2021 - Best Nursing Schools in California

California State University - Long Beach is located in Long Beach, California.  For BSN nursing, they offer a traditionl nursing program, designed for students without a prior nursing license, and a "registered nurse student" program which is designed for students already holding an RN license.  They also offer a DNP program.

California State University - Sacramento is located in Sacramento, California.  They offer a variety of BSN programs - a traditiona BSN program, an RN to BSN program and an LVN to RN 30-unit option, non-degree program.  The non-degree program serves the LVN who wants to work as an RN but may not have time to complete an ADN or BSN degree.

The Master of Science in Nursing is intended to educate registered nurses with baccalaureate degrees for more advanced nurse practitioner, nursing educator, administrative, family and community, and adult clinical occupations. School nurses are also eligible for the program. The curriculum emphasizes the study of professional nursing practice and preparation for a leadership position.

The baccalaureate degree in nursing program and master's degree in nursing program at California State University, Sacramento are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education

Sonoma State University is located in Rohnert Park, California.  Sonoma State University offers "pre-licensure BSN" and "post-licensure" BSN programs. The pre-licensure program is designed for traditional BSN students, where as the post-licensure BSN program is designed for students who hold an ADN degree and their RN license.

The SSU Department of Nursing offers bachelors and master's degrees in a variety of formats that are both fully accredited by The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education(CCNE) and licensed by the California Board of Registered Nurses.

The Family Nurse Practitioner Program is offered in both full-and part-time format is offered in the geographic service areas of Sonoma State University, Chico, Redding and Turlock, Modesto, Stockton and Merced.

Sonoma State University, a forward-thinking institution, understands the importance of educating nursing students about climate and health. They've partnered with the Nurses Climate Challenge - a national movement aimed at getting nurses to get involved and educate healthcare professionals and students about global warming.

California State University - Bakersfield is locate in Bakersfield, California.  The BSN degree has been offered at CSUB since 1970, when the university was founded.  Since that time, over 2000 nurses have graduated from their nursing program.  Their nursing program expanded in 1987, and began a master's in nursing administration program.  It has since expanded and now includes family nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, clinical nurse leaders, and nurse educators.

California State University - Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, California.  They have the ability to boast that they are ranked on US News & World Report's Best Nursing Schools: Master's list.  Their nursing department offers a traditional BSN program, an accelerated BSN program, an ADN to BSN program and multiple post-graduate options.  In addition, they have collaborative agreements with various community colleges, allowing ADN graduates to segue into their programs easily.

Monterey Peninsula College has multiple campuses - in Oceanside, Monterey and Seaside, California.  The Maurine Church Coburn School of Nursing offers an RN degree with an LVN to RN option  Unique to the Maurine Church Coburn School of Nursing is the Men in Nursing Program, which promotes and recruits men in the nursing program, then works towards male retention in nursing.

Chabot College is located in Hayward, California.  They boast that their faculty has 20 or more years of experience.  Also, the majority of their RN graduates move on to pursue their BSN degree at CSUEB bridge program.  They also have incredible NCLEX-RN pass rates - over the past 5 years, pass rates have ranged from 96.3% to 100%.

Victor Valley College is located in Victorville, California.  The nursing program is housed under the Dr. Prem Reddy School of Health Sciences Department.  They offer an RN degree and an LVN to RN option.  Their nursing program "prepares students for an entry-level position in nursing practice. The structure of this program promotes professional and personal growth, including continuing education, and provides upward and lateral mobility for career options."

Sierra College is located in Rocklin, California.  They offer three track to become a Registered Nurse (RN)

The LVN to RN Upward Mobility program is a one-year or one and a half year, full-time course that starts when there is an opening and takes place at the same time as the two-year Associate Degree Nursing program. It's designed for students who are already licensed vocational nurses. If they successfully complete the program, they are likely to pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

The Associate Degree Nursing Program at Sierra College is a two-year, full-time program. They provide pre-licensure education that will prepare you to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and to work as an RN in most hospital settings

Through their partnership with California State University Sacramento (CSUS), selected Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) students can pursue a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree concurrently for an accelerated completion.

Los Angeles Harbor College is located in Wilmington, California.  They offer an RN program and an LVN to RN program.

Grossmont College is located in El Cajon, California.  They offer an RN, LVN to RN, and now offer an RN to BSN program, with the assistance of a local university, Point Loma Nazarene University.  The RN classes must be completed at Grossmont College, and then the BSN classes are competed at Grossmont College as well, but are taught by PLNU faculty on-campus

Merritt College is located in Oakland, California.  Their nursing program is an ADN program.  Merritt nursing students also have the option to elect an ADN to BSN option, by enrolling in the Cal State East Bay BSN (CSUEB) program, which is a transfer bridge program to a neighboring university.

San Diego City College is located in San Diego, California.  They offer an RN program, an LVN to RN program, and a 30-unit option program.  ADN graduates who seek to further their education also have the benefit of San Diego City College's collaboration with San Diego State University; this allows the nursing graduate to continue for their BSN degree while working as an RN.

MiraCosta College has two campuses in Oceanside, California and a campus in Cardiff, California.  Their nursing program offers a CNA program, a home health aide program, an LVN program, an RN program and an LVN to RN program.  MiraCosta College has several partnerships with neighboring universities so that their graduates may easily obtain their BSN after graduation, should they so choose - Chamberlain College of Nursing, California State University College of Nursing and Brandman University, which also discounts the price for MiraCosta students..

Cuesta College is located in San Luis Obispo, California.  They offer an RN and an LVN to RN program.  Their LVN to RN program is 3 semesters, with the summer off.  Clinical rotations are done at neighboring facilities.  They also require their LVNs to have at least one year of experience prior to admittance into their program.

Moorpark College is located in Moorpark, California.  They offer an RN program.  LVNs can apply for advanced placement into the program; this accepts the LVN into the second or third semester of the program.  While they do not have a specific LVN to RN program, this allows the LVN to proceed more quickly through their RN education.

Mt. San Jacinto Community College has campuses in San Jacinto, California and Menifee Valley, California.  They offer an RN and an LVN to RN program.  Their nursing department philosophy, "focuses on the individual needs of the students and patients (persons), within the context of families, communities and environments who exist on a health continuum."

Saddleback College is located in Mission Viejo, California.  They offer a generic RN program and an LVN to RN program.  They also have a "Southern California New Graduate RN Transition Program" that is open to Orange County community college nursing graduates who have graduated within the past year; it is designed to transition the nurse from the school setting directly into the work setting.  The program pairs the new graduate with a practicing RN for the duration of the program, working approximately 240 hours on the night shift.

Chaffey College is located in Rancho Cucamonga, California.  Their nursing program was founded in 1957 and was one of the first five associate's degree nursing programs in California.  They offer an RN program, a VN to RN program and a VN to RN (non-degree option).

Glendale Community College is located in Glendale, California.  Glendale Community College offers an RN and an LVN to RN program.  Unique to Glendale Community College is their Foreign Nurse Graduate program.  This program is designed for foreign nurse graduates who have a deficiency in their education that is preventing them from taking the NCLEX-RN.

Bakersfield College is located in Bakersfield, California.  They offer an RN program, an LVN to RN program and the 30-unit option program.  Bakersfield College also has a partnership with Cal State University Bakersfield (CSUB), where their graduates can easily transfer into an ADN to BSN program.

Rio Hondo College is located in Whittier, California.  They offer an RN and an LVN to RN program.  They also offer a Psych Tech (PT) to RN program.  The programs for the LVN to RN and the PT to RN are similar.

Hartnell College is located in Salinas, California.  Their nursing curriculum "is evolving and embraces new ideas and technology, yet is guided by foundational elements of safety, quality, and ethical-legal standards."  Their ADN program is four semesters (or two years) after completion of about a year of prerequisites.

Imperial Valley College is located in Imperial, California.  Imperial Valley College offers an LVN, an RN and an LVN to RN program.  Their LVN to RN program is broken down into "track 1" and "track 2" - track 1 is for students who seek the ADN degree.  Track 2 is the 30-unit option, which allows the LVN to get their RN license in 2 semesters bu not actually getting their ADN degree.

College of the Siskiyous is located in Weed, California.  They boast that they have one of the most beautiful campuses in California because their campus is housed on the base of Mount Shasta in Northern California.  They offer an LVN to RN "Step-up" program.  Their program is two semesters, although they require their students to take a three unit Transition course over the summer.

Santa Rosa Junior College is located in Forestvilla, California.  They offer an RN and an LVN to RN program.  In addition, they have a partnership with Sonoma State University School of Nursing, allowing graduates to pursue their BSN or MSN after graduation from Santa Rosa Junior College.

College of Marin is located in Kentfield, California.  Their mission is to "...educate entry-level practitioners for roles as providers of care across the health care continuum, as managers of care, and as active members within the profession of nursing."  Their program is small and exclusive - they select only 36 students each fall.

Sacramento City College is located in Sacramento, California.  Their nursing department offers an ADN and an LVN and Career Mobility (VN-RN) program, which are four semesters and three semesters respectively.  They also offer an LVN to RN 30-unit option, which readies the nurse to take the NCLEX-RN exam, but does not meet the requirements for an associates degree.

Ventura College is located in Ventura, California.  Their ADN degree is unique - the student can elect simple to enroll for their RN degree, or to enroll for the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) to the California State University (CSU) Systems.  Many students elect this option if they believe that they will want to work as an RN while pursuing their BSN degree.