Best RN Programs in California for 2024

Sierra College is located in Rocklin, a town in Placer County, California, approximately twenty-two miles from Sacramento and about 6.1 miles northeast of Roseville in the Sacramento metropolitan area. It shares borders with Granite Bay, Loomis and Lincoln. Of note, the school occupies the unceded land of the Nisenan and Miwok peoples. The Secret Ravine, known in Nisenan as Hoyok, is home to an ancestral village site protected for generations by local tribal nations. Sierra College commits to an ongoing relationship with the United Auburn Indian Community and other local tribes and to respect the legacy of the first peoples of this land and their future generations, who are an integral part of the Sierra College community. Since its founding in 1936, Sierra College has focused on quality instruction and meeting the needs of the communities it serves. It  is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The school provides a pre-licensure education that prepare graduates to work as an RN in most hospital settings. The school provides a pre-licensure education that prepare graduates to work as an RN in most hospital settings.

Undergraduate programs - The Associate Degree Nursing Program at Sierra College is a full-time program over two years. The nursing program offer three tracks 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 is designed for students who are already licensed vocational nurses. 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.

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.

Chabot College nursing school is located in the Bay Area of northern California in the city of Oakland. It offers an AND degree in Nursing that is fully accredited. The program takes place on campus. The public institution boasts that the faculty has 20 or more years of experience. The majority of RN graduates move on to pursue their BSN degree with the CSUEB bridge program. Students who process a BA/BS degree or higher from a U.S. Regionally Accredited College/University are exempt from Chabot’s specific General Education and graduation requirements. Individuals who have held health care occupations while serving on active military duty in the Armed Forces of the United States and discharged under honorable conditions may be admitted to the Registered Nursing Program on a space-available basis following completion of all required courses.

Undergraduate programs – The ADN program is top ranked in the state of California and is known for a high licensure pass rate. Associate in Science in Nursing is a two-year, full-time program offered in four consecutive semesters excluding summers. Graduates work in a variety of healthcare settings or go on to earn a BSN. The nursing program accepts applications only once a year: each Fall, forty applicants are selected. Application opens November 1 until January 31 for the following incoming fall. The program has a specific course curriculum. Each course must include a lab and earn 4-5 semester units. Fixed courses are in English, sociology, psychology, and communications. LVNs have advanced standing and can enter the LVN-RN Program Upgrade. There are two LVN to RN options: the AS degree or the RN 30 unit non degree.

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.

Students in southern California seeking a nursing degree come to Grossmont College, located in El Cajon near San Diego. The School of Nursing traditionally offers an RN, LVN to RN, and has now initiated 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. The BSN classes are competed at Grossmont College as well but are taught by PLNU faculty on campus. The Associate Degree Nursing Program is an approved School of Nursing by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN). The program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

The Associate Degree Registered Nursing Programs at Grossmont College prepares individuals for national licensure to practice professional nursing in critical, acute, chronic, ambulatory and home health care settings. Applications to the Nursing Program will be accepted after prerequisite requirements are met. Program previews are available online. Intro to Health Professions sessions provide an overview of the Allied Health programs offered at Grossmont College including Cardiovascular Technology, Respiratory Therapy, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Orthopedic Technician, EKG/Telemetry Tech, and a short overview of Nursing.

Undergraduate programs – Students enrolled at Grossmont College School of Nursing can earn a degree with the option of several tracks: an Associate degree for RNs, LVN to RN, and RN to BSN. For students without previous nursing education, the nursing courses cover four semesters plus a prerequisite science courses. The nursing science didactic is coordinated with laboratory experience in local hospitals and health agencies under the guidance of nursing faculty members. In addition to the nursing courses, the major requires selected general education courses from the natural, behavioral and social sciences.

San Diego City College is located in sunny San Diego on the California shore. Since nursing encompasses has multiple facets including health promotion, health maintenance, health care during illness, injury, and rehabilitation, the program has certain prerequisites. Graduates work in the field, applying their knowledge from the biological, physical, behavioral and nursing sciences to care for clients in varied settings. The purpose of the San Diego City College Nursing program is to provide an educational opportunity for qualified individuals interested in a career in nursing. The program is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) and fully accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). The Nursing Education Program offers free workshops to review the San Diego City College Nursing Education program. The curriculum and course sequence progresses from simple to complex knowledge and skills with an emphasis on the nursing process, caring, problem solving and critical thinking.

The Nursing Program graduate is prepared as a clinician to think critically, using the nursing process, while safely performing nursing care, teaching individuals, families, communities and members of the healthcare team. They function as a client advocate, provide leadership, manage resources, delegate tasks, and supervise unlicensed personnel within the legal scope of practice of the Registered Nurse. The student who completes the Nursing Education program will meet the standards of competency delineated by the Board of Registered Nursing for the State of California.

Undergraduate programs – San Diego City College School of Nursing offers an RN program,  LVN to RN program, and a 30-unit option program. AS graduates who seek to further their education also have the benefit of San Diego City College's collaboration with San Diego State University. This arrangement allows the nursing graduate to continue on for a BSN degree while working as an RN. Students accepted into this program will be required to successfully complete clinically-based courses held in health care facilities. These facilities require immunizations, background checks, and screening. Upon completion of the program, the graduate will make clinical judgments and management decisions to ensure accurate and safe client care. They are committed to practice within the ethical, legal, and regulatory frameworks of professional nursing practice. They will use standards of nursing practice to perform and evaluate client care in entry-level practice and  go on to participate in life-long learning.

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.

Merritt College in located in Oakland, California offers a nursing program for the ADN degree. The College’s mission is inspires students to create meaningful lives including fulfilling careers, community participation, self-expression, and a love of learning. The faculty strive to create a student-centered learning environment that leads to student retention, persistence and success. Merritt nursing students have the option to elect an ADN to BSN option by enrolling in the Cal State East Bay BSN (CSUEB) program, a transfer bridge program to a neighboring university. The student will meet with a Merritt College counselor to review their coursework and eligibility. The Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing. The course of study includes instruction in applied nursing sciences, related natural and social/behavioral sciences, and clinical nursing experience in hospitals and healthcare facilities located in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Undergraduate programs –  The program starts with the ADN in Nursing. There are specific admission requirements. In addition, there is an ADN to BSN Advanced Placement Option for ADN students to continue their education and complete the BSN program in one year. This is a 12-month intensive program where all courses are on-line except for the Community Health Practicum and Health Assessment course. The program begins with enrollment to the upper division leadership theory course taught on-line while the student is in the last semester of the program. The incoming ADN student will be awarded twenty upper division college credit units for passing the NCLEX-RN exam. The LVN to RN Upgrade Program is not active at this time the Cal State East Bay BSN (CSUEB) program, which is a transfer bridge program to a neighboring university.

Gavilan College is located in Gilroy, California.  They offer an LVN program, an RN program, an LVN to RN program and a 30-unit option program.  Gavilan College was founded in 1919, and originally was named San Benito County Junior College.  In 1963, the name was changed to Gavilan College.

Los Angeles Harbor College is a public institution located in Wilmington, California in the greater Los Angeles Metropolitan area. It serves the diverse local community by providing access to associate and transfer degrees, certificates, economic and workforce development, and adult and noncredit instruction. The mission is promote equity, diversity, and student success through academic programs and support services that ensure our students become productive members of a global society.​The nursing program is ACEN accredited and ranks third for AND programs in the state. The School of Nursing offers an RN program and an LVN to RN program provided on campus. The four-semester program of concentrated study (after the completion of the program prerequisites) prepares the diverse body of students to become safe, competent, and caring practitioners for entry level positions in healthcare settings in the community, while cultivating professionalism, an appreciation for other peoples and cultures, and a desire for life-long learning.

Undergraduate programs -  The Registered Nursing programs offered to nursing students are at the Associate level. Coursework in the biological, social, and behavioral sciences and humanities form the basic foundation of the nursing program. The program integrates theoretical instruction in the classroom with small group discussions and clinical experiences in hospitals, home healthcare agencies,​ and other settings. Students have the opportunity to participate in simulated clinical experiences and practice clinical skills in the state-of-the art Simulation Laboratory and Nursing Learning Laboratory.

Upon successful completion of the program, students will use the Roy Adaptation Model to promote adaptation of individuals, families, and the community, and learn internalize professional behaviors of the nursing practice. They will formulate clinical judgments in practice that promote the health of patients. provide safe, patient-centered care, and assimilate effectively within nursing and inter-professional teams, while fostering effective communication to achieve quality patient care. They are adept at incorporating information and technology to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate error, and support decision making.

MiraCosta College in southern California has two campuses: picturesque Oceanside and Cardiff on the coast. The mission of the Nursing Program is to educate a diverse population of qualified students to become safe, competent, and caring registered nurses who  provide care in a variety of settings throughout the community. The program serves as a foundation for educational mobility, personal growth, and lifelong learning. The Nursing Program directly aligns with the college mission by providing educational opportunities to a diverse population of students in a supportive, caring environment. MiraCosta College has partnerships with neighboring universities so that graduates may easily obtain their BSN after graduation - Chamberlain College of Nursing, California State University College of Nursing and Brandman University.

Undergraduate programs  - The nursing program offers a CNA program, a home health aide program, an LVN program, an RN program and  LVN to RN program. The AS degree is a full time, four semester (summers not included) program that meets during the day. (Days and times vary per semester.)  Upon completion, graduates may transfer their units to any 4-year college or university for a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN). Students holding a bachelor's degree in another discipline from a U.S. regionally accredited institution may not be required to take the general education requirements for the AS Registered Nursing degree. The Certified Nursing Assistant Program at MiraCosta College has been in place since 1987. Since then, hundreds of students have successfully completed the program, qualifying them for certificates from the California Department of Public Health. The Licensed Vocational Nursing Program was founded in January 1965, and is accredited by the California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians. The Medical Office Clinical and Administrative Professional Program at MiraCosta College was founded in January 2019.

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.

Monterey Peninsula College’s nursing school is a public institution located in picturesque Monterey, California. Its nursing programs are ACEN accredited. In addition, the school is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN). The College has multiple campuses in the state at Oceanside, Monterey and Seaside. The Maurine Church Coburn School of Nursing offers an RN degree with an LVN to RN option. The Men in Nursing Program promotes and recruits men into the nursing program, then works toward male retention in nursing. It is unique to the program. Students avow a commitment to professionalism, life-long learning, and ultimately to advocating for patients and families. The nursing program admits generic (first semester) students once per year in the fall semester. Applicants are selected using a multi-criterion selection process whereby points are awarded for various criteria, heavily weighted by science and non-science GPA, as well TEAS result. Any health care work or volunteer experience is helpful, but patient contact is key.

Undergraduate programs - The Maurine Church Coburn School of Nursing, Monterey Peninsula College offers the associate of science degree leading to RN licensure. The program is offered in partnership with Montage Health.  Students may choose to co-enroll in the ADN-to-BSN program at California State University Monterey Bay the summer after completing the second semester of the nursing program at MPC. This collaborative enables the ADN RN (after licensure) to earn a BSN degree in 12-15 months after graduating from the community college. A foreign-educated nurse may be applying for California licensure and has been directed by the BRN to take specific courses in the U.S. The five pre-licensure specialties (med-surg, obstetrics, pediatrics, geriatrics, and psych/mental health) are offered within combined courses at MCCSN.

The nursing coursework itself consists of four semesters (starting the fall semester), with optional courses available in the summer for additional supervised clinical experiences. Basic EKG and other offerings as available. The pre-requisite course work encompasses twenty-six units of Science, Math, English, Lifespan Development, and Pharmacology. A full-time student can complete the prerequisite courses in 2-3 semesters (including a summer session), but the timeframe depends on previously completed transferrable courses as well as individual needs. There is no part-time option and most students try to complete all additional degree requirements (9 degree-required units that are not prerequisites) before entering the nursing program.

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.

Victor Valley College is located in Victorville in southern 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. The nursing program prepares students for an entry-level position in nursing practice. The structure of the program promotes professional and personal growth, including continuing education, and provides upward and lateral mobility for career options. To be accepted into the Nursing Program, applicants must take and pass a Testing of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS V) Nursing exam (basic Mathematics, English, Reading and Science). Applicants who do not pass at 62% will be required to complete remediation and demonstrate readiness prior to starting the program. The Victor Valley College Registered Nursing program is fully approved by the State of California Department of Consumer Affairs Board of Registered Nursing.

Undergraduate programs - The Victor Valley College Associate Degree provides instruction and training to produce competent, knowledgeable, graduate nurses that provide quality nursing care to the public. The nursing graduate will practice nursing at any entry level in a variety of settings, including medical/surgical, psychiatric, maternal/child, perioperative, geriatric, critical care, and oncology. The role of the graduate nurse is a manager, educator, and professional provider of care in a rapidly changing health care environment. The school offers a CNA, or Certified Nursing Assistant certificate. The state approved CNA course enables students to become familiar with basic principles of nursing, including procedures and techniques. Clinical experience is provided in extended care facilities. Students learn to meet the patient's basic physical and psychological needs and promote a spirit of restoration and independence in a safe, efficient and competent manner.

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.

Santa Barbara City College is located in Santa Barbara, California.  Their school of nursing educates CNAs, LVNs, an RNs.  They also have an LVN to RN option.  They also have two LVN to to RN options; both will require the same nursing classes but do allow entrance to LVNs with different prerequisites.

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.

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.

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."