Accredited nursing programs in California
96 schools in California have at least one nursing program accredited by ACEN or CCNE: 49 BSN, 42 ADN, 2 LPN, 36 MSN programs. For the bachelor’s degree, 48 of 49 listings are CCNE and 1 are ACEN.
- Bachelor's programs
- 49
- 1 ACEN, 48 CCNE
- Associate programs
- 42
- 42 ACEN, 0 CCNE
- Practical programs
- 2
- 2 ACEN, 0 CCNE
- Master's programs
- 36
- 0 ACEN, 36 CCNE
Accredited schools in California
| School | City | Type | BSN | ADN | LPN | MSN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Career College-Los Angeles | Los Angeles | For-profit | – | ACEN | – | – |
| American University of Health Sciences | Signal Hill | For-profit | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Angeles College | Los Angeles | For-profit | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Bakersfield College | Bakersfield | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Biola University | La Mirada | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| California Baptist University | Riverside | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| California Career College | Canoga Park | For-profit | CCNE | – | – | – |
| California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt | Arcata | Public | CCNE | – | – | – |
| California State University-Bakersfield | Bakersfield | Public | CCNE | – | – | – |
| California State University-Channel Islands | Camarillo | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| California State University-Chico | Chico | Public | CCNE | – | – | – |
| California State University-Dominguez Hills | Carson | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| California State University-East Bay | Hayward | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| California State University-Fresno | Fresno | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| California State University-Fullerton | Fullerton | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| California State University-Long Beach | Long Beach | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| California State University-Los Angeles | Los Angeles | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| California State University-Monterey Bay | Seaside | Public | CCNE | – | – | – |
| California State University-Northridge | Northridge | Public | CCNE | – | – | – |
| California State University-Sacramento | Sacramento | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| California State University-San Bernardino | San Bernardino | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| California State University-San Marcos | San Marcos | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| California State University-Stanislaus | Turlock | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Cerritos College | Norwalk | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Chaffey College | Rancho Cucamonga | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science | Los Angeles | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| College of San Mateo | San Mateo | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| College of the Desert | Palm Desert | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| College of the Sequoias | Visalia | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Concordia University-Irvine | Irvine | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Cypress College | Cypress | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Dominican University of California | San Rafael | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| El Camino Community College District | Torrance | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Fresno City College | Fresno | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Fresno Pacific University | Fresno | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Glendale Career College | Glendale | For-profit | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Glendale Community College | Glendale | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Golden West College | Huntington Beach | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Grossmont College | El Cajon | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Hartnell College | Salinas | Public | – | ACEN | ACEN | – |
| Homestead Schools | Torrance | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Imperial Valley College | Imperial | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Loma Linda University | Loma Linda | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Long Beach City College | Long Beach | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied Health | Los Angeles | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Los Angeles Harbor College | Wilmington | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Los Angeles Pierce College | Woodland Hills | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Los Angeles Southwest College | Los Angeles | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Los Angeles Valley College | Valley Glen | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Monterey Peninsula College | Monterey | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Moorpark College | Moorpark | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Mount Saint Mary's University | Los Angeles | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Mt San Antonio College | Walnut | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Mt San Jacinto Community College District | San Jacinto | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| National University | San Diego | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Ohlone College | Fremont | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Pacific College | Costa Mesa | For-profit | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Pacific Union College | Angwin | Private | ACEN | ACEN | – | – |
| Palomar College | San Marcos | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | San Diego | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Rio Hondo College | Whittier | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Riverside City College | Riverside | Public | – | ACEN | ACEN | – |
| Sacramento City College | Sacramento | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Saddleback College | Mission Viejo | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Samuel Merritt University | Oakland | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| San Bernardino Valley College | San Bernardino | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| San Diego City College | San Diego | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| San Diego State University | San Diego | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| San Francisco State University | San Francisco | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| San Joaquin Delta College | Stockton | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| San Jose State University | San Jose | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Santa Ana College | Santa Ana | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Santa Barbara City College | Santa Barbara | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Santa Monica College | Santa Monica | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Sierra College | Rocklin | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Simpson University | Redding | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Sonoma State University | Rohnert Park | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Southwestern College | Chula Vista | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Stanbridge University | Irvine | For-profit | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Touro University California | Vallejo | Private | – | – | – | CCNE |
| Unitek College | Fremont | For-profit | CCNE | – | – | – |
| University of California-Davis | Davis | Public | – | – | – | CCNE |
| University of California-Irvine | Irvine | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| University of California-Los Angeles | Los Angeles | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| University of Massachusetts Global | Aliso Viejo | Public | CCNE | – | – | – |
| University of San Diego | San Diego | Private | – | – | – | CCNE |
| University of San Francisco | San Francisco | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| University of Southern California | Los Angeles | Private | – | – | – | CCNE |
| University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences | San Marcos | For-profit | – | – | – | CCNE |
| Vanguard University of Southern California | Costa Mesa | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Ventura College | Ventura | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Western University of Health Sciences | Pomona | Private | – | – | – | CCNE |
| Westmont College | Santa Barbara | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| World Mission University | Los Angeles | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Xavier College School of Nursing | Stockton | For-profit | – | ACEN | – | – |
Programs listed as accredited in the ACEN directory (opens in a new tab) and the CCNE directory (opens in a new tab), collected November 2026 and matched to schools by name and city. Programs in candidacy are not counted. A dash means no accredited program at that level was matched.
What accreditation means in California
Two separate approvals apply to a nursing program. The California board of nursing approves programs so their graduates can sit the NCLEX. Programmatic accreditation from ACEN or CCNE is voluntary and is judged by a national peer body.
Bachelor's programs are the most common accredited level here, with 49. For bachelor’s degrees, 49 of 58 schools reporting graduates to the federal government matched an accredited program (84%). Compare California BSN programs by NCLEX pass rate, cost and pay.
Common questions
How many nursing schools in California are accredited?
We matched 96 California schools to at least one accredited nursing program in the ACEN and CCNE directories: 49 BSN, 42 ADN, 2 LPN, 36 MSN. Schools with several programs appear once.
What is the difference between ACEN and CCNE?
ACEN accredits nursing programs at every level, from practical nursing to doctorates. CCNE accredits bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs. Both are recognized by the US Department of Education.
Do I need an accredited program to become a nurse in California?
Not always. The state board of nursing approves programs for licensure, and that is a separate approval from ACEN or CCNE accreditation. Accreditation still matters for transferring credits, federal and employer tuition benefits, and entry to graduate programs.
Are all California bachelor’s programs accredited?
49 of the 58 California schools that report nursing bachelor’s graduates to the federal government matched an accredited listing. A school that does not match may be new, may be listed under another name, or may lack accreditation, so check the accreditor’s own directory before you apply.