California’s nursing education landscape is shaped by two competing forces: one of the world’s most prestigious concentrations of academic medical centers (UCSF, UCLA, USC, Stanford) producing globally recognized nursing research and advanced practice graduates, and a massive nursing workforce shortage requiring a high volume of qualified BSN graduates from accessible regional nursing programs across the CSU system. The top nursing colleges in California serve both needs — from globally competitive doctoral nursing research at UCSF to accessible BSN programs at CSU campuses across the state.
For context on how Florida’s equivalent nursing education landscape compares — our guide to top nursing colleges in Florida covers 10 Florida programs. For Pennsylvania’s nursing landscape — our guide to top nursing colleges in Pennsylvania covers Penn Nursing (ranked number one nationally) and 9 additional Pennsylvania programs.
How We Selected These Top Nursing Colleges in California
Our selection criteria: CCNE or ACEN accreditation, NCLEX-RN pass rates, program reputation within California’s healthcare market, delivery format options for working nurses advancing credentials, tuition accessibility, and clinical placement connections across California’s major health systems.
1. University of California San Francisco — School of Nursing
UCSF School of Nursing is consistently ranked among the top 3 nursing schools in the United States — a globally recognized research and advanced practice nursing institution. UCSF focuses primarily on graduate nursing education — MSN, DNP, and PhD programs — rather than undergraduate BSN. Programs span Adult-Gerontology, Family Health, Mental Health, and Nursing Systems Administration.
CCNE accredited. Globally top-3 ranked nursing school. UCSF Medical Center clinical connections — one of the world’s leading academic medical centers. Tuition: approximately $15,000-$20,000 per year for California residents in graduate programs. Best suited for: nursing professionals seeking graduate and doctoral nursing education at one of the world’s top-3 nursing research institutions with exceptional UCSF Medical Center clinical environment.
2. UCLA — School of Nursing
UCLA Nursing offers BSN, MSN, and DNP programs — with particular strength in acute care, oncology, and global health nursing. UCLA’s Los Angeles location provides access to one of California’s largest and most diverse healthcare markets — with clinical placements across UCLA Health’s extensive system including Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.
CCNE accredited. Strong UCLA Health clinical system connections. In-state tuition: approximately $13,000-$15,000 per year for undergraduate. Best suited for: California students seeking research-intensive nursing education at a globally ranked public university with strong Los Angeles healthcare system clinical connections and oncology and global health specialization options.
3. UC Davis — Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing
UC Davis’s Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing is distinctive for its leadership and interprofessional education focus — one of the few nursing schools in the United States specifically built around health system leadership development alongside clinical nursing competency. Programs include MSN and doctoral tracks with strong Northern California regional health system connections.
CCNE accredited. Distinctive health system leadership nursing focus. Strong Northern California and Sacramento area health system connections. In-state tuition: approximately $14,000-$16,000 per year for graduate programs. Best suited for: nursing professionals seeking health system leadership-focused advanced nursing education with strong Northern California and Central Valley health system clinical connections.
4. University of Southern California — Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy (Nursing Adjacent)
USC’s nursing-adjacent health professions programs serve the Southern California healthcare market — with strong connections across Los Angeles’s major health systems including Keck Medicine of USC. USC’s nursing programs within its health sciences schools emphasize interprofessional practice and research.
CCNE accredited programs within health sciences. Strong Keck Medicine and Los Angeles health system connections. Tuition: approximately $60,000 per year for health sciences programs. Best suited for: Southern California students seeking private research university health professions education with strong Los Angeles major health system clinical connections and interprofessional practice emphasis.
5. Stanford University — School of Medicine Nursing Programs
Stanford’s nursing programs — offered through Stanford Medicine — are primarily research-focused advanced practice programs serving nursing professionals seeking doctoral and post-doctoral research training at one of the world’s top research universities. Clinical connections with Stanford Health Care provide exceptional academic medical center training environments.
CCNE accredited. World-class research university nursing environment. Stanford Health Care clinical connections. Tuition: approximately $60,000+ per year. Best suited for: highly competitive nursing researchers and advanced practice nurses seeking doctoral nursing research training in one of the world’s elite academic medical center environments.
6. Samuel Merritt University — School of Nursing
Samuel Merritt University in Oakland is one of California’s most distinctive nursing-focused health professions universities — offering BSN, MSN, and DNP programs with exceptional clinical placement rates and strong connections to Oakland’s major health systems including Alta Bates Summit Medical Center and Children’s Hospital Oakland.
CCNE accredited. Strong Oakland and East Bay health system connections. Tuition: approximately $42,000-$48,000 per year. Best suited for: Bay Area students seeking nursing-focused health professions university education with strong East Bay clinical placement connections and high NCLEX pass rates in a specialized health sciences institutional environment.
7. California State University Los Angeles — School of Nursing
Cal State LA Nursing serves Los Angeles’s enormous and diverse nursing workforce needs — offering BSN and MSN programs at accessible CSU tuition with strong connections across Los Angeles County’s public and community health systems. Cal State LA’s diverse student body reflects Los Angeles’s multilingual patient population — producing culturally competent nursing graduates exceptionally prepared for LA’s healthcare environment.
CCNE accredited. In-state tuition: approximately $7,000-$9,000 per year. Strong LA County public health system connections. Best suited for: Los Angeles area students seeking affordable CCNE-accredited nursing education with strong cultural competency training for Los Angeles’s diverse patient populations at accessible CSU tuition.
8. San Francisco State University — School of Nursing
SFSU Nursing serves the San Francisco Bay Area’s nursing workforce needs — offering BSN and RN-to-BSN programs at accessible CSU tuition with strong connections across San Francisco’s major health systems. SFSU’s urban San Francisco campus provides clinical access to one of California’s most sophisticated healthcare environments.
ACEN accredited. In-state tuition: approximately $7,000-$9,000 per year. Strong San Francisco health system clinical connections. Best suited for: Bay Area students and RN professionals seeking affordable nursing education with strong San Francisco urban healthcare clinical connections and RN-to-BSN completion program options.
9. California State University Fullerton — School of Nursing
CSU Fullerton Nursing serves Orange County’s nursing workforce needs — offering BSN programs with strong connections across Orange County’s major health systems including UCI Medical Center, Hoag Hospital, and CHOC Children’s. CSU Fullerton’s location in the heart of Orange County provides strong clinical placement access to one of California’s fastest-growing healthcare markets.
CCNE accredited. In-state tuition: approximately $7,000-$9,000 per year. Strong Orange County health system connections. Best suited for: Orange County and Southern California students seeking affordable CCNE-accredited nursing education with strong Orange County clinical placement connections and access to one of California’s growing suburban healthcare markets.
10. California State University Long Beach — School of Nursing
CSU Long Beach Nursing serves the Long Beach and South Bay healthcare market — offering BSN programs with strong connections to Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital, and the surrounding South Bay health systems. CSULB’s strong nursing program reputation produces graduates consistently sought by South Bay and greater Los Angeles healthcare employers.
CCNE accredited. In-state tuition: approximately $7,000-$9,000 per year. Strong Long Beach and South Bay health system connections. Best suited for: Long Beach and South Bay area students seeking affordable CCNE-accredited nursing education with strong clinical placement connections across Long Beach’s major healthcare institutions.
How to Verify Nursing College Accreditation in California
CCNE accreditation is verifiable at ccneaccreditation.org. ACEN accreditation is verifiable at acenursing.org. California nursing program approval is verifiable through the California Board of Registered Nursing at rn.ca.gov. For the complete accreditation verification methodology — our guide to online university accreditation covers the complete 4-step process. For nursing professionals pursuing credentials alongside active clinical careers — our guide to how successful professionals keep learning after 40 covers the five proven patterns.
See full list of Nursing Schools in California
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the best nursing college in California?
UCSF School of Nursing is ranked among the top 3 nursing schools globally — the highest-ranked nursing program in California. For undergraduate BSN programs, UCLA and Samuel Merritt offer strong private and public university options. CSU campuses across California offer the most affordable accredited BSN programs for California residents.
What is the cheapest nursing college in California?
CSU nursing programs — Cal State LA, SFSU, CSU Fullerton, and CSU Long Beach — offer CCNE or ACEN accredited nursing programs at approximately $7,000-$9,000 per year for California residents — the most affordable accredited nursing options in California. UC nursing programs offer the next tier at approximately $13,000-$16,000 per year in-state.
Is there a nursing shortage in California?
Yes — California consistently ranks among the US states with the most acute nursing shortages. The California Board of Registered Nursing projects significant shortfall in nursing workforce supply relative to demand across the state’s major healthcare markets. This shortage makes California nursing graduates among the most sought-after healthcare professionals in the United States.
