Best institutions to study Registered Nursing in California
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sonoma State University Rohnert Park Public · Bachelor's degree | $125,646 | 94 | 58% | — | $19,750 |
| 2 | California State University - East Bay Hayward Public · Bachelor's degree | $124,392 | 172 | 48% | — | $18,875 |
| 3 | Unitek College Fremont Private for-profit · Associate degree | $120,006 | 413 | 73% | $27,021 | $27,113 |
| 4 | Samuel Merritt University Oakland Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $119,486 | 719 | — | — | $25,000 |
| 5 | California State University - Stanislaus Turlock Public · Bachelor's degree | $119,356 | 148 | 53% | — | $23,450 |
| 6 | San Francisco State University San Francisco Public · Bachelor's degree | $117,532 | 211 | 50% | — | $16,875 |
| 7 | Yuba College Marysville Public · Associate degree | $117,283 | 56 | 40% | — | $8,729 |
| 8 | California State University - Monterey Bay Seaside Public · Bachelor's degree | $117,088 | 78 | 59% | — | $9,489 |
| 9 | California State University - Sacramento Sacramento Public · Bachelor's degree | $116,001 | 249 | 56% | — | $19,000 |
| 10 | Mendocino College Ukiah Public · Associate degree | $113,261 | 22 | 25% | — | — |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Top skills
What Registered Nurses earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Registered Nursing programs in California.
Which Registered Nursing program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), Sonoma State University tops the list at $125,646. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Registered Nurses earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Registered Nurses in California is $150,280 (median $140,270), across about 338,940 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Registered Nursing program?+
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Registered Nurses?+
The national job outlook is about +4.9% growth with around 189,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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