Registered Nursing programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 156 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for registered nursing students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Registered Nursing in California
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the registered nursing degrees they offer, see the list below.
No school ranked higher than San Diego State University this year for registered nursing. This very large public university is located in the city of San Diego. About 76% of students finish within six years. About 231 registered nursing degrees were awarded at San Diego State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $100,221 in their early career. San Diego State University graduates carry a median of $18,875 in student loans.
Get the full registered nursing details for San Diego State University
Students looking for a strong registered nursing program will find one at California State University Fullerton, which ranked #2. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fullerton. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 310 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at California State University Fullerton in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $156,309. Typical student debt for the program is $17,375.
Get the full registered nursing details for California State University Fullerton
San Jose State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in registered nursing, landing the #3 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Jose. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. San Jose State University awarded about 173 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year.
Get the full registered nursing details for San Jose State University
California State University Long Beach came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Long Beach. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University Long Beach awarded about 237 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $129,036. Typical student debt for the program is $18,661.
Get the full registered nursing details for California State University Long Beach
California State University Northridge is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in registered nursing, ranking #5. California State University Northridge is a very large public school located in the city of Northridge. California State University Northridge graduates 57% of students within six years. About 125 registered nursing degrees were awarded at California State University Northridge in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of $106,780 early in their careers. California State University Northridge graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans.
See the full registered nursing program report for California State University Northridge
California State University Chico came in at #6 for registered nursing this year. California State University Chico is a large public school located in the city of Chico. About 63% of students finish within six years. California State University Chico awarded about 97 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of California State University Chico earn a median of $113,181 early in their careers. California State University Chico graduates carry a median of $20,125 in student loans.
Get the full registered nursing details for California State University Chico
California State University Sacramento earned the #7 position for registered nursing this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Sacramento. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 245 registered nursing degrees were awarded at California State University Sacramento in the most recent year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $109,889 in their early career. California State University Sacramento graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans.
Read more about the registered nursing program at California State University Sacramento
California State University San Bernardino ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. California State University San Bernardino is a very large public school located in the city of San Bernardino. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. About 147 registered nursing degrees were awarded at California State University San Bernardino in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from California State University San Bernardino generally make around $93,142. Students borrow a median of $18,116 to complete this degree.
Get the full registered nursing details for California State University San Bernardino
University Of The Pacific came in at #9 for registered nursing this year. University Of The Pacific is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Stockton. University Of The Pacific graduates 68% of students within six years. About 39 registered nursing degrees were awarded at University Of The Pacific in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from University Of The Pacific generally make around $77,022. University Of The Pacific graduates carry a median of $23,514 in student loans.
See the full registered nursing program report for University Of The Pacific
California State University East Bay came in at #10 for registered nursing this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Hayward. California State University East Bay graduates 48% of students within six years. California State University East Bay awarded about 150 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $124,392 in their early career. California State University East Bay graduates carry a median of $18,875 in student loans.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from California State University East Bay
University Of San Francisco landed the #11 spot for registered nursing this year. University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 266 registered nursing degrees were awarded at University Of San Francisco in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of University Of San Francisco earn a median of $127,760 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from University Of San Francisco
California State University Monterey Bay ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Located in the suburb of Seaside, California State University Monterey Bay is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 59% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 52 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at California State University Monterey Bay in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $117,088 in their early career. California State University Monterey Bay graduates carry a median of $9,489 in student loans.
Read more about the registered nursing program at California State University Monterey Bay
San Francisco State University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Francisco. About 50% of students finish within six years. About 207 registered nursing degrees were awarded at San Francisco State University in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of $123,612 early in their careers. San Francisco State University graduates carry a median of $16,875 in student loans.
Get the full registered nursing details for San Francisco State University
California State University Stanislaus landed the #14 spot for registered nursing this year. California State University Stanislaus is a large public school located in the suburb of Turlock. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 132 registered nursing degrees were awarded at California State University Stanislaus in the most recent year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from California State University Stanislaus earn around $128,257 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,450 to complete this degree.
Read more about the registered nursing program at California State University Stanislaus
Sonoma State University landed the #15 spot for registered nursing this year. Set in the suburb of Rohnert Park, Sonoma State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. About 94 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Sonoma State University in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of Sonoma State University earn a median of $135,306 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,750 to complete this degree.
See the full registered nursing program report for Sonoma State University
City College Of San Francisco placed #16 among the best registered nursing schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Francisco. About 77 registered nursing degrees were awarded at City College Of San Francisco in the most recent year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from City College Of San Francisco earn around $100,031 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,332 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from City College Of San Francisco
Samuel Merritt University came in at #17 for registered nursing this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Oakland. Samuel Merritt University awarded about 567 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Samuel Merritt University generally make around $132,722. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the registered nursing program at Samuel Merritt University
California State University Dominguez Hills earned the #18 position for registered nursing this year. This large public university is located in the city of Carson. About 43% of students finish within six years. About 219 registered nursing degrees were awarded at California State University Dominguez Hills in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of California State University Dominguez Hills earn a median of $119,692 early in their careers. California State University Dominguez Hills graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans.
Get the full registered nursing details for California State University Dominguez Hills
Fresno City College placed #19 among the best registered nursing schools. Located in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public university. About 243 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Fresno City College in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of Fresno City College earn a median of $91,961 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $8,000.
Get the full registered nursing details for Fresno City College
University Of California San Francisco came in at #20 for registered nursing this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of San Francisco. About 145 registered nursing degrees were awarded at University Of California San Francisco in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of University Of California San Francisco earn a median of $138,842 early in their careers.
Get the full registered nursing details for University Of California San Francisco
California State University Channel Islands placed #21 among the best registered nursing schools. Set in the rural area of Camarillo, California State University Channel Islands is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. About 91 registered nursing degrees were awarded at California State University Channel Islands in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of California State University Channel Islands earn a median of $103,484 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,750.
Get the full registered nursing details for California State University Channel Islands
California State University Los Angeles placed #22 among the best registered nursing schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public university. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 187 registered nursing degrees were awarded at California State University Los Angeles in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of California State University Los Angeles earn a median of $122,354 early in their careers. California State University Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $18,964 in student loans.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from California State University Los Angeles
California State University San Marcos placed #23 among the best registered nursing schools. California State University San Marcos is a large public school located in the suburb of San Marcos. California State University San Marcos graduates 55% of students within six years. California State University San Marcos awarded about 325 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from California State University San Marcos generally make around $111,776. Typical student debt for the program is $25,047.
See the full registered nursing program report for California State University San Marcos
California State University Fresno earned the #24 position for registered nursing this year. Located in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public university. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 159 registered nursing degrees were awarded at California State University Fresno in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from California State University Fresno generally make around $138,832. California State University Fresno graduates carry a median of $17,938 in student loans.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from California State University Fresno
Riverside City College landed the #25 spot for registered nursing this year. Riverside City College is a very large public school located in the city of Riverside. About 171 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Riverside City College in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of Riverside City College earn a median of $89,869 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,000.
Get the full registered nursing details for Riverside City College
Rest of the Top 50 Registered Nursing Schools
These schools also placed among the best for registered nursing this year:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 156 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
