
A registered nurse, or RN, is a licensed medical professional who provides critical treatment and care to sick and injured patients. Registered nurses typically work in hospitals, but can also be found in physicians' offices, home healthcare services or social assistance agencies.
Registered Nursing Schools in California
You can become an RN by earning a bachelor of science degree in nursing (BSN) from a college or university. You can also get an associate degree at a community college or a diploma from a hospital-based nursing school. Registered nurses who earn a master's degree in nursing (MSN) are known as advanced practice nurses. These nurses can perform diagnostic and therapeutic procedures as well as prescribe medication. As a registered nursing student, you can expect to have both classroom education and hands-on clinical experience. Examples of registered nursing coursework include chronic disease management, health assessment, human anatomy, microbiology and nursing studies. Whether online or in a traditional classroom, California RN schools can help you earn your nursing degree or diploma. All states and the District of Columbia require that registered nursing students graduate from an approved program as well as pass a licensing examination (NCLEX-RN). Additional requirements may be necessary depending on your state. Earning a degree from one of the many registered nursing schools in California is a great way to start your nursing career.
Registered Nursing Salaries in California
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment of registered nurses is expected to grow much faster than the average--22 percent, or 581,500 new jobs, between 2008 and 2018. With 2.6 million jobs in 2008, registered nurses constitute the largest health care occupation. In California, there are 233,030 registered nurses. BLS states that in May 2009, California RNs made an annual median salary of $82,910. Those in the 90th percentile earned $117,330 a year. In California, registered nurses earned the highest median salary in the metropolitan areas of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Riverside and San Diego. Most RNs can be found in the San Jose area, San Francisco area and Oakland area.
Take a look at the list of RN schools in California to find one that's most convenient for you.
Schools for Registered Nurses in California are listed below.
These schools offer particularly quick info upon request, and we have written detailed profiles for each (click school names to see the profiles).
Request info from multiple schools, by clicking the Get Info links.

University of Phoenix
Bakersfield, Beale AFB, Chula Vista, Concord, Costa Mesa, Culver City, Diamond Bar, Elk Grove, Fremont, Fresno, Gardena, Imperial, LaMirada, Laguna Hills, Lancaster, Lathrop, Modesto, Murrieta, Oakland, Ontario, Palm Desert, Pasadena, Pleasanton, Rancho Cordova, Roseville, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Suisun City, Visalia, Woodland Hills
Founded in 1976, University of Phoenix is dedicated to meeting the needs of working students. Now the largest private university in North America, we offer conveniently located campuses and learning centers as well as a flexible online learning format.

Everest College
Ontario
Offers certificate programs, degree programs, and courses in 11 U.S. states with more than 35 locations. Online programs are also available.

Kaplan College KHE
San Diego
Kaplan College teaches students skills that have relevance in many fast-growing employment areas. Several forms of tuition assistance may be available for qualified enrollees.

United States University
National City
Advance your career with a degree from United States University. We offer master’s degrees in nursing and an RN-BSN course at our location in National City, California.

West Coast University
Anaheim, Los Angeles
Offers undergraduate degree programs in nursing and health care administration. Located in Los Angeles and Anaheim, California
| School | Locations | Degrees | |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Phoenix Online | Online | Bachelor, Master | |
| Walden University | Online | Bachelor, Master, Post-Master Certificate | |
| Grand Canyon University | Online | Bachelor, Master | |
| South University | Online | Bachelor | |
| Kaplan University Online | Online | Bachelor, Master | |
| Colorado Technical University Online | Online | Bachelor | |
| American Sentinel University | Online | Bachelor, Master | |
| Concord Law School | Online | Bachelor |
| School Name | Campus | Highest Award | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allan Hancock College | Santa Maria | Associate | 13,176 |
| American River College | Sacramento | Associate | 33,821 |
| Antelope Valley College | Lancaster | Associate | 13,312 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa | Doctorate | 8,084 |
| Bakersfield College | Bakersfield | Associate | 17,405 |
| Biola University | La Mirada | Doctorate & First Professional | 5,830 |
| Butte College | Oroville | Associate | 12,228 |
| Cabrillo College | Aptos | Associate | 15,114 |
| California Baptist University | Riverside | Masters | 3,775 |
| California State University-Bakersfield | Bakersfield | Masters | 7,700 |
| California State University-Chico | Chico | Masters | 17,034 |
| California State University-Dominguez Hills | Carson | Masters | 12,082 |
| California State University-East Bay | Hayward | Masters | 13,124 |
| California State University-Fresno | Fresno | Doctorate | 22,383 |
| California State University-Fullerton | Fullerton | Doctorate | 37,130 |
| California State University-Long Beach | Long Beach | Doctorate | 36,868 |
| California State University-Los Angeles | Los Angeles | Doctorate | 21,051 |
| California State University-Northridge | Northridge | Doctorate | 35,446 |
| California State University-Sacramento | Sacramento | Doctorate | 28,829 |
| California State University-San Bernardino | San Bernardino | Doctorate | 17,066 |
| California State University-Stanislaus | Turlock | Doctorate | 8,836 |
| Cerritos College | Norwalk | Associate | 22,273 |
| Chabot College | Hayward | Associate | 13,229 |
| Chaffey College | Rancho Cucamonga | Associate | 18,736 |
| Citrus College | Glendora | Associate | 11,467 |
| City College of San Francisco | San Francisco | Associate | 46,411 |
| College of Marin | Kentfield | Associate | 6,476 |
| College of San Mateo | San Mateo | Associate | 10,516 |
| College of the Canyons | Santa Clarita | Associate | 17,499 |
| College of the Desert | Palm Desert | Associate | 8,597 |
| College of the Redwoods | Eureka | Associate | 6,025 |
| College of the Sequoias | Visalia | Associate | 11,697 |
| College of the Siskiyous | Weed | Associate | 2,782 |
| Contra Costa College | San Pablo | Associate | 7,147 |
| Copper Mountain Community College | Joshua Tree | Associate | 1,673 |
| Crafton Hills College | Yucaipa | Associate | 5,382 |
| Cuesta College | San Luis Obispo | Associate | 10,920 |
| Cypress College | Cypress | Associate | 13,592 |
| De Anza College | Cupertino | Associate | 24,115 |
| Dominican University of California | San Rafael | Masters | 2,125 |
| East Los Angeles College | Monterey Park | Associate | 28,889 |
| El Camino College | Torrance | Associate | 24,895 |
| El Camino College-Compton Center | Compton | Associate | 3,641 |
| Evergreen Valley College | San Jose | Associate | 8,707 |
| Fresno City College | Fresno | Associate | 21,624 |
| Gavilan College | Gilroy | Associate | 6,049 |
| Glendale Community College Glendale | Glendale | Associate | 16,827 |
| Golden West College | Huntington Beach | Associate | 13,354 |
| Grossmont College | El Cajon | Associate | 17,359 |
| Hartnell College | Salinas | Associate | 9,890 |
| Holy Names University | Oakland | Masters | 1,114 |
| Humboldt State University | Arcata | Masters | 7,773 |
| Imperial Valley College | Imperial | Associate | 8,682 |
| Loma Linda University | Loma Linda | Doctorate & First Professional | 4,022 |
| Long Beach City College | Long Beach | Associate | 25,536 |
| Los Angeles City College | Los Angeles | Associate | 17,204 |
| Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied Health | Los Angeles | Associate | 279 |
| Los Angeles Harbor College | Wilmington | Associate | 8,850 |
| Los Angeles Pierce College | Woodland Hills | Associate | 19,526 |
| Los Angeles Southwest College | Los Angeles | Associate | 6,095 |
| Los Angeles Trade Technical College | Los Angeles | Associate | 13,194 |
| Los Angeles Valley College | Valley Glen | Associate | 17,264 |
| Los Medanos College | Pittsburg | Associate | 8,360 |
| Mendocino College | Ukiah | Associate | 4,347 |
| Merced College | Merced | Associate | 10,890 |
| Merritt College | Oakland | Associate | 6,944 |
| Mills College | Oakland | Doctorate | 1,446 |
| MiraCosta College | Oceanside | Associate | 10,682 |
| Mission College | Santa Clara | Associate | 8,832 |
| Modesto Junior College | Modesto | Associate | 18,546 |
| Monterey Peninsula College | Monterey | Associate | 9,238 |
| Moorpark College | Moorpark | Associate | 14,495 |
| Mount Jacinto College | San Jacinto | Associate | 14,197 |
| Mount St Mary's College | Los Angeles | Doctorate | 2,366 |
| Mt San Antonio College | Walnut | Associate | 29,842 |
| Napa Valley College | Napa | Associate | 7,169 |
| National University | La Jolla | Masters | 26,363 |
| Ohlone College | Fremont | Associate | 11,083 |
| Pacific Union College | Angwin | Masters | 1,363 |
| Palomar College | San Marcos | Associate | 27,222 |
| Pasadena City College | Pasadena | Associate | 26,672 |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | San Diego | Masters | 3,480 |
| Rio Hondo College | Whittier | Associate | 21,041 |
| Riverside Community College | Riverside | Associate | 30,961 |
| Sacramento City College | Sacramento | Associate | 24,596 |
| Saddleback College | Mission Viejo | Associate | 18,371 |
| Saint Marys College of California | Moraga | Doctorate | 3,801 |
| Samuel Merritt University | Oakland | Doctorate | 1,278 |
| San Bernardino Valley College | San Bernardino | Associate | 12,839 |
| San Diego City College | San Diego | Associate | 17,013 |
| San Diego State University | San Diego | Doctorate | 35,695 |
| San Francisco State University | San Francisco | Doctorate | 30,125 |
| San Joaquin Delta College | Stockton | Associate | 18,668 |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia | Visalia | Associate | 892 |
| San Jose State University | San Jose | Masters | 31,906 |
| Santa Ana College | Santa Ana | Associate | 33,514 |
| Santa Barbara City College | Santa Barbara | Associate | 21,632 |
| Santa Monica College | Santa Monica | Associate | 28,958 |
| Santa Rosa Junior College | Santa Rosa | Associate | 25,626 |
| Shasta College | Redding | Associate | 9,102 |
| Sierra College | Rocklin | Associate | 18,859 |
| Simpson University | Redding | Masters | 1,076 |
| Solano Community College | Fairfield | Associate | 11,163 |
| Sonoma State University | Rohnert Park | Masters | 8,770 |
| University of California-Davis | Davis | Doctorate & First Professional | 29,796 |
| University of California-Los Angeles | Los Angeles | Doctorate & First Professional | 37,476 |
| University of California-San Francisco | San Francisco | Doctorate & First Professional | 2,999 |
| University of San Diego | San Diego | Doctorate | 7,504 |
| University of San Francisco | San Francisco | Doctorate & First Professional | 8,714 |
| University of Southern California | Los Angeles | Doctorate & First Professional | 33,408 |
| Ventura College | Ventura | Associate | 12,603 |
| Victor Valley College | Victorville | Associate | 10,149 |
| West Hills College-Lemoore | Lemoore | Associate | 3,833 |
| Western University of Health Sciences | Pomona | Doctorate & First Professional | 2,254 |
| Yuba College | Marysville | Associate | 9,904 |
The map below shows job statistics for the career type by metro area, for California. A table below the map shows job popularity and salaries across the state.
Listed below are metro areas ranked by the popularity of jobs for Registered Nurses relative to the population of the city, as of 2008. Salary data was obtained from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
A Relative Popularity of 1.0 means that the city has an average number of the particular job, for its population, compared to the rest of the US. Higher numbers mean proportionally more jobs of that type.| Metro Area | Jobs | Salary (2008) | Relative Popularity |
|---|---|---|---|
CALIFORNIA | |||
| Madera | 1,310 | $73,160 | 2.2 |
| Hanford | 800 | $81,700 | 1.7 |
| Chico | 1,640 | $80,290 | 1.3 |
| Vallejo | 3,010 | $85,040 | 1.3 |
| Napa | 1,430 | $88,970 | 1.3 |
| Yuba City | 790 | $64,390 | 1.2 |
| Modesto | 3,040 | $86,690 | 1 |
| Visalia | 2,310 | $103,660 | 0.9 |
| San Diego | 24,380 | $78,880 | 0.9 |
| Santa Rosa | 3,200 | $83,860 | 0.9 |
| San Luis Obispo | 1,660 | $77,410 | 0.9 |
| Stockton | 3,590 | $75,290 | 0.9 |
| Oakland | 17,410 | $96,150 | 0.9 |
| Riverside | 20,790 | $75,020 | 0.8 |
| Santa Cruz | 1,300 | $88,010 | 0.8 |
| Fresno | 5,190 | $77,630 | 0.8 |
| San Jose | 14,590 | $104,400 | 0.8 |
| Sacramento | 13,920 | $84,630 | 0.8 |
| Salinas | 2,300 | $87,790 | 0.8 |
| Oxnard | 4,560 | $73,370 | 0.8 |
| San Francisco | 15,370 | $96,700 | 0.8 |
| El Centro | 660 | $69,400 | 0.8 |
| Santa Ana | 22,670 | $76,040 | 0.7 |
| Santa Barbara | 2,250 | $81,300 | 0.7 |
| Redding | 760 | $76,020 | 0.6 |
| Bakersfield | 2,990 | $74,790 | 0.6 |
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