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Best Nursing Schools in San Francisco: Programs, Tuition & Rankings for 2026

GradeToGrad Editorial Team

January 21, 2026

Compare 12 San Francisco nursing programs with real tuition and graduate earnings data.

Why Study Nursing in San Francisco?

San Francisco is a growing healthcare market with strong demand for nurses across hospitals, clinics, and specialty care facilities. The metro area has 12 institutions offering nursing programs at various levels, from affordable ADN degrees to doctoral programs.

Top University Nursing Programs

San Jose State University (San Jose) — 80.2% acceptance rate. In-state tuition: $7,992/year. Nursing graduates earn $112,207/year (Bachelor's Degree).

San Francisco State University (San Francisco) — 96.2% acceptance rate. In-state tuition: $7,424/year. Nursing graduates earn $136,160/year (Master's Degree).

California State University-East Bay (Hayward) — 96.8% acceptance rate. In-state tuition: $7,055/year. Nursing graduates earn $127,920/year (Bachelor's Degree).

University of San Francisco (San Francisco) — 50.8% acceptance rate. In-state tuition: $58,222/year. Nursing graduates earn $161,396/year (Doctoral Degree).

Unitek College (Fremont). In-state tuition: N/A/year. Nursing graduates earn $105,890/year (Associate's Degree).

Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts (San Jose). In-state tuition: N/A/year. Nursing graduates earn $93,681/year (Associate's Degree).

Community College & Affordable Nursing Programs

City College of San Francisco (San Francisco): $1,696/year, nursing graduates earn $103,265/year
Chabot College (Hayward): $1,150/year, nursing graduates earn $96,258/year
Evergreen Valley College (San Jose): $1,366/year, nursing graduates earn $83,906/year
College of San Mateo (San Mateo): $1,332/year, nursing graduates earn $98,961/year
Merritt College (Oakland): $1,167/year, nursing graduates earn $81,617/year

How to Choose

Consider your budget, career goals, and timeline. Community college ADN programs offer the fastest and cheapest path to an RN license. University BSN and graduate programs lead to higher earnings and more career options. Many nurses start with an ADN and bridge to BSN while working.

Financial Aid

Check your state's grant programs, federal Pell Grants (up to $7,395/year), and HRSA Nurse Corps Scholarships for nursing-specific aid. Many hospitals also offer tuition reimbursement for employees pursuing nursing degrees.

Next Steps

Compare San Francisco nursing programs on GradeToGrad.