2026 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Far Western Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in nursing, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Nursing Schools
Fresno City College earned the #1 spot for value among nursing schools in the Far Western Region. Fresno City College is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. Students from in state pay about $1,378 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,638 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,000 to complete the nursing program here. Nursing graduates of Fresno City College earn a median of $91,961 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,000 median debt.
College Of San Mateo is a great value for students pursuing a degree in nursing, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of San Mateo, College Of San Mateo is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,332, with out-of-state students paying around $11,428. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $12,831. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $54,172. That is a strong return on a $12,831 median debt.
College Of The Sequoias came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing schools. College Of The Sequoias is a large public school located in the city of Visalia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,394, while out-of-state students pay about $9,038. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $16,152. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from College Of The Sequoias generally make around $98,926. Set against $16,152 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Moorpark College earned it the #4 place for nursing. Set in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $17,075. Early-career nursing graduates make about $105,599. That is a strong return on a $17,075 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in nursing will find it at California State University Dominguez Hills, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Carson, California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,454, with out-of-state students paying around $20,054. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $18,750. Early-career nursing graduates make about $119,692. That is a strong return on a $18,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
College Of The Canyons placed #6 among the best values for nursing. Set in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,166, with out-of-state students paying around $10,958. Nursing graduates carry a median of $17,250 in student loans. Nursing graduates of College Of The Canyons earn a median of $97,457 early in their careers. Set against $17,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Diego City College came in at #7 for value in nursing this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego City College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,146, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $9,514. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from San Diego City College generally make around $26,218. Set against $9,514 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cerritos College earned the #8 position for value in nursing this year. Cerritos College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norwalk. Students from in state pay about $1,364 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,004 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,332 to complete the nursing program here. Early-career nursing graduates make about $29,495. That is a strong return on a $16,332 median debt.
Pasadena City College earned the #9 position for value in nursing this year. Located in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, compared with $10,924 for out-of-state students. Nursing graduates carry a median of $12,834 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Pasadena City College generally make around $90,156. Set against $12,834 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mt San Antonio College placed #10 among the best values for nursing. Mt San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Walnut. In-state tuition and fees average $1,364, with out-of-state students paying around $10,464. Students borrow a median of $13,718 to complete the nursing program here. Early-career nursing graduates make about $92,486. Set against $13,718 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Golden West College landed the #11 spot for nursing value this year. Golden West College is a large public school located in the suburb of Huntington Beach. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,380, compared with $11,628 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the nursing program here. Early-career nursing graduates make about $82,984. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt.
Saddleback College landed the #12 spot for nursing value this year. Set in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,432, with out-of-state students paying around $14,812. Nursing graduates carry a median of $5,707 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Saddleback College generally make around $15,890. Set against $5,707 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California State University Los Angeles came in at #13 for value in nursing this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,164, compared with $19,764 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,964 to complete the nursing program here. Nursing graduates of California State University Los Angeles earn a median of $122,354 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Los Angeles admits about 91% of applicants.
Grossmont College earned the #14 position for value in nursing this year. Set in the suburb of El Cajon, Grossmont College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, with out-of-state students paying around $10,628. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,309 ten years after entry.
Riverside City College earned the #15 position for value in nursing this year. Riverside City College is a very large public school located in the city of Riverside. Students from in state pay about $1,428 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,498 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the nursing program here. Early-career nursing graduates make about $89,869. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Imperial Valley College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing schools. Located in the rural area of Imperial, Imperial Valley College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,126, compared with $8,830 for out-of-state students. Nursing graduates carry a median of $6,176 in student loans. Nursing graduates of Imperial Valley College earn a median of $77,226 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ventura College earned the #17 position for value in nursing this year. Located in the city of Ventura, Ventura College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,426, while out-of-state students pay about $9,615. Students borrow a median of $20,250 to complete the nursing program here. Early-career nursing graduates make about $99,778. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santa Ana College earned the #18 position for value in nursing this year. Set in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, compared with $10,756 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $16,739. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Santa Ana College generally make around $98,493. Set against $16,739 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Solano Community College earned the #19 position for value in nursing this year. Solano Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Fairfield. Students from in state pay about $1,172 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,772. Nursing graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,170 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $10,500 median debt.
Yuba College earned the #20 position for value in nursing this year. Located in the suburb of Marysville, Yuba College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,128, while out-of-state students pay about $8,208. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $8,729. Nursing graduates of Yuba College earn a median of $117,283 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Shasta College landed the #21 spot for nursing value this year. Shasta College is a large public school located in the suburb of Redding. Students from in state pay about $1,197 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,853. Nursing graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Shasta College generally make around $99,544. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Victor Valley College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing schools. Set in the suburb of Victorville, Victor Valley College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,425, compared with $10,125 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,500 to complete the nursing program here. Nursing graduates of Victor Valley College earn a median of $91,138 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
California State University Fullerton ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing schools. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,470, compared with $20,070 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $17,375. Nursing graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of $156,309 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,375 median debt. California State University Fullerton admits about 90% of applicants.
Butte College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing schools. Located in the rural area of Oroville, Butte College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,356, compared with $9,276 for out-of-state students. Nursing graduates carry a median of $15,375 in student loans. Early-career nursing graduates make about $104,268. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Merced College earned the #25 position for value in nursing this year. Merced College is a large public school located in the city of Merced. In-state tuition and fees average $1,200, with out-of-state students paying around $8,520. Students borrow a median of $12,750 to complete the nursing program here. Nursing graduates of Merced College earn a median of $107,024 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Nursing Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s nursing value ranking:
Narrow Nursing Schools by State
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 · 263 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 182 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.
[Nursing](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong nursing education at a price that pays off.
