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2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Nursing (Income $30-$48k) in California

71 Ranked Colleges
5,887 Degrees Awarded
$3,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

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 associate degree level specifically, there were 5,887 nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,451 and $19,634 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 71 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in nursing. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great nursing programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the nursing program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for california associate degree nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Nursing (Income $30-$48k) in California

#1

College of San Mateo

San Mateo, California

Out of the 71 schools in the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, College of San Mateo landed the #1 spot on the list. CSM is a medium-sized school located in San Mateo, California that handed out 48 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

CSM also took the #20 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $799 for California Associate Degree Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend CSM.

Read more about Nursing at College of San Mateo

#2

Ventura College

Ventura, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ventura College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Ventura College is a public institution located in Ventura, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 81 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california associate degree nursing students whose families make $30-$48k list, Ventura College has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ventura College is $978 for California Associate Degree Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Nursing at Ventura College

#3

Fresno City College

Fresno, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Fresno City College. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Fresno City College is located in Fresno, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 211 associates’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our california associate degree nursing students whose families make $30-$48k list, Fresno City College has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Fresno City College is $4,014 for california associate degree nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Nursing at Fresno City College

#4

College of the Sequoias

Visalia, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend College of the Sequoias. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Visalia, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s nursing degrees to 98 students in 2019-2020.

College of the Sequoias also made our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #25. The yearly cost to attend College of the Sequoias is $923 for California Associate Degree Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Nursing at College of the Sequoias

#5

Cerritos College

Norwalk, California

Out of the 71 schools in the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Cerritos College landed the #5 spot on the list. Cerritos College is a large public school situated in Norwalk, California. It awarded 71 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Cerritos College also made our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #22. The estimated yearly cost for Cerritos College is $3,988 for california associate degree nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Cerritos College Nursing Report

#6

Moorpark College

Moorpark, California

Moorpark College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. Moorpark College is located in Moorpark, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 71 associates’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Moorpark College is $1,177 for california associate degree nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Moorpark College Nursing Report

#7

Yuba College

Marysville, California

With a ranking of #7, Yuba College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Marysville, California, this medium-sized public school awarded 55 diplomas to qualified associates’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

Yuba College also took the #10 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $3,860 for california associate degree nursing students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Yuba College.

Read full report on Nursing at Yuba College

#8

College of the Canyons

Santa Clarita, California

College of the Canyons landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. College of the Canyons is a public institution located in Santa Clarita, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 106 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

College of the Canyons not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for College of the Canyons is $3,458 for california associate degree nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Nursing at College of the Canyons

#9

Pasadena City College

Pasadena, California

Pasadena City College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Pasadena, California, this large public school awarded 85 degrees to qualified associates’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $2,968 for California Associate Degree Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Pasadena City College.

Read more about Nursing at Pasadena City College

#10

Santa Ana College

Santa Ana, California

With a ranking of #10, Santa Ana College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. SAC is located in Santa Ana, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 96 associates’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

SAC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in California” list.

Full SAC Nursing Report

#11

Long Beach City College

Long Beach, California

Long Beach City College landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Long Beach, California, this large public school awarded 86 diplomas to qualified associates’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

Long Beach City College also took the #11 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $2,848 for California Associate Degree Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Long Beach City College.

Read full report on Nursing at Long Beach City College

#12

Mt. San Antonio College

Walnut, California

Mt. San Antonio College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Mt. San Antonio College is located in Walnut, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 53 associates’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Mt. San Antonio College is $1,599 for California Associate Degree Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Nursing at Mt. San Antonio College

#13

Golden West College

Huntington Beach, California

Golden West College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. Golden West College is a public institution located in Huntington Beach, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 85 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Golden West College is $2,962 for California Associate Degree Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Golden West College Nursing Report

#14

Riverside City College

Riverside, California

Riverside City College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Riverside, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s nursing degrees to 177 students in 2019-2020.

Riverside City College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in California” list.

Read full report on Nursing at Riverside City College

#15

Sacramento City College

Sacramento, California

Sacramento City College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Sacramento City College is located in Sacramento, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 69 associates’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

Sacramento City also took the #16 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $4,721 for california associate degree nursing students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Sacramento City.

Read full report on Nursing at Sacramento City College

#16

Santa Rosa Junior College

Santa Rosa, California

Santa Rosa Junior College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. SRJC is located in Santa Rosa, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 111 associates’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SRJC, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $4,975 for California Associate Degree Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend SRJC.

Read full report on Nursing at SRJC

#17

Citrus College

Glendora, California

Citrus College landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Citrus College is a fairly large public school situated in Glendora, California. It awarded 38 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Citrus College is $2,529 for California Associate Degree Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Citrus College Nursing Report

#18

Bakersfield College

Bakersfield, California

Bakersfield College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Bakersfield, California, this large public school handed out 122 degrees to qualified associates’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $4,716 for California Associate Degree Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Bakersfield College.

Read more about Nursing at Bakersfield College

#19

Butte College

Oroville, California

Butte College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Butte College is a medium-sized school located in Oroville, California that handed out 117 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Butte College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $4,971 for california associate degree nursing students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Butte College.

Full Butte College Nursing Report

#20

Cypress College

Cypress, California

Cypress College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #20. Cypress College is a fairly large public school situated in Cypress, California. It awarded 86 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Cypress College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Cypress College is $3,094 for California Associate Degree Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Cypress College Nursing Report

#21

Rio Hondo College

Whittier, California

Rio Hondo College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #21. Rio Hondo College is located in Whittier, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 77 associates’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $5,553 for California Associate Degree Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend RHCCD.

Read full report on Nursing at Rio Hondo College

#22

Saddleback College

Mission Viejo, California

Saddleback College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #22. Mission Viejo, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s nursing degrees to 91 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $3,462 for california associate degree nursing students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Saddleback College.

Read full report on Nursing at Saddleback College

#23

City College of San Francisco

San Francisco, California

With a ranking of #23, City College of San Francisco did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. City College of San Francisco is a fairly large school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 85 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend City College of San Francisco is $2,607 for california associate degree nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Nursing at City College of San Francisco

#24

Santa Barbara City College

Santa Barbara, California

Santa Barbara City College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Santa Barbara, California, and it awarded 69 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Santa Barbara City College is $6,423 for california associate degree nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Nursing at SBCC

#25

Imperial Valley College

Imperial, California

Imperial Valley College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Imperial, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s nursing degrees to 37 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Imperial Valley College is $843 for california associate degree nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Nursing at IVC

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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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