Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Nursing in California (With Aid)

34 Ranked Colleges
2,734 Degrees Awarded
$19,100 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master's in California For Those Getting Aid

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. 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 Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Nursing is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 3rd of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 313,362 degrees were awarded to students with this major. 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 master’s degree level specifically, there were 2,734 nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 34 colleges that offered a degree in nursing. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great nursing programs and 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.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for california master’s degree nursing students with aid.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Nursing in California (With Aid)

Out of the 34 schools in the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Los Angeles landed the #1 spot on the list. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 78 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal State LA, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Los Angeles are $17,723, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Nursing at Cal State LA

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Dominguez Hills. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. CSUDH is a fairly large public school situated in Carson, California. It awarded 61 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUDH are $17,884, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Nursing at California State University - Dominguez Hills

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Stanislaus. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid. Located in Turlock, California, this fairly large public school handed out 21 degrees to qualified masters’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Stan State are $18,540.

Read full report on Nursing at Stan State

Out of the 34 schools in the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Fullerton landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Fullerton, California, this large public school awarded 68 degrees to qualified masters’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

Cal State Fullerton also took the #18 spot in our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fullerton are $17,892.

Read more about Nursing at California State University - Fullerton

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Fresno. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid. This large school is located in Fresno, California, and it awarded 23 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Fresno State also made our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #24. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fresno are $17,581.

Read more about Nursing at California State University - Fresno

California State University - Bakersfield landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. California State University - Bakersfield is a fairly large school located in Bakersfield, California that handed out 19 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUB are $18,437, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Nursing at California State University - Bakersfield

#12 in overall quality

California State University - Long Beach ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Long Beach, California, and it awarded 117 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

CSULB also made our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #12. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Long Beach are $17,784, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Nursing at California State University - Long Beach

University of California - Irvine ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. UC Irvine is a public institution located in Irvine, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 17 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Irvine did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Irvine are $28,456, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of California - Irvine Nursing Report

#9

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California

University of California - Los Angeles landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s nursing degrees to 149 students in 2019-2020.

UCLA also made our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #4. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCLA are $28,131, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Nursing at UCLA

#10

California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, California

California State University - San Bernardino ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. California State University - San Bernardino is a public institution located in San Bernardino, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 12 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at CSUSB are $17,936.

Read full report on Nursing at California State University - San Bernardino

#11

United States University

San Diego, California

United States University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 262 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

USU also took the #14 spot in our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at United States University are $5,850, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Nursing at USU

California State University - Sacramento ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Sacramento, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s nursing degrees to 61 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Sacramento are $18,356, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Nursing at California State University - Sacramento

#13

San Jose State University

San Jose, California

San Jose State University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. San Jose State is a public institution located in San Jose, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 29 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

San Jose State also made our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #17. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State are $18,790, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Nursing at San Jose State

#14

San Diego State University

San Diego, California

San Diego State University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. SDSU is a large public school situated in San Diego, California. It awarded 35 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

SDSU also took the #21 spot in our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Diego State University are $18,658, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Nursing at SDSU

With a ranking of #15, California State University - San Marcos did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Located in San Marcos, California, this fairly large public school awarded 17 diplomas to qualified masters’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUSM are $18,661, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full CSUSM Nursing Report

University of California - Davis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #16. University of California - Davis is a large public school situated in Davis, California. It awarded 32 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Davis also took the #10 spot in our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Davis are $28,700, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Nursing at University of California - Davis

#17

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. San Francisco, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s nursing degrees to 39 students in 2019-2020.

SFSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Nursing Master’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 San Francisco State University are $17,944.

Read full report on Nursing at San Francisco State University

California State University - East Bay came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Cal State East Bay is a public institution located in Hayward, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 9 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal State East Bay, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State East Bay are $17,828.

Full Cal State East Bay Nursing Report

California State University - Chico came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. California State University - Chico is a fairly large public school situated in Chico, California. It awarded 4 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Chico State also made our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #0. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Chico are $18,802, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Nursing at California State University - Chico

#20

Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, California

With a ranking of #20, Sonoma State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Sonoma State University is located in Rohnert Park, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 47 masters’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at SSU are $18,890, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Nursing at SSU

#21

University of Phoenix - California

Costa Mesa, California

University of Phoenix - California ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. UOPX - California is a small school located in Costa Mesa, California that handed out 51 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Phoenix - California are $16,752, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Phoenix - California Nursing Report

#22

Fresno Pacific University

Fresno, California

Fresno Pacific University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #22. Fresno Pacific is located in Fresno, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 30 masters’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

Fresno Pacific also made our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #22. Average graduate tuition and fees at Fresno Pacific are $15,000, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Nursing at Fresno Pacific

With a ranking of #23, Vanguard University of Southern California did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Vanguard is a small school located in Costa Mesa, California that handed out 25 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Vanguard University of Southern California are $16,180, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Nursing at Vanguard

#24

Holy Names University

Oakland, California

Holy Names University landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in Oakland, California, and it awarded 21 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at HNU are $18,590.

Full Holy Names University Nursing Report

Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Los Angeles, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 155 diplomas to qualified masters’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

CDU also made our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #16. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at CDU are $27,376.

Read full report on Nursing at CDU

Switch to a Similar Major

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.

Credits

Featured Nursing Schools

Find Schools Near You