2026 Best Value Nursing Administration Schools in California
[Nursing Administration](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/nursing-administration/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong nursing administration education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 12 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value nursing administration schools.
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2026 Best Value Nursing Administration Schools in California
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the nursing administration degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Nursing Administration Schools
Leading the list is California State University Long Beach, our #1 best value for nursing administration in California. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,374, with out-of-state students paying around $19,974. Nursing Administration graduates carry a median of $18,661 in student loans. Nursing Administration graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $50,982 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,661 median debt. The acceptance rate is 46%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Vanguard University Of Southern California earned it the #2 place for nursing administration. Set in the city of Costa Mesa, Vanguard University Of Southern California is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,700. Students borrow a median of $20,832 to complete the nursing administration program here. Nursing Administration graduates of Vanguard University Of Southern California earn a median of $102,915 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
United States University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in nursing administration, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of San Diego, United States University is a mid-sized private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,108. Typical student debt for nursing administration graduates is $32,641. Soon after graduation, nursing administration degree recipients from United States University generally make around $120,862. That is a strong return on a $32,641 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Mount St Marys College one of the best values for nursing administration. Mount St Marys College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,564. Typical student debt for nursing administration graduates is $25,167. Nursing Administration graduates of Mount St Marys College earn a median of $58,110 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,167 median debt. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Students looking for strong value in nursing administration will find it at Concordia University Irvine, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Irvine, Concordia University Irvine is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $43,480. Typical student debt for nursing administration graduates is $30,500. Nursing Administration graduates of Concordia University Irvine earn a median of $58,590 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $30,500 median debt. Concordia University Irvine admits about 66% of applicants.
University Of San Diego ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing administration schools. Set in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $59,486. Nursing Administration graduates carry a median of $23,795 in student loans. Early-career nursing administration graduates make about $124,795. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of San Diego admits about 52% of applicants.
West Coast University Orange County ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing administration schools. Located in the city of Anaheim, West Coast University Orange County is a moderately-sized private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $22,506. Nursing Administration graduates carry a median of $38,145 in student loans. Nursing Administration graduates of West Coast University Orange County earn a median of $112,084 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $38,145 median debt.
More Nursing Administration Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.
- 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.
