Best 15 Registered Nursing Programs in California in 2024

De Anza College offers a Registered Nursing (Associate of Science) at its location in Cupertino, California. This program is taught with cutting-edge technology and instruction in a variety of settings, including classrooms, clinical locations, and laboratories. Students who complete the program earn their associate of science in nursing (ASN) and are often recruited to work in healthcare facilities across Silicon Valley and Northern California. All applicants must take the HESI Admission Assessment Exam before admission and enrollment.

American River College offers a Registered Nursing (RN) Program at its location in Sacramento, California. In addition to preparing students to be licensed registered nurses, this program readies graduates to work in a variety of healthcare settings with patients of all demographics. This two-year program is offered in four semesters, offering a curriculum that combines general education and nursing courses with laboratory experience in local healthcare settings. Clinical experience is also required during the certain morning, afternoon, evening, and weekend periods. The curriculum emphasizes critical thinking and problem-solving skills as well as intentional learning so students can make sound decisions in the complex, evolving world of healthcare.

Cypress College offers a Registered Nursing Program at its location in Cypress, California. This two-year program award graduates an associate of science in nursing while preparing them to care for patients in hospitals, schools homes, clinics, and other healthcare settings. The program’s curriculum combines theory and clinical experience in the areas of medical-surgical, maternal-child, mental health, geriatric, and child-family nursing. Courses cover pharmacology, sociology, psychology, human communication, and more. Two program tracks include the Licensed Psychiatric Technicians and Career Mobility Program for Licensed Vocational Nurses. The program is accredited by Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.

California State University-Northridge offers a Registered Nurse (RN) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at its location in Northridge, California. This program prepares nurses to work both independently and collaborate with other healthcare professionals in many different settings. Designed for ADN and ASN students coming from community college programs, this degree satisfies the requirements for completion of a bachelor’s degree. This program can be completed in two years and courses take place only two times per week or less. Lectures are offered in a hybrid format, and up to 15 elective units can be applied toward the NCLEX exam.

California State University, Chico offers an RN-BSN Program at its location in Chico, California. This hybrid program is mostly online to make courses as convenient and flexible as possible for students who live in distant rural areas of the region, and also accommodates nurses who have seven-day-per-week, round-the-clock work schedules. Ideal for students who want to advance their careers as nurses and healthcare professionals, this program also accommodates students who earned their ASN or ADN at a community college and need to transition into a bachelor degree completion program. CSU, Chico also offers a pre-licensure RN program and an MSN program.

University of California-Los Angeles offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at its location in Los Angeles, California. This traditional, four-year bachelor’s degree program prepares students to take the NCLEX to become licensed as registered nurses and also apply for the California Board of Registered Nursing’s Public Health Nursing Certificate. This program is a capstone major and requires each student to design and execute a clinically-based scholarly project in the last clinical course of their fourth and final year. Graduates leave with the foundation they need to seamlessly transition into the master’s program to pursue advanced nursing roles.

Golden West College offers an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) at its location in Huntington Beach, California. This program qualifies students to take the NCLEX and also prepares them to seamlessly transition into a BSN program. The school also offers co-enrollment programs (RN-BSN courses) for current ADN nursing students with California State University-Fullerton. The program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.

Evergreen Valley College offers an Associate Degree in Nursing Program at its location in San Jose, California. This two-year program combines theory and practice to promote critical thinking and real-world learning while students prepare for the NCLEX exam. The curriculum emphasizes learning how to perform effectively in the areas of maintaining a safe and effective care environment; health promotion and maintenance; psychosocial integrity; physiological integrity; and the professional role of the nurse. The program is designed to meet the needs of culturally diverse learners, so they can start the life-long process of learning as a registered nurse

MiraCosta College offers an Associate Degree Nursing Program at its location in Oceanside, California. The program’s goal is to educate diverse learners to become safe, caring, and competent registered nurses who serve in different healthcare settings throughout the community. In addition to receiving their associate’s degree in nursing, students are qualified to take the NCLEX and transition to a BSN program after graduation. The program takes two years to complete and is taught over the course of four semesters. Students must complete the TEAS exam before enrollment.

Napa Valley College offers an Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Program at its Napa, California location. A two-year, four-semester program, the ADN prepares students to take the NCLEX and pursue entry-level positions in nursing. Graduates leave ready to assist patients with personal care, provide counseling and education to prevent illness and promote health, and administer medications and specialized treatments. Several opportunities are available for advanced placement, challenge exams, and transfer credit.

Biola University offers a B.S. in Nursing at its location in La Mirada, California. This program teaches students to provide high-quality nursing care through challenging coursework, including clinical experiences in local healthcare facilities and skills and simulation labs. Clinical experiences emphasize serving diverse, underserved populations in Los Angeles and Orange counties. Taught from a biblical perspective, this program covers the foundation of registered nursing, including administering medication, medical-surgical care of diverse populations, quality care for the elderly, and more.

Gurnick Academy offers a B.S. in Nursing (BSN and LVN to BSN Pathway) Program at its location in San Mateo, California. The goal of the program is to offer training to aspiring nurses that integrates hands-on practical experience, career-focused education, and professional skills. In addition, through the in-depth study of health services, students learn ethics and law in health care, leadership and management, writing skills for health professionals, nursing research, and patient education essentials. The program’s duration is eight semesters.

Holy Names University offers an ADN (RN) to BSN program at its location in Oakland, California. This program is offered in both accelerated and hybrid formats to meet the diverse needs of nurses with busy schedules, whether living locally or at a distance. Students benefit from an alumni mentorship program, guest lectures from health experts, Free Emergency Management Preparedness Certificate Program, Sigma Theta Tau Leadership Certificate, and a free prep course for the NCLEX. Students also gain hands-on experience in an onsite simulation center as well as in clinical placements and senior center partnership experiences.

Carrington College offers a Registered Nursing Program at its location in Sacramento, California. In as fast as two years, students can earn their associate of science degree and become qualified to take the NCLEX to become registered nurses. The program teaches students how to provide critical health care services, including performing diagnostic tests, drawing blood, giving injects, taking vital signs, and more. Courses are based on a combination of classroom lessons, clinical exercises, and practical training.

California Career College offers an Associate Degree in Nursing at its location in Canoga Park, California. This program prepares students to sit for the NCLEX to become licensed registered nurses. It takes two years to complete and combines both theory and clinical classes only 3 days per week. The curriculum includes courses in Communication Techniques, Terminology, Psychology, Gerontology, Pharmacology, and more. Students benefit from hands-on experience at local healthcare facilities, including long-term care and other community agencies.