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2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California

45 Ranked Colleges
3,345 Degrees Awarded
$116,057 Avg Salary
Schools for a Master's Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2021-2022, 319,502 nursing students received their degree, making the major the 3rd most popular in the country. 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 master’s degree level specifically, there were 3,345 nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $63,735 and $51,649 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California” ranking, we looked at 45 colleges that offer a degree in nursing. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their nursing program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest 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.

Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California

The colleges and universities below are the best for california master’s degree nursing students.

Top 25 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Nursing in California

1
USU crest
United States University
San Diego, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend United States University. The school came in at #1 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California. United States University is a small private for-profit school situated in San Diego, California. It awarded 640 masters’s nursing degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full United States University Nursing Report

2

Out of the 45 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Los Angeles, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 217 diplomas to qualified masters’s nursing students in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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 Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science Nursing Report

3
Samuel Merritt University crest
Samuel Merritt University
Oakland, California

Out of the 45 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Samuel Merritt University landed the #3 spot on the list. Oakland, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s nursing degrees to 236 students in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. 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%.

Read full report on Nursing at Samuel Merritt University

4

Out of the 45 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, West Coast University - Orange County landed the #4 spot on the list. West Coast University - Orange County is a small school located in Anaheim, California that handed out 299 masters’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 school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Nursing at West Coast University - Orange County

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - San Francisco. The school came in at #5 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California. UCSF is a small school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 141 masters’s nursing degrees 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.

Read full report on Nursing at UCSF

6
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Holy Names University
Oakland, California

With a ranking of #6, Holy Names University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California list. This small school is located in Oakland, California, and it awarded 20 masters’s nursing degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% 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 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Nursing at Holy Names University

7

Western University of Health Sciences ranked #7 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California list. Pomona, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s nursing degrees to 146 students in 2021-2022.

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. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.2% 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 Western University of Health Sciences Nursing Report

8
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Azusa Pacific University
Azusa, California

With a ranking of #8, Azusa Pacific University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s 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 250 masters’s nursing degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default 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.

Read more about Nursing at Azusa Pacific

9
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Touro University California
Vallejo, California

With a ranking of #9, Touro University California did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California list. Vallejo, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s nursing degrees to 20 students in 2021-2022.

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. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Nursing at TUC

10
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University of San Francisco
San Francisco, California

University of San Francisco ranked #10 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California list. This medium-sized school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 206 masters’s nursing degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read full report on Nursing at University of San Francisco

11

University of Phoenix - California landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California ranking. University of Phoenix - California is a small private for-profit school situated in Ontario, California. It awarded 31 masters’s nursing degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Nursing at UOPX - California

12

With a ranking of #12, Vanguard University of Southern California did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California list. Costa Mesa, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s nursing degrees to 27 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Nursing at Vanguard University of Southern California

13
USD crest
University of San Diego
San Diego, California

With a ranking of #13, University of San Diego did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California list. USD is a private not-for-profit institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 23 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

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%.

Read more about Nursing at USD

14
Cal Baptist crest
California Baptist University
Riverside, California

California Baptist University ranked #14 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California list. California Baptist University is located in Riverside, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 77 masters’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

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%.

Read more about Nursing at California Baptist University

15
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Point Loma Nazarene University
San Diego, California

Point Loma Nazarene University ranked #15 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California list. Point Loma Nazarene University is a small school located in San Diego, California that handed out 17 masters’s nursing 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%.

Read full report on Nursing at Point Loma Nazarene University

16
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Fresno Pacific University
Fresno, California

Fresno Pacific University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California ranking. Fresno Pacific University is a small school located in Fresno, California that handed out 26 masters’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 Fresno Pacific University Nursing Report

17

University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California ranking. USAHS is a medium-sized school located in San Marcos, California that handed out 50 masters’s nursing degrees in 2021-2022.

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 full report on Nursing at University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences

18
SSU crest
Sonoma State University
Rohnert Park, California

With a ranking of #18, Sonoma State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California list. Sonoma State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Rohnert Park, California. It awarded 38 masters’s nursing degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% 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 SSU

19

California State University - Dominguez Hills did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California ranking, coming in at #19. Carson, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s nursing degrees to 50 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%.

Read more about Nursing at California State University - Dominguez Hills

20

University of California - Los Angeles came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California ranking. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 147 masters’s nursing degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UCLA Nursing Report

21

American University of Health Sciences ranked #21 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California list. American University of Health Sciences is located in Signal Hill, California and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 36 masters’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

Full American University of Health Sciences Nursing Report

22
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Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, California

With a ranking of #22, Mount Saint Mary’s University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California list. Mount Saint Mary’s University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Nursing at MSMU

23

With a ranking of #23, California State University - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California list. Cal State LA is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 57 masters’s nursing degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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 full report on Nursing at California State University - Los Angeles

24

California State University - Long Beach ranked #24 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California list. CSULB is a large public school situated in Long Beach, California. It awarded 93 masters’s nursing degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% 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 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full California State University - Long Beach Nursing Report

25

California State University - Sacramento did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in California ranking, coming in at #25. California State University - Sacramento is located in Sacramento, California and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 45 masters’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Nursing at California State University - Sacramento

Notes and References

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