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2022 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Nursing (Income $0-$30k) in California

11 Ranked Colleges
358 Degrees Awarded
$21,200 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $0-$30k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2019-2020, 313,362 nursing students received their degree, making the major the 3rd most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, nursing graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $67,065 and had an average of $26,282 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 18,266 nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $87,508 and $30,286 respectively. At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 358 nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $71,544 and $133,402 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 11 colleges that offer a degree in nursing. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent nursing programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the nursing program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Nursing Schools

The nursing school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $0-$30k”.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 11 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Nursing (Income $0-$30k) in California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Fresno. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $0-$30k. Fresno State is a public institution located in Fresno, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 15 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Fresno State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Fresno State are $17,581.

Read more about Nursing at California State University - Fresno

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Fullerton. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. California State University - Fullerton is located in Fullerton, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 20 doctorate’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

Cal State Fullerton also made our “Best Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #12. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State Fullerton are $17,892, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Nursing at Cal State Fullerton

#3

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Los Angeles landed the #3 spot on the list. UCLA is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 20 doctorate’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

UCLA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Los Angeles are $28,131, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Nursing at UCLA

#9 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Irvine. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. UC Irvine is located in Irvine, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 doctorate’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

UC Irvine also made our “Best Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #9. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Irvine are $28,456, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of California - Irvine Nursing Report

#8 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Davis. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $0-$30k. UC Davis is located in Davis, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 doctorate’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

UC Davis also took the #8 spot in our “Best Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Davis are $28,700, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of California - Davis Nursing Report

#6

University of San Diego

San Diego, California

With a ranking of #6, University of San Diego did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of San Diego is a private not-for-profit institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 46 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

USD also made our “Best Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #6. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of San Diego are $28,410, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Nursing at University of San Diego

#7

Point Loma Nazarene University

San Diego, California
#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, Point Loma Nazarene University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Point Loma Nazarene University is located in San Diego, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 doctorate’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

PLNU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at PLNU are $11,880.

Read full report on Nursing at Point Loma Nazarene University

#8

California Baptist University

Riverside, California
#16 in overall quality

California Baptist University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Riverside, California, and it awarded 1 doctorate’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal Baptist not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Cal Baptist are $14,140.

Read more about Nursing at Cal Baptist

#9

Azusa Pacific University

Azusa, California
#11 in overall quality

Azusa Pacific University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Azusa, California, and it awarded 12 doctorate’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Azusa Pacific not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Azusa Pacific University are $16,571, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Nursing at Azusa Pacific

#10

Brandman University

Irvine, California

Brandman University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Irvine, California, and it awarded 96 doctorate’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Brandman, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Brandman are $12,540, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Nursing at Brandman

#11

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, California

University of San Francisco did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. This fairly large school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 47 doctorate’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at USFCA, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of San Francisco are $26,710, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Nursing at USFCA

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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