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

11 Ranked Colleges
358 Degrees Awarded
$21,200 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate 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. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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 doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 358 nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $71,544 and $133,402 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 11 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.

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.

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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 a Doctorate in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Getting Aid.

Top 11 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Nursing in California (With Aid)

#1

California State University - Fresno

Fresno, California
#13 in overall quality
$17,581 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees
$146,135 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Fresno. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Getting Aid list. Fresno State is a large public school situated in Fresno, California. It awarded 15 doctorate’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Fresno State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Fresno State are $17,581, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Nursing at California State University - Fresno

#2

California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, California
#12 in overall quality
$17,892 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees
$148,220 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Fullerton. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Getting Aid. Fullerton, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s nursing degrees to 20 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal State Fullerton, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State Fullerton are $17,892, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Nursing at Cal State Fullerton

#3

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#3 in overall quality
$28,131 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees
$129,821 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Los Angeles. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Getting Aid list. UCLA is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 20 doctorate’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california doctor’s degree nursing students with aid list, UCLA has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Los Angeles are $28,131, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UCLA Nursing Report

#4

University of California - Irvine

Irvine, California
#9 in overall quality
$28,456 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Irvine. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Getting Aid. University of California - Irvine is a large school located in Irvine, California that handed out 1 doctorate’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Irvine, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Irvine are $28,456, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Nursing at UC Irvine

#5

University of California - Davis

Davis, California
#8 in overall quality
$28,700 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Davis landed the #5 spot on the list. University of California - Davis is a public institution located in Davis, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Davis did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Davis are $28,700, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Nursing at UC Davis

#6

Brandman University

Irvine, California
#9 in overall quality
$12,540 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees
$122,038 Average Early-Career Earnings

Brandman University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Brandman University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Irvine, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 96 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Brandman also made our “Best Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #9. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Brandman are $12,540.

Full Brandman Nursing Report

#7

California Baptist University

Riverside, California
#16 in overall quality
$14,140 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

California Baptist University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Riverside, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s nursing degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

Cal Baptist did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California Baptist University are $14,140, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full California Baptist University Nursing Report

#8

Azusa Pacific University

Azusa, California
#11 in overall quality
$16,571 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #8, Azusa Pacific University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Getting Aid list. Azusa Pacific University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Azusa, California. It awarded 12 doctorate’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california doctor’s degree nursing students with aid list, Azusa Pacific has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Nursing Doctor’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 Azusa Pacific are $16,571.

Read more about Nursing at Azusa Pacific

#9

Point Loma Nazarene University

San Diego, California
#10 in overall quality
$11,880 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

Point Loma Nazarene University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 8 doctorate’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

PLNU also took the #10 spot in our “Best Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Point Loma Nazarene University are $11,880, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Nursing at Point Loma Nazarene University

#10

University of San Diego

San Diego, California
#6 in overall quality
$28,410 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees
$117,572 Average Early-Career Earnings

With a ranking of #10, University of San Diego did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Getting Aid list. This medium-sized school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 46 doctorate’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

USD did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of San Diego are $28,410, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full USD Nursing Report

#11

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, California
#4 in overall quality
$26,710 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees
$165,250 Average Early-Career Earnings

University of San Francisco came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of San Francisco is a fairly large school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 47 doctorate’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

USFCA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Nursing Doctor’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 University of San Francisco are $26,710.

Read more about Nursing at University of San Francisco

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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