What Schools Have Nursing Degree Programs in California?

Learn about nursing programs in California. Get information about degrees available and admission and program requirements to make an informed decision about your education. Schools offering Nursing degrees can also be found in these popular choices.

Employment Information for California Nurses

To work as a registered nurse in California, you must pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and pass a background check after completing a nursing program. The California Board of Registered Nursing oversees nurse licensing in the state. According to a May 2011 report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the national mean annual wage for nurses was $69,110. The BLS reported 250,230 nurses employed in California, with a mean annual wage of $90,860.


California Schools with Nursing Bachelor's Degree Programs

California State University - Chico

  • Program Name: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
  • Program Length: Four years
  • Tuition: $3,719 per semester in-state, $3,719 plus $372 per unit per semester out-of-state (fall 2012)
  • School Type: 4-year, public; about 16,000 students ( about 14,800 undergraduate)
  • Address: California State University, Chico, School of Nursing, Chico, CA 95929
  • Phone: 530-898-5891

California State University - Chico offers two undergraduate nursing degree program options. The first option is called the basic program; this is the appropriate track for students entering the university without a nursing license. The coursework leads to a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing, as well as the necessary preparation to sit for the state nursing licensure examination. The other option is RN-BSN, which is for currently licensed registered nurses who wish to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree as well.

San Diego State University

  • Program Name: Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • Program Length: Four years
  • Tuition: $2,985 per semester as of fall 2012 (out-of-state students charged additional fee)
  • Prerequisites: Series of science courses, including anatomy, human physiology and microbiology
  • School Type: 4-year, public; about 31,000 students (about 25,800 undergraduate)
  • Address: School of Nursing, Hardy Tower 58, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182
  • Phone: 619-594-2540

Programs offered by this university's School of Nursing are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing. The school's facilities include a nursing skills lab, patient simulation center and physical assessment lab.

At the school, you can earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). If you are already a registered nurse and have an associate's degree or diploma in nursing, you can earn your BSN through the RN-BSN completion program. If you are a licensed vocational nurse, you can enroll in the LVN-RN program, which prepares you to sit for the registered nurse licensing exam.


California Schools with Nursing Master's Degree Programs

California State University - Chico

  • Program Name: Master of Science in Nursing
  • Program Length: 30 units (usually completed in five semesters)
  • Tuition: $4,412 per semester in-state, $4,412 per semester plus $372 per unit out-of-state (fall 2012)
  • Prerequisites: BSN, RN license, a statistics course, GRE scores
  • School Type: 4-year, public; about 16,000 students (about 14,800 undergraduate)
  • Address: California State University, Chico, School of Nursing, Chico, CA 95929
  • Phone: 530-898-5891

The Master of Science (M.S.) in nursing program at California State University - Chico is focused on helping meet the needs of nurses working in rural areas. The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Courses offered in the M.S. in nursing program include nursing theory, research, teaching and learning nursing. Graduates of this program become leaders in the nursing profession, working as nurses, administrators and educators.

San Diego State University

  • Program Name: Master of Science in Nursing
  • Areas of Specialization: Community health nursing, nursing education, advanced practice nursing of adults and the elderly
  • Program Length: 39-52 credit hours
  • Tuition: $3,678 as of fall 2012 (out-of-state student charged additional fee)
  • Prerequisites: Bachelor's degree, RN license, GRE scores
  • School Type: 4-year, public; about 31,000 students (about 25,800 undergraduate)
  • Address: School of Nursing, Hardy Tower 58, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182
  • Phone: 619-594-2540

You can earn a Master of Science in Nursing at San Diego State University. This program is available full- or part-time and allows you to concentrate in one of four areas, such as nursing education or community health nursing. Within these areas of concentration there are specializations. For example, if you concentrate in community health nursing, you may specialize in nurse-midwifery or become a women's health nurse practitioner. You can also complete a post-baccalaureate program to earn a school nurse credential or a post-master's nursing certificate program in nursing education.

University of California, San Francisco

  • Program Name: Master of Science in Nursing
  • Areas of Specialization: 14 areas, including Oncology (Adult Gerontology), Clinical Nurse Specialist, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) and Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing
  • Program Length: 30-36 units
  • Tuition: $22,881 in-state, $35,126 out-of-state (2012-2013 school year)
  • Prerequisites: Bachelor's degree, RN license, statistics course
  • School Type: 4-year, public; about 3,000 students (all graduate)
  • Address: 2 Koret Way, #N-319X, UCSF Box 0602, San Francisco, CA 94143
  • Phone: 415-476-1435

The School of Nursing at the University of California, San Francisco focuses on graduate studies. You can earn your MSN through a traditional 2-year program. If you're a registered nurse holding an associate's degree, you can earn your bachelor's degree en route to your MSN. If you have a bachelor's degree in a field other than nursing, you can apply to a 3-year master's program which prepares you to sit for the registered nurse licensing exam after the first year. The M.S. in Nursing program can help you become a nurse-midwife, nurse practitioner, administrator, teacher, clinical nurse specialist or consultant.


California School with Nursing Doctoral Degree Programs

University of California, San Francisco

  • Program Name: Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing
  • Areas of Specialization: Physiological nursing, community health systems, family health care nursing
  • Program Length: About four years
  • Tuition: $15,141 in-state, $30,243 out-of-state (2012-2013 school year)
  • Prerequisites: Bachelor's degree in nursing, GRE scores, statistics and research methods courses, RN license
  • School Type: 4-year, public; about 3,000 students (all graduate)
  • Address: 2 Koret Way, #N-319X, UCSF Box 0602, San Francisco, CA 94143
  • Phone: 415-476-1435

This program focuses on research and theory development. With the Ph.D. in Nursing, you can become a professor or clinical researcher. The program involves coursework, qualifying examinations, research residencies and a dissertation.

To continue researching, browse degree options below for course curriculum, prerequisites and financial aid information. Or, learn more about the subject by reading the related articles below:

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