2023 Best Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region
Finding the Best Nursing School for You
Nursing is the most popular major in the United States with 26,717 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021.
With all the healthcare programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Healthcare Degree Search has created the Best Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 207 schools in the Far Western US Region to see which ones offered the best programs for healthcare students.
View our full ranking methodology.
2023 Best Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region
Check out the nursing programs at these schools if you want to get the best education that money can buy.
Top 25 Top Far Western US Region Schools in Nursing
Our analysis found Samuel Merritt University to be the best school for nursing students who want to pursue a degree in the Far Western US Region . Located in the city of Oakland, Samuel Merritt University is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
Nursing majors at Samuel Merritt University take out an average of $25,500 in student loans while working on their egree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $551.
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The excellent programs at Stanbridge University helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in the Far Western US Region . Located in the large city of Irvine, Stanbridge is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
On average, nursing graduates from Stanbridge take out $37,517 in student loans while working on their degree.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts is a small private for-profit school located in the midsize city of San Mateo.
Nursing majors at Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts take out an average of $18,603 in student loans while working on their egree.
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The excellent programs at Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied Health helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in the Far Western US Region . L.A. County School of Nursing is a small public school located in the large city of Los Angeles.
After completing their degree, nursing graduates from L.A. County School of Nursing carry an average student debtload of $19,688.
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The excellent programs at University of Southern California helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in the Far Western US Region . Located in the large city of Los Angeles, USC is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.
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Pacific College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Located in the midsize city of Costa Mesa, Pacific College is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
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With a ranking of #7, University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. USAHS is a moderately-sized private for-profit school located in the large suburb of San Marcos.
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With a ranking of #8, Linfield University - Online and Continuing Education did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. Located in the distant town of McMinnville, Linfield OCE is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
While working on their degree, nursing majors at Linfield OCE accumulate an average of around $31,403 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $346.
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With a ranking of #9, Linfield University - School of Nursing did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. Located in the large city of Portland, Linfield Nursing is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
While working on their degree, nursing majors at Linfield Nursing accumulate an average of around $31,403 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $346.
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Loma Linda University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Loma Linda University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Loma Linda.
After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Loma Linda University carry an average student debtload of $32,500. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $416, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Touro University California did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for nursing students. It came in at #11 on the list. TUC is a small private not-for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Vallejo.
While working on their degree, nursing majors at TUC accumulate an average of around $16,982 in student debt.
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With a ranking of #12, West Coast University - Ontario did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. Located in the medium-sized city of Ontario, West Coast University - Ontario is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
After completing their degree, nursing graduates from West Coast University - Ontario carry an average student debtload of $38,146. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $665, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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With a ranking of #13, West Coast University - Los Angeles did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. Located in the large city of North Hollywood, West Coast University - Los Angeles is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at West Coast University - Los Angeles take out is $38,146. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $665, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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California State University - Monterey Bay ranked #14 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Located in the medium-sized suburb of Seaside, CSUMB is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
After completing their degree, nursing graduates from CSUMB carry an average student debtload of $13,312.
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With a ranking of #15, West Coast University - Orange County did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. West Coast University - Orange County is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Anaheim.
Nursing majors at West Coast University - Orange County take out an average of $38,146 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $665, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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American University of Health Sciences landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. AUHS Signal Hill is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Signal Hill.
On average, nursing graduates from AUHS Signal Hill take out $46,029 in student loans while working on their degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $471, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Bushnell University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in the city of Eugene, Bushnell University is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Bushnell University take out is $29,141.
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University of California - San Francisco ranked #18 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Located in the city of San Francisco, UCSF is a public school with a small student population.
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With a ranking of #19, Oregon Health & Science University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. OHSU is a small public school located in the city of Portland.
While working on their degree, nursing majors at OHSU accumulate an average of around $31,651 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $332, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Unitek College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Unitek College is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Fremont.
Nursing majors at Unitek College take out an average of $23,468 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Chamberlain University - California did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for nursing students. It came in at #21 on the list. Chamberlain - California is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the small city of Rancho Cordova.
On average, nursing graduates from Chamberlain - California take out $38,460 in student loans while working on their degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $256, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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University of California - Davis ranked #22 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region list. UC Davis is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Davis.
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Sonoma State University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. SSU is a medium-sized public school located in the suburb of Rohnert Park.
While working on their degree, nursing majors at SSU accumulate an average of around $17,747 in student debt.
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Gonzaga University landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Located in the medium-sized city of Spokane, Gonzaga is a private not-for-profit school with a moderately-sized student population.
Nursing majors at Gonzaga take out an average of $27,000 in student loans while working on their egree.
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University of Portland landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Located in the large city of Portland, University of Portland is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at University of Portland take out is $28,175. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $768.
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Honorable Mentions
Here are some additional great schools for Nursing students in the Far Western US Region that almost earned our Best Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | Dominican University of California | San Rafael, CA |
| 33 | University of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA |
| 34 | California State University - Sacramento | Sacramento, CA |
| 35 | Mount Saint Mary’s University | Los Angeles, CA |
| 36 | California State University - Channel Islands | Camarillo, CA |
| 37 | Merced College | Merced, CA |
| 38 | Touro University Nevada | Henderson, NV |
| 39 | University of Washington - Tacoma Campus | Tacoma, WA |
| 40 | Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA |
| 41 | Point Loma Nazarene University | San Diego, CA |
Best Nursing Colleges by State
Explore the best nursing schools for a specific state in the Far Western US region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Oregon | 1,502 |
| California | 18,329 |
| Washington | 3,851 |
| Nevada | 2,015 |
| Hawaii | 535 |
| Alaska | 177 |
More Nursing Rankings in the Far Western US Region
Rankings in Majors Related to Nursing
One of 30 majors within the healthcare area of study, nursing has other similar majors worth exploring.
Nursing Concentrations
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | 266,651 |
| Family Practice Nurse/Nursing | 16,104 |
| Nursing Administration | 9,838 |
| Nursing Practice | 7,992 |
| Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 5,092 |
| Nursing Science | 4,600 |
| Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing | 2,287 |
| Adult Health Nurse/Nursing | 2,021 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | 1,936 |
| Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing | 1,883 |
| Critical Care Nursing | 773 |
| Geriatric Nurse/Nursing | 563 |
| School Nursing | 553 |
| Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery | 509 |
| Clinical Nurse Leader | 444 |
| Clinical Nurse Specialist | 419 |
| Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing | 331 |
| Maternal/Child Health and Neonatal Nurse/Nursing | 181 |
| Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing | 57 |
| Emergency Room/Trauma Nursing | 53 |
| Palliative Care Nursing | 14 |
| Forensic Nursing | 14 |
Most Popular Majors Related to Nursing
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Health & Medical Administrative Services | 89,359 |
| Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services | 84,492 |
| Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants | 84,274 |
| Allied Health Professions | 82,308 |
| Public Health | 40,596 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- 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 the rest 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).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Aleksahgabrielle.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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