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Best Value Nursing Schools in California

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2023 Best Value Nursing Schools in California

Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices

124 Colleges
$1,292 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$90,600 Avg Salary

Finding the Best Nursing School for You

In 2020-2021, nursing students earned 18,329 degrees and certificates from a California school, making the subject the 5th in the state.

With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. Also, there are a number of trade schools with offerings that you might find attractive.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Value Nursing Schools in California ranking. This report analyzed 124 schools in California to see which ones offered the best value programs for nursing students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.

Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.

In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.

2023 Best Value Nursing Schools in California

Check out the nursing programs at these schools if you want to get the best value for your educational dollar.

Top 15% Best Nursing Schools

#1

Merced College

Merced, CA

Our 2023 rankings named Merced College the best value school in California for nursing students. Merced Community College District is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Merced.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Merced Community College District are $1,180 a year. On average, nursing graduates from Merced Community College District take out $11,000 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Nursing at Merced College Report

#2

Modesto Junior College

Modesto, CA
$1,274 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Modesto Junior College. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in California list. Located in the city of Modesto, MJC is a public school with a large student population.

In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at MJC are $1,274 per year.

Full Nursing at Modesto Junior College Report

#3

Butte College

Oroville, CA
$1,368 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Butte College is a great value for nursing students. Butte College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Oroville.

Butte College undergraduate students pay an average of $1,368 in in-state tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Butte College take out is $16,161.

Full Nursing at Butte College Report

$1,288 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 124 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, San Joaquin Delta College landed the # 4 spot on the list. Delta is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Stockton.

Delta undergraduate students pay an average of $1,288 in in-state tuition and fees each year.

Read full report on Nursing at San Joaquin Delta College

#5

Cabrillo College

Aptos, CA
$1,262 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 124 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Cabrillo College landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in the midsize suburb of Aptos, Cabrillo College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Cabrillo College are $1,262 a year. Nursing majors at Cabrillo College take out an average of $14,500 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read More…

#6

Cuesta College

San Luis Obispo, CA

Cuesta College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in California list. Cuesta College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo.

Cuesta College undergraduate students pay an average of $1,338 in in-state tuition and fees each year.

Cuesta College excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Nursing Schools in California list.

Read full report on Nursing at Cuesta College

$1,380 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #7, West Hills College-Lemoore did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students. West Hills College-Lemoore is a small public school located in the rural area of Lemoore.

In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at West Hills College-Lemoore are $1,380 per year. Nursing majors at West Hills College-Lemoore take out an average of $14,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Nursing at West Hills College-Lemoore Report

#8

Yuba College

Marysville, CA
$1,128 Average Tuition & Fees

Yuba College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. Located in the midsize suburb of Marysville, Yuba College is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Yuba College are $1,128 a year. Nursing majors at Yuba College take out an average of $10,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Nursing at Yuba College Report

#9

Santa Rosa Junior College

Santa Rosa, CA
$1,328 Average Tuition & Fees

Santa Rosa Junior College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for nursing students. It came in at #9 on the list. SRJC is a large public school located in the medium-sized city of Santa Rosa.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at SRJC are $1,328 a year. While working on their degree, nursing majors at SRJC accumulate an average of around $13,916 in student debt.

SRJC excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Nursing Schools in California list.

Full Nursing at Santa Rosa Junior College Report

#10

Sacramento City College

Sacramento, CA

Sacramento City College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for nursing students. It came in at #10 on the list. Sacramento City is a large public school located in the city of Sacramento.

Nursing majors at Sacramento City take out an average of $11,277 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Nursing at Sacramento City College Report

#11

Santa Barbara City College

Santa Barbara, CA
$1,232 Average Tuition & Fees

Santa Barbara City College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. SBCC is a fairly large public school located in the small city of Santa Barbara.

In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at SBCC are $1,232 per year. Nursing majors at SBCC take out an average of $16,823 in student loans while working on their egree.

SBCC excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Nursing Schools in California list.

Read full report on Nursing at Santa Barbara City College

#12

Ventura College

Ventura, CA
$1,394 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #12, Ventura College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students. Located in the city of Ventura, Ventura College is a public college with a large student population.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Ventura College are $1,394 a year. The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Ventura College take out is $16,953.

Full Nursing at Ventura College Report

#13

Mt. San Antonio College

Walnut, CA
$1,352 Average Tuition & Fees

Mt. San Antonio College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in California list. Located in the large suburb of Walnut, Mt. SAC is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Mt. SAC undergraduate students pay an average of $1,352 in in-state tuition and fees each year. While working on their degree, nursing majors at Mt. SAC accumulate an average of around $14,500 in student debt.

Full Nursing at Mt. San Antonio College Report

#14

Glendale Community College

Glendale, CA
$1,171 Average Tuition & Fees

Glendale Community College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in California ranking. GCC is a fairly large public school located in the medium-sized city of Glendale.

GCC undergraduate students pay an average of $1,171 in in-state tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, nursing graduates from GCC carry an average student debtload of $16,304.

Read More…

#15

Fresno City College

Fresno, CA
$1,304 Average Tuition & Fees

Fresno City College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for nursing students. It came in at #15 on the list. Fresno City College is a fairly large public school located in the city of Fresno.

In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Fresno City College are $1,304 per year. Nursing majors at Fresno City College take out an average of $8,500 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Nursing at Fresno City College Report

#16

Riverside City College

Riverside, CA
$1,420 Average Tuition & Fees

Riverside City College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in California ranking. Located in the large city of Riverside, Riverside City College is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Riverside City College undergraduate students pay an average of $1,420 in in-state tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Riverside City College carry an average student debtload of $12,500.

Full Nursing at Riverside City College Report

#17

College of the Sequoias

Visalia, CA
$1,394 Average Tuition & Fees

College of the Sequoias did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for nursing students. It came in at #17 on the list. College of the Sequoias is a fairly large public school located in the midsize city of Visalia.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at College of the Sequoias are $1,394 a year. While working on their degree, nursing majors at College of the Sequoias accumulate an average of around $13,060 in student debt.

Read More…

#18

American River College

Sacramento, CA

American River College landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. Located in the suburb of Sacramento, American River is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Nursing majors at American River take out an average of $20,779 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Nursing at American River College

Additional Noteworthy Schools

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Value Nursing Schools in California award.

Rank College Location
19 College of the Canyons Santa Clarita, CA
20 Mendocino College Ukiah, CA
21 College of the Desert Palm Desert, CA
22 Moorpark College Moorpark, CA
23 Napa Valley College Napa, CA
24 Bakersfield College Bakersfield, CA

Best Value Nursing Colleges in the Far Western US Region

Explore all the Best Value Nursing Colleges in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
Washington 3,851
Oregon 1,502
Nevada 2,015
Hawaii 535
Alaska 177

Nursing is one of 30 different types of programs to choose from.

Related Major Annual Graduates
Health & Medical Administrative Services 89,359
Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services 84,492
Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants 84,274
Allied Health Professions 82,308
Public Health 40,596

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • 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 the rest 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).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Aleksahgabrielle.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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