2023 Best Health Professions Schools in California
Finding the Best Health Professions School for You
In 2020-2021, health professions students earned 54,872 degrees and certificates from a California school, making the subject the 2nd in the state.
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for students. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Also there are many trade schools that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Best Health Professions Schools in California ranking. Our analysis looked at 251 schools in California to see which programs offered the best educational experiences for students.
View our full ranking methodology.
2023 Best Health Professions Schools in California
Check out the health professions programs at these schools if you want to get the best education that money can buy.
Top 25 Top California Schools in Health Professions
Our 2023 rankings named University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences the best school in California for health professions students. Located in the large suburb of San Marcos, USAHS is a private for-profit college with a moderately-sized student population.
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The excellent programs at Stanford University helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best health professions schools in California. Stanford is a large private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Stanford.
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The excellent programs at West Coast University-Center for Graduate Studies helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best health professions schools in California. Located in the city of Los Angeles, West Coast University-Center for Graduate Studies is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
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A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Unitek College is a great place for health professions students. Located in the city of South San Francisco, Unitek College is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
After completing their degree, health professions graduates from Unitek College carry an average student debtload of $13,278. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $139.
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A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Bay Area Medical Academy is a great place for health professions students. Located in the large city of San Francisco, Bay Area Medical Academy is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
After completing their degree, health professions graduates from Bay Area Medical Academy carry an average student debtload of $9,114.
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Samuel Merritt University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Health Professions Schools in California list. Samuel Merritt University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Oakland.
While working on their degree, health professions majors at Samuel Merritt University accumulate an average of around $25,500 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $551.
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With a ranking of #7, Unitek College did quite well on this year’s best schools for health professions students. Located in the large suburb of Hayward, Unitek College is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
After completing their degree, health professions graduates from Unitek College carry an average student debtload of $13,278. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $139.
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Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best health professions programs. Located in the city of San Mateo, Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
While working on their degree, health professions majors at Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts accumulate an average of around $15,293 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $118.
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Stanbridge University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for health professions students. It came in at #9 on the list. Stanbridge is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Irvine.
On average, health professions graduates from Stanbridge take out $28,848 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $226.
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Blake Austin College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best health professions programs. Located in the suburb of Vacaville, Blake Austin College is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
The average amount in student loans that health professions majors at Blake Austin College take out is $13,700.
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Homestead Schools did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for health professions students. It came in at #11 on the list. Homestead Schools is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Torrance.
The average amount in student loans that health professions majors at Homestead Schools take out is $18,040.
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Unitek College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Health Professions Schools in California list. Located in the suburb of Fremont, Unitek College is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
While working on their degree, health professions majors at Unitek College accumulate an average of around $16,126 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $141.
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Pacific College of Health and Science ranked #13 on this year’s Best Health Professions Schools in California list. Located in the city of San Diego, Pacific College San Diego is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
On average, health professions graduates from Pacific College San Diego take out $19,090 in student loans while working on their degree.
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Western University of Health Sciences came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Health Professions Schools in California ranking. Western University of Health Sciences is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Pomona.
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University of California - Berkeley did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for health professions students. It came in at #15 on the list. Located in the medium-sized city of Berkeley, UC Berkeley is a public school with a very large student population.
On average, health professions graduates from UC Berkeley take out $11,875 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $304.
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With a ranking of #16, Touro University California did quite well on this year’s best schools for health professions students. Located in the medium-sized city of Vallejo, TUC is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
On average, health professions graduates from TUC take out $16,982 in student loans while working on their degree.
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University of Southern California ranked #17 on this year’s Best Health Professions Schools in California list. USC is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles.
Health Professions majors at USC take out an average of $23,375 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $831, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Butte County Regional Occupational Program landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best health professions programs. Located in the midsize city of Chico, Butte County ROP is a public school with a fairly small student population.
On average, health professions graduates from Butte County ROP take out $8,000 in student loans while working on their degree.
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California State University - Monterey Bay landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best health professions programs. CSUMB is a moderately-sized public school located in the medium-sized suburb of Seaside.
The average amount in student loans that health professions majors at CSUMB take out is $13,312.
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University of the Pacific landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best health professions programs. Pacific is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Stockton.
On average, health professions graduates from Pacific take out $24,741 in student loans while working on their degree.
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With a ranking of #21, American University of Health Sciences did quite well on this year’s best schools for health professions students. Located in the suburb of Signal Hill, AUHS Signal Hill is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
Health Professions majors at AUHS Signal Hill take out an average of $46,029 in student loans while working on their egree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $471, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Loma Linda University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for health professions students. It came in at #22 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Loma Linda, Loma Linda University is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
On average, health professions graduates from Loma Linda University take out $25,495 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $416.
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West Coast University - Orange County landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best health professions programs. Located in the city of Anaheim, West Coast University - Orange County is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
While working on their degree, health professions majors at West Coast University - Orange County accumulate an average of around $36,823 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $639.
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Dominican University of California ranked #24 on this year’s Best Health Professions Schools in California list. DUofC is a small private not-for-profit school located in the small city of San Rafael.
On average, health professions graduates from DUofC take out $28,094 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $636.
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University of California - Los Angeles came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Health Professions Schools in California ranking. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, UCLA is a public school with a fairly large student population.
After completing their degree, health professions graduates from UCLA carry an average student debtload of $19,210.
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Additional Noteworthy Schools
Here are some additional great schools for Health Professions students in the state of California that almost earned our Best Health Professions Schools in California award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 38 | Mount Saint Mary’s University | Los Angeles, CA |
| 39 | California State University - Stanislaus | Turlock, CA |
| 40 | Canada College | Redwood City, CA |
| 41 | Cuesta College | San Luis Obispo, CA |
| 42 | Loyola Marymount University | Los Angeles, CA |
| 43 | Carrington College-San Jose | San Jose, CA |
| 44 | San Jose State University | San Jose, CA |
| 45 | California State University - San Marcos | San Marcos, CA |
| 46 | University of California - San Francisco | San Francisco, CA |
| 47 | Biola University | La Mirada, CA |
| 48 | Santa Barbara City College | Santa Barbara, CA |
| 49 | Vanguard University of Southern California | Costa Mesa, CA |
| 50 | Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA |
Best Health Professions Colleges in the Far Western US Region
Explore all the Best Health Professions Schools in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Washington | 10,021 |
| Oregon | 5,865 |
| Hawaii | 1,126 |
| Nevada | 4,207 |
| Alaska | 578 |
More Health Professions Rankings in California
Health Professions Related Rankings by Major
Health Professions Majors to Study
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Nursing | 322,592 |
| 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 |
| Health Sciences & Services | 35,945 |
| Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions | 29,833 |
| Mental & Social Health Services | 29,053 |
| Medicine | 28,629 |
| Dental Support Services | 26,399 |
| Communication Sciences | 22,298 |
| Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences | 20,393 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science | 18,901 |
| Somatic Bodywork & Therapeutic Services | 10,751 |
| Health/Medical Prep Programs | 9,210 |
| Other Health Professions | 7,984 |
| Dentistry | 6,770 |
| Dietetics & Clinical Nutrition Services | 6,158 |
| Bioethics/Medical Ethics | 5,115 |
| Alternative Medicine & Systems | 3,564 |
| Chiropractic | 2,658 |
| Health Aids/Attendants/Orderlies | 2,374 |
| Medical Illustration & Informatics | 2,089 |
| Optometry | 1,822 |
| Advanced Dentistry & Oral Sciences | 1,775 |
| Ophthalmic & Optometric Support Services | 960 |
| Medical Science | 909 |
| Movement & Mind-Body Therapies | 294 |
| Alternative Medical Support Services | 227 |
| Energy & Biologically Based Therapies | 68 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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