About Nursing Schools in California
Nurses in California are in high demand for a variety of reasons. In a state experiencing one of the worst nursing shortages in the country, attracting a new generation of qualified nurses is crucial to addressing the issue. This is one reason why nurses are treated well in California.
The state has a stringent nurse-to-patient ratio legislation in place. There must be a minimum of one nurse for every five patients (1:5), and within Intensive Care Units, there should be a ratio of one to two (1:2). This helps ensure enhanced patient care outcomes and helps nurses to avoid burnout. California has the highest average registered nurse salary in the United States. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, RNs earn an average salary of $122,838 in California, and California has by far the most RNs in the country, with over 373,200 nurses employed there.
Nursing Schools in California
Overall, California offers 160 nursing schools with 30 private schools and 103 public schools.
Not only do RNs have a robust employment environment in California, Nurse Practitioners also have a promising career outlook with the average annual wage of NPs amounting to $107,310 with the ones with more than 20 years of experience earning $208,000 annually and average annual opening of 1,390 NPs in the entire state. It has been predicted that this sunny state will need 19,700 NPs by 2028 to provide advanced nursing care to the patients while contributing to research and policy making.
There are currently 15,100 NPs working in California who have Restricted Practice when it comes to practicing in the state. Restricted Practice essentially means that the state practice and licensure laws restrict the ability of NPs to engage in at least one element of NP practice. In addition to that, the law also requires career-long supervision, delegation or team management by another healthcare provider for the NP to provide patient care.
California is a great destination for RNs and NPs alike who are seeking to advance their career and provide quality healthcare in a variety of settings. Since the state is currently experiencing an extreme shortage in nurses, and the number is only expected to rise, it is the perfect time to consider California as a place to work and enjoy the perks that come with working here.
Find the best BSN nursing schools in California, the best ADN nursing schools in California, the best 100 BSN schools, the best 100 ADN schools, or state-by-state rankings?
State-Wide Information on Nursing Schools in California
- There are 160 nursing schools in California . The CCNE accredits 53 nursing schools and the ACEN accredits 48 schools in California .
- Typically, an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) will take between 18 to 24 months to complete, and a Bachelor Degree in Nursing (BSN) will take about 4 years to complete.
- The average NCLEX passing rate range for ADN students in California is between 63.11% and 100.00%.
- The average NCLEX passing rate range for BSN students in California is between 73.44% and 98.51%.
- The average annual salary for registered nurses is between $78,070 to $165,620 a year.
- Registered Nurses (RN) in California can expect a favorable job growth of 10.8% from 2020 to 2030 whichmuch faster than the average for all occupations.
Number of Degree Types Offered by Nursing Schools
- Registered Nursing: 132
- Family Nurse Practitioner: 24
- Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner: 9
- Nurse Educator: 8
- Nursing Leadership: 6
- Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner: 6
- CNL: 6
- Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner: 5
- Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner: 4
- Women's Health Nurse Practitioner: 3
- Adult Acute Care Nurse Practitioner: 3
- Research or Clinical Nursing: 2
- Administration, Research or Clinical Nursing: 2
- Adult Psychiatric - Mental Health Nurse Practitioner: 2
- Nurse Anesthetist: 2
- Adult Nurse Practitioner: 2
- Nursing Informatics: 1
- Nursing Administration: 1
- Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing: 1
- Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner: 1
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner: 1
- Nurse Midwife: 1
Number of Degree Types Offered by the Top 20 Nursing Schools
- West Coast University: 9
- University of California-Los Angeles: 8
- California State University-Long Beach: 7
- California State University-Los Angeles: 7
- Loma Linda University: 6
- Azusa Pacific University: 6
- University of San Diego/Hahn: 6
- Brandman University: 6
- California State University-Bakersfield: 5
- California State University-Fullerton: 5
- National University: 4
- California State University-San Marcos: 4
- Fresno Pacific University: 3
- California State University-Dominguez Hills: 3
- San Diego State University: 3
- Concordia University Irvine: 3
- California State University-San Bernardino: 3
- The Valley Foundation School of Nursing at San Jose State University: 3
- California State University-Chico: 3
- California State University-Channel Islands: 3
Options for earning your nursing degree in California have never been more flexible. California nursing schools have become adept at offering effective alternatives for you to earn your nursing degree, no matter your life situation or schedule. You will find 3 different paths to earn your nursing degree in including Campus, Online and Hybrid.
Nationwide ADN vs. BSN Program Comparisons
| Compare RN Programs | ADN | BSN |
| Number of Nursing Programs | 1,031 | 937 |
| Average NCLEX Passing Rate | 90.77% | 89.46% |
| NCLEX Passing Rate Range | 63.11% to 100.00% | 73.44% to 98.51% |
There are many different options available for those who want to become nurses, and we will explore all of them. No matter what your choice is, we’ve outlined many of the important factors needed to choose the best nursing school for your career aspirations.
To ensure that California nurses have best education and preparation for future health care challenges, registered nurses need to graduate from a state-approved associate’s degree in nursing or a BSN degree program.
Nurses who graduate from an RN program can obtain certification in over 100 nursing specialties, go on to earn an RN to BSN or RN to MSN degree.
BSN degree holders have options to earn an Advance Practice Register Nursing (APRN) degree and become a Nurse Practitioner (NP), or earn an advanced degree for a career in any number of nursing leadership roles such Nurse Educator or Clinical Nurse Specialist.
Nurse Practitioner Programs in
RNs who wish to become advanced practice registered nurses will want to pursue any number of avenues to earn Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. Earning a Master of Science in Nursing consists of graduate-level coursework and clinical practice for those nurses who wish to direct patient roles such as a nurse practitioner. You can also pursue indirect patient roles such as teaching or leadership roles, or become involved in policy, state-wide health initiatives or community engagement. There are many clinical and non-clinical avenues that an RN with MSN can pursue.
Learn how to become a Nurse Practitioner (NP) and research schools in offering the following high paying nurse practitioner specialties:
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
- Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)
Learn about Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Degree.
Nursing Schools in California Cities
California has 103 cities offering nursing schools including Anaheim, Angwin, Aptos, Arcata, Azusa, Bakersfield, Calexico, Camarillo, Carson, Chico, Chula Vista, Compton, Costa Mesa, Cupertino, Cypress, El Cajon, Eureka, Fremont, Fresno, Fullerton, Gilroy, Glendora, Hayward, Huntington Beach, Imperial, Irvine, Joshua Tree, Kentfield, La Jolla, La Mirada, Lancaster, Lemoore, Loma Linda, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Marysville, Merced, Mission Viejo, Modesto, Monterey, Monterey Park, Moorpark, Napa, North Hollywood, Northridge, Oakland, Oceanside, Orange, Oroville, Palm Desert, Porterville, Rancho Cucamonga, Redding, Reedley, Riverside, Rocklin, Rohnert Park, Sacramento, Salinas, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jacinto, San Jose, San Luis Obispo, San Marcos, San Mateo, San Pablo, San Rafael, Santa Ana, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Clarita, Santa Maria, Santa Monica, Santa Rosa, Signal Hill, Stockton, Torrance, Turlock, Ukiah, Valley Glen, Ventura, Victorville, Visalia, Walnut, Weed and Woodland Hills
.
BSN Table
|
Grade
|
University
|
California Rank
|
Degree
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 88.29 | San Francisco State University | 23 | BSN |
| 87.62 | Samuel Merritt University | 24 | BSN |
| 87.44 | University of San Francisco | 25 | BSN |
| 87.00 | California State University-East Bay | 26 | BSN |
| 86.67 | Loma Linda University | 27 | BSN |
| 85.82 | California Baptist University | 28 | BSN |
| 85.71 | National University | 29 | BSN |
| 84.49 | Dominican University of California | 30 | BSN |
| 83.77 | Point Loma Nazarene University | 31 | BSN |
| 83.62 | Biola University | 32 | BSN |
| 82.13 | Mount St Mary's University-Los Angeles | 33 | BSN |
| 81.30 | Azusa Pacific University | 34 | BSN |
| 80.39 | Fresno Pacific University | 35 | BSN |
| 79.89 | American University of Health Sciences | 36 | BSN |
ADN Table
|
Grade
|
University
|
California Rank
|
Degree
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 89.21 | Golden West College | 62 | ADN |
| 88.68 | San Joaquin Delta College | 63 | ADN |
| 88.38 | Cypress College | 64 | ADN |
| 88.12 | Merced College | 65 | ADN |
| 87.77 | Citrus College | 66 | ADN |
| 84.84 | San Bernardino Valley College | 68 | ADN |
| 84.43 | Los Medanos College | 69 | ADN |
| 84.36 | El Camino College-Compton Education Center | 70 | ADN |
| 83.52 | Allan Hancock College | 71 | ADN |
| 82.23 | Los Angeles Trade Technical College | 72 | ADN |
| 80.58 | Los Angeles Southwest College | 73 | ADN |
| 78.68 | Cabrillo College | 74 | ADN |
| 76.30 | Mission College | 76 | ADN |
| 70.20 | East Los Angeles College | 77 | ADN |
| 65.51 | Mount St Mary's University-Los Angeles | 78 | ADN |
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- About the Author
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P. Shreffler started her nursing career in 2010 as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). After working for almost five years she decided it was time to go back to college and further her education. In June of 2015 she passed her NCLEX on the first attempt and can finally put that RN behind her name! Her background has been in the long-term care setting for these past 5 years with a small amount of experience in acute care during RN school. I am excited at where my career may take me and I enjoy knowing that I may make the difference in many, many lives down the road!
