Best Nursing Schools California
A registered nurse (RN) is an important position in any healthcare setting. RNs are in high demand in California, with nurses earning the highest salary in the state.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there are well more than 30,000 registered nurses working in hospitals and clinics across California.
The report shows that RNs in California earn as much as US$ 113,000 annually on average. Various reports have predicted an incredible rise in demand for nurses in California between 2020 and 2035.
This bodes extremely well for aspiring nurses looking to join nursing schools in the state.
Best Nursing Schools in California
To make the decision easier for you, we’ve shortlisted around eight top nursing schools in the state of California.
Best Nursing Schools California
1 – California State University, Bakersfield
California has numerous nursing schools across the state. It also boasts of the lowest in-state tuition for nursing courses in the United States. The California State University, Bakersfield is the top choice for nursing schools in the state.
It is located midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles. This gives it a college-town feel. The nursing program offers numerous options for undergraduate students.
You can choose the conventional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
You can also enroll in its RN-to-BSN course of 15 months. Similar to other renowned nursing schools, the University of California, Bakersfield has a noticeably high NCLEX passing rate. It is also a nationally recognized university.
Highlights of University of California, Bakersfield
- Annual in-state tuition – US$ 7,499
- NCLEX passing rate – 92%
- Conventional nursing course – Yes
- Online classes – No
- Accelerated course – Yes
- Bridge – Yes
2 – California State University, Fullerton
The California State University, Fullerton campus is located just north of Anaheim. This is one of the top nursing schools not just in California but also in the United States.
It houses more than 40,000 students and is ethnically diverse. This nursing school offers low in-state tuition and a quiet location.
There are two main options for students who are pursuing nursing courses. You can get enrolled in the direct-entry BSN course or you can choose to study the conventional BSN degree course.
The direct-entry BSN course is aimed at incoming freshmen. This course provides you with a nursing degree in your freshman year.
The conventional CSUF course is aimed at current students who plan to become registered nurses. This course admits only 5 to 10 students per year, making it a significantly tougher program in terms of getting admission.
Highlights of California State University, Fullerton
- Annual in-state tuition – US$ 6,797
- NCLEX passing rate – 55%
- Conventional nursing course – Yes
- Online classes – No
- Accelerated course – Yes
- Bridge – Yes
3 – University of California, Irvine
The University of California, Irvine is an all-around high-quality nursing school. It is ranked as one of the top public schools by the US News & World Report.
This school is renowned for its commitment to diversity. Apart from this, graduates from this school are also likely to get higher-paying employment than the national average.
The major undergraduate nursing course in the school is the conventional BSN degree course.
Although only about 2.5% of applicants get enrolled in this course, the graduates tend to get better employment with higher salaries.
If you manage to get enrolled in this school, you can expect a fruitful and successful career in nursing.
Highlights of University of California, Irvine
- Annual in-state tuition – US$ 11,442
- NCLEX passing rate – 07%
- Conventional nursing course – Yes
- Online classes – No
- Accelerated course – Yes
- Bridge – Yes
4 – California State University, Long Beach
California State University, Long Beach also offers one of the top nursing programs in the state. The school boasts of a premier nursing course. This assures students that they get the best nursing education available in the country.
The school mainly offers the conventional BSN and MSN courses. The BSN course includes three different track options – a traditional track, an RN-to-BSN track and an accelerated course option. This nursing school also boasts of one of the highest NCLEX pass rates for its graduates.
Highlights of California State University, Long Beach
- Annual in-state tuition – US$ 6,850
- NCLEX passing rate – 25%
- Conventional nursing course – Yes
- Online classes – No
- Accelerated course – Yes
- Bridge – Yes
5 – California State University, Los Angeles
The California State University, Los Angeles remains one of the most sought-after nursing schools in the state. The school is close to numerous large and renowned hospitals in Log Angeles.
The school offers an accelerated BSN course for non-RNs, which is certainly unique as compared to other nursing schools.
This nursing program is aimed at bachelor’s degree holders and recently-graduated candidates. You can complete this course in just 15 months. In the end, students are more than ready to sit for the NCLEX-RN test.
Highlights of California State University, Los Angeles
- Annual in-state tuition – US$6,782
- NCLEX passing rate – 4%
- Conventional nursing course – Yes
- Online classes – No
- Accelerated course – Yes
- Bridge – Yes
6 – California State University, Sacramento
The California State University, Sacramento campus is one of the most diverse nursing schools in the state. Tens of thousands of students from across California and the United States enroll in Sacramento State University.
The school attracts top-scoring students from across the country. It offers one of the best BSN programs. This is designed for freshmen without any prior nursing experience.
Its RN-to-BSN course is also available for currently-employed nurses who wish to complete their degree. The school also boasts of one of the highest NCLEX pass rates too.
Highlights of California State University, Sacramento
- Annual in-state tuition – US$7,392
- NCLEX passing rate – 53%
- Conventional nursing course – Yes
- Online classes – No
- Accelerated course – Yes
- Bridge – Yes
7 – San Diego State University
The San Diego State University was established back in 1897. It teaches more than 36,000 students annually. It is also one of California’s top public schools today.
The nursing school at SDSU offers four main nursing programs – BSN, RN-to-BSN, Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and an LVN-RN course.
The SDSU also offers it is nursing students an option to study abroad, which is certainly very rare. It also boasts of a low in-state tuition rate with an exceptional NCLEX passing rate.
Highlights of San Diego State University
- Annual in-state tuition – US$8,136
- NCLEX passing rate – 91%
- Conventional nursing course – Yes
- Online classes – No
- Accelerated course – Yes
- Bridge – Yes
8 – California State University, Stanislaus
The California State University, Stanislaus has campuses at Turlock and Stockton. The school offers four main options for those pursuing a nursing course. You can choose between an RN-BSN, an online RN-BS, an LVN-BSN or a conventional BSN course.
Students in this school are known to get in-depth experience through the school’s clinical programs. The school’s low in-state tuition and high NCLEX passing rate also attract thousands of students here.
Highlights of California State University, Stanislaus
- Annual in-state tuition – US$7,644
- NCLEX passing rate – 21%
- Conventional nursing course – Yes
- Online classes – Yes
- Accelerated course – Yes
- Bridge – Yes
Conclusion
This is our list of the top nursing schools in the state of California. Make sure to do your research before selecting any of the above-given options.
You can compare these schools according to priority and then select the best-suited one.
For detailed information about nursing courses and other relevant information, feel free to visit the specific nursing school’s official website.
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