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2023 Most Focused Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Nursing in California

21 Ranked Colleges
525 Degrees Awarded
$127,792 Avg Salary
Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California” ranking - to help you make that decision.

With 319,502 degrees handed out in 2021-2022, nursing is the 3rd most popular major in the United States. In , nursing graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $70,911 and had an average of $28,318 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 19,867 nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $90,739 and $35,580 respectively. At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 525 nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $76,943 and $148,774 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California” ranking looked at 21 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in nursing. That schools that top this list have a program in nursing in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California”.

Top 21 Most Focused Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Nursing in California

1
Brandman crest
Brandman University
Irvine, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Brandman University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California list. Brandman University is located in Irvine, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 92 doctorate’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Nursing at Brandman

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. The school came in at #2 for the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California. USAHS is located in San Marcos, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 42 doctorate’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Nursing at University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences

3
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University of San Diego
San Diego, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of San Diego. The school came in at #3 for the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California. University of San Diego is located in San Diego, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 58 doctorate’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full USD Nursing Report

4
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Touro University California
Vallejo, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Touro University California. The school came in at #4 for the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California. Located in Vallejo, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 13 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s nursing students in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Nursing at Touro University California

5
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Loma Linda University
Loma Linda, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Loma Linda University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California list. Loma Linda University is a small school located in Loma Linda, California that handed out 42 doctorate’s nursing degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Nursing at Loma Linda University

6

University of California - San Francisco did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California ranking, coming in at #6. This small school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 31 doctorate’s nursing degrees in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Nursing at UCSF

7

Western University of Health Sciences landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California ranking. Western University of Health Sciences is located in Pomona, California and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 8 doctorate’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Nursing at Western University of Health Sciences

8
USFCA crest
University of San Francisco
San Francisco, California

With a ranking of #8, University of San Francisco did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California list. San Francisco, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s nursing degrees to 40 students in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Nursing at USFCA

9
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Samuel Merritt University
Oakland, California

Samuel Merritt University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California ranking. Samuel Merritt University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Oakland, California. It awarded 21 doctorate’s nursing degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Nursing at Samuel Merritt University

10
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Azusa Pacific University
Azusa, California

Azusa Pacific University ranked #10 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California list. Azusa Pacific University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Azusa, California. It awarded 24 doctorate’s nursing degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Azusa Pacific University Nursing Report

11
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Point Loma Nazarene University
San Diego, California

Point Loma Nazarene University landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California ranking. Point Loma Nazarene University is a private not-for-profit institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 doctorate’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full PLNU Nursing Report

12

California State University - Fullerton did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California ranking, coming in at #12. Fullerton, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s nursing degrees to 43 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Nursing at California State University - Fullerton

13

California State University - Fresno landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California ranking. Fresno State is a public institution located in Fresno, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 188 doctorate’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Fresno State Nursing Report

14

With a ranking of #14, University of California - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s nursing degrees to 24 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Nursing at UCLA

15
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California Baptist University
Riverside, California

California Baptist University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California ranking. Cal Baptist is a fairly large school located in Riverside, California that handed out 7 doctorate’s nursing degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full California Baptist University Nursing Report

16
San Jose State crest
San Jose State University
San Jose, California

With a ranking of #16, San Jose State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California list. This large school is located in San Jose, California, and it awarded 18 doctorate’s nursing degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Read more about Nursing at San Jose State

17

University of California - Davis ranked #17 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California list. Located in Davis, California, this large public school awarded 6 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s nursing students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Nursing at University of California - Davis

18

University of California - Irvine landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California ranking. Located in Irvine, California, this large public school awarded 20 degrees to qualified doctorate’s nursing students in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Nursing at UC Irvine

19
Northcentral University crest
Northcentral University
San Diego, California

Northcentral University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California ranking. Northcentral University is located in San Diego, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 3 doctorate’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 1 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Northcentral University Nursing Report

19

West Coast University - Orange County ranked #19 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California list. West Coast University - Orange County is a private for-profit institution located in Anaheim, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 23 doctorate’s degrees in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full West Coast University - Orange County Nursing Report

19
National University crest
National University
San Diego, California

National University ranked #19 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California list. This fairly large school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 11 doctorate’s nursing degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Nursing at National University

Notes and References

References

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