeles and San Francisco, but California-only aid like the Cal Grant can offset tuition. To qualify, you need one year of residency, U.S. citizenship, at least parttime enrollment, and no prior bachelor's degree.

California does not participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a multistate license from another state does not authorize practice here. You apply directly through the BRN. California is also not a right-to-work state, meaning union membership cannot be required as a condition of employment.

Salary and Job Outlook for Nurses in California

California RNs earn a median of about $140,330, the highest of any state and well above the national RN median of $93,600 (BLS, May 2024). California NPs average about $173,190, also the highest in the country, against the national NP median of $129,210. Both figures are partly offset by the state's high cost of living. Nationally, RN employment is projected to grow about 6% over the decade, and nurse practitioner employment much faster.

Steps to Becoming a Nurse in California

Becoming an RN means finishing an approved program, completing clinicals, passing the NCLEX-RN, and applying for licensure. California's large applicant pool can stretch out processing times, so plan accordingly.

RN Requirements

You can enter through an associate degree in nursing (ADN), roughly two years of fulltime study that qualifies you for the NCLEX, or a four-year BSN. Many ADN graduates start working while finishing a BSN; the BSN opens more leadership roles. RNs renew every two years, unless called to active military duty.

APRN Requirements

Becoming an advanced practice registered nurse requires an MSN or DNP. BSN holders can apply directly to an MSN; ADN holders can use a BSN-to-MSN bridge. DNP graduates also complete the state exam and document clinical hours for licensure.

Under AB 890 (2020), California is expanding NP authority in stages. A "103 NP" who has logged at least 4,600 hours (about three years) of California clinical practice can work without standardized procedures in a setting where a physician also practices. As of January 1, 2026, qualifying NPs can apply for "104 NP" status to practice without standardized procedures outside a group setting, within their certified population focus (verify current rules with the BRN before applying).

Costs and Fees

The NCLEX application costs $300 for California graduates, $350 for applicants from another state or U.S. territory, and $750 for international applicants; repeat applications cost $250. Processing can exceed eight weeks, so consider a temporary permit ($100). Other fees include manual fingerprint card processing ($49), certified transcript copies ($50), advanced-license applications ($300-$500), and advanced temporary permits ($150, except the temporary clinical nurse specialist application at $30). Renewal costs $190 for RNs and $125-$172 for advanced roles.