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Best Nursing Schools in Los Angeles: Rankings, Tuition & Programs for 2026

GradeToGrad Editorial Team

April 1, 2026

Compare 30 LA nursing programs from $1,144 community college ADN to UCLA and USC doctoral programs. RN salary in LA averages $120,000+.

Why Study Nursing in Los Angeles?

Los Angeles has one of the largest healthcare sectors in the country, anchored by world-class institutions like Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, UCLA Health, Keck Medicine of USC, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, and the vast LA County health system. The metro area has 30 institutions offering nursing programs — from $1,144/year community college ADN degrees to doctoral programs at UCLA and USC.

The average RN salary in Los Angeles is approximately $120,000-125,000/year (2025 data) — roughly 40% higher than the national average. New graduate RNs start around $84,000. California's higher cost of living is offset by the nation's highest nursing salaries.

Elite University Programs

UCLA — Joe C. Wen School of Nursing

UCLA is ranked #9 nationally for MSN programs by U.S. News & World Report. Doctoral nursing graduates earn a median of $158,596/year. In-state tuition is $13,747 with an 8.7% acceptance rate and 92.6% graduation rate. Clinical rotations include Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, Cedars-Sinai, Children's Hospital LA, Harbor-UCLA, and Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center.

University of Southern California

USC's Master's nursing graduates earn $161,094/year — among the highest in Los Angeles. Tuition is $68,237 with a 10.0% acceptance rate and 92.2% graduation rate. Clinical placements at Keck Hospital of USC and partner institutions across LA.

Western University of Health Sciences (Pomona)

Doctoral nursing graduates earn $176,424/year — the highest in the LA area. As a dedicated health sciences university, it provides immersive clinical training.

Charles R. Drew University (Los Angeles)

Drew's Graduate Certificate nursing graduates earn $138,199/year. With a 38.8% acceptance rate and mission focused on underserved communities, it provides clinical experience in South LA's healthcare network. Tuition is $18,933.

Top CSU Programs (Best Value)

California State University campuses offer the best value for nursing education in LA — strong outcomes at a fraction of private school tuition.

CSU Fullerton

The standout: doctoral nursing graduates earn $165,916/year at just $7,073/year tuition. With an 86.7% acceptance rate and 36,956 students, it combines accessibility with top-tier outcomes.

CSU Long Beach

Graduate Certificate nursing graduates earn $111,518/year at $7,008 tuition. The 47.1% acceptance rate makes it the most selective CSU in the area, with a 71.3% graduation rate.

CSU Los Angeles

Master's graduates earn $117,496/year at $6,813 tuition. The 91.9% acceptance rate makes it very accessible, and its location in East LA serves a diverse student population.

CSU Dominguez Hills (Carson)

Master's nursing graduates earn $114,249/year at $7,064. The 91.3% acceptance rate and location in the South Bay make it a strong option.

CSU San Bernardino

BSN graduates earn $91,007/year at $7,675. Located in the Inland Empire with a 98.3% acceptance rate — essentially open admission.

Community College ADN Programs

California's community colleges offer the cheapest path to becoming an RN, with tuition under $1,500/year thanks to state subsidies. LA-area ADN graduates earn $70,000-89,000/year.

Top CC Nursing Programs by Earnings

School	City	Tuition	ADN Nursing Earnings
Rio Hondo College	Whittier	$1,388/yr	$88,475
LA County College of Nursing	Los Angeles	N/A	$89,536
Pasadena City College	Pasadena	$1,180/yr	$83,823
Los Angeles City College	Los Angeles	$1,238/yr	$83,699
Cerritos College	Norwalk	$1,364/yr	$83,079
Riverside City College	Riverside	$1,420/yr	$83,133
El Camino College	Torrance	$1,144/yr	$70,709

El Camino College in Torrance has the lowest tuition at $1,144/year. Rio Hondo College in Whittier has the highest ADN earnings at $88,475. The LA County College of Nursing offers a unique county-run program with clinical rotations at LA County+USC Medical Center.

Note: California CC nursing programs are extremely competitive — acceptance into the nursing program is separate from general admission, often requiring a 3.5+ GPA in prerequisites and entrance exam scores.

Private & Specialty Programs

California Baptist University (Riverside)

Master's nursing graduates earn $126,508/year at $39,720 tuition. Strong faith-based program with a 73.6% acceptance rate.

Azusa Pacific University

Master's graduates earn $118,408/year at $43,600. Known for strong clinical partnerships and a 79.5% acceptance rate.

Vanguard University (Costa Mesa)

Master's nursing graduates earn $134,779/year at $39,950. The 64.7% acceptance rate is moderately selective.

Mount Saint Mary's University (Los Angeles)

The only women's university in LA offers BSN at $48,132 with graduates earning $95,637. Long history of nursing education in the city.

West Coast University (Anaheim/Ontario)

A nursing-focused university with two LA-area campuses. Anaheim campus MSN graduates earn $94,530 at $22,685. Ontario campus BSN graduates earn $89,318 at $37,194. Higher acceptance rates make it accessible.

LA Nursing Salaries (2025)

Los Angeles nursing salaries are among the nation's highest:

New graduate RN: $83,000-90,000/year
Experienced RN (3-5 years): $100,000-120,000/year
Specialized RN (ICU, ER, OR): $115,000-140,000/year
Nurse Practitioner: $135,000-170,000/year
CRNA: $200,000-250,000+/year

Major employers: Cedars-Sinai, UCLA Health, Providence, Kaiser Permanente, Dignity Health, Adventist Health, LA County Department of Health Services, Children's Hospital LA.

Clinical Rotation Sites

LA nursing students rotate through some of the country's best hospitals:

UCLA Medical Center — Ronald Reagan and Santa Monica campuses
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center — ranked #2 in California
Keck Hospital of USC — academic medical center
Children's Hospital Los Angeles — top pediatric facility
Harbor-UCLA Medical Center — Level I trauma center
LA County+USC Medical Center — one of the largest public hospitals in the US
Kaiser Permanente — multiple LA locations
VA Greater Los Angeles — veterans healthcare

Financial Aid

California Promise Program — free tuition for first-time, full-time CC students (covers the already-low $1,100-1,400 tuition)
Cal Grant A/B — up to $14,000+ for CSU/UC students
Board of Governors Fee Waiver (BOGFW) — waives CC enrollment fees based on income
HRSA Nurse Corps Scholarship — tuition + living stipend
Kaiser Permanente scholarships — for nursing students in their network
ADN-to-BSN employer tuition reimbursement — Cedars-Sinai, UCLA Health, and others pay for ADN nurses to complete BSN

The Smart Path

The 2+2 approach is especially powerful in LA:

Complete ADN at a CC like Pasadena City College ($1,180/year)
Pass NCLEX, start working as an RN earning $84,000+
Complete RN-to-BSN online while working
Total cost: under $10,000 vs. $50,000-270,000 at a private university

Next Steps

Compare all LA nursing programs on GradeToGrad — see tuition, earnings, and acceptance rates side by side.