2026 Best Nurse Anesthetist Schools in California
Nurse Anesthetist is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their nurse anesthetist programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 3 schools to find the best for nurse anesthetist students.
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Best Schools for Nurse Anesthetist in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall nurse anesthetist education in California.
Top Schools in Nurse Anesthetist
Leading the list is Samuel Merritt University, our #1 school for nurse anesthetist. Samuel Merritt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Oakland. About 27 nurse anesthetist degrees were awarded at Samuel Merritt University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nurse anesthetist degree recipients from Samuel Merritt University generally make around $132,722. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nurse anesthetist from Samuel Merritt University
Students looking for a strong nurse anesthetist program will find one at Loma Linda University, which ranked #2. Loma Linda University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Loma Linda. About 15 nurse anesthetist degrees were awarded at Loma Linda University in the most recent year. Students who receive their nurse anesthetist degree from Loma Linda University earn around $150,626 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $31,645 to complete this degree.
Read more about the nurse anesthetist program at Loma Linda University
Students looking for a strong nurse anesthetist program will find one at National University, which ranked #3. National University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. National University graduates 50% of students within six years. About 18 nurse anesthetist degrees were awarded at National University in the most recent year. Nurse Anesthetist graduates of National University earn a median of $134,792 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $37,375.
Get the full nurse anesthetist details for National University
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 3 schools evaluated.
- 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 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.
