2023 Best Healthcare Schools in California
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for healthcare students. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools and bootcamp that offer fast-track entry to many fields.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Healthcare Degree Search has developed this Best Healthcare Schools in California ranking. This report analyzed 125 schools in California to see which ones offered the best programs for healthcare students.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Healthcare Schools in California
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Stanford University to be the best school for healthcare students in California.
Degree recipients from Stanford accumulate an average of $13,926 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Stanford, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $83,159 during the early years of their career.
Out of the 125 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Berkeley landed the # 2 spot on the list.
Degree recipients from UC Berkeley accumulate an average of $15,301 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $323, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, UC Berkeley graduates make an average of $60,587 annually.
Out of the 125 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Southern California landed the # 3 spot on the list.
On average, students take out $15,661 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $489, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from USC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $65,044 during the early years of their career.
Out of the 125 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of the Pacific landed the # 4 spot on the list.
On average, students take out $23,827 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $656. During the early years of their career, Pacific graduates make an average of $58,860 annually.
The excellent programs at Dominican University of California helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best healthcare schools in California.
On average, students take out $27,447 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $734 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, DUofC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $53,232 during the early year of their career.
University of California - Los Angeles came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Healthcare Schools in California ranking.
On average, students take out $16,277 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $278.After graduating from UCLA, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $53,838 during the early years of their career.
Merced College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Healthcare Schools in California ranking.
On average, students take out $9,785 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Merced Community College District, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $54,460 during the early years of their career.
Notre Dame de Namur University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for healthcare students. It came in at #8 on the list.
Degree recipients from NDNU accumulate an average of $28,287 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $542 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from NDNU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $50,729 during the early years of their career.
Foothill College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Healthcare Schools in California list.
Degree recipients from Foothill College accumulate an average of $13,949 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Foothill College graduates make an average of $97,367 annually.
University of Redlands landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best healthcare programs.
Degree recipients from University of Redlands accumulate an average of $28,902 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $410. Once they receive their degree, University of Redlands graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $46,017 during the early year of their career.
Mendocino College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for healthcare students. It came in at #11 on the list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,626 in student loans.After graduating from Mendocino College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $60,370 during the early years of their career.
West Hills College-Lemoore came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Healthcare Schools in California ranking.
On average, students take out $13,437 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from West Hills College-Lemoore, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,696 during the early years of their career.
University of San Francisco ranked #13 on this year’s Best Healthcare Schools in California list.
Degree recipients from USFCA accumulate an average of $21,881 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $653 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, USFCA graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $60,640 during the early year of their career.
Mount Saint Mary’s University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Healthcare Schools in California ranking.
On average, students take out $28,665 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $235 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, MSMU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $46,449 during the early year of their career.
With a ranking of #15, California State University - Stanislaus did quite well on this year’s best schools for healthcare students working.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,714 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $138 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Stan State graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $39,835 during the early year of their career.
Canada College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best healthcare programs.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,439 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Canada College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $92,243 during the early year of their career.
Cuesta College landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best healthcare programs.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,466 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Cuesta College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $48,355 during the early year of their career.
Loyola Marymount University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for healthcare students. It came in at #18 on the list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,811 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $821.After graduating from Loyola Marymount, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $48,301 during the early years of their career.
San Jose State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for healthcare students. It came in at #19 on the list.
During the early years of their career, San Jose State graduates make an average of $52,886 annually.
With a ranking of #20, California State University - San Marcos did quite well on this year’s best schools for healthcare students working.
Degree recipients from CSUSM accumulate an average of $18,457 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $189 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from CSUSM, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $43,115 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on California State University - San Marcos
Biola University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for healthcare students. It came in at #21 on the list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $26,238 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $543. Once they receive their degree, Biola graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $42,424 during the early year of their career.
With a ranking of #22, Santa Barbara City College did quite well on this year’s best schools for healthcare students working.
On average, students take out $18,628 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, SBCC graduates make an average of $53,400 annually.
Vanguard University of Southern California landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best healthcare programs.
Degree recipients from Vanguard accumulate an average of $24,961 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Vanguard graduates make an average of $49,027 annually.
Read full report on Vanguard University of Southern California
Azusa Pacific University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Healthcare Schools in California list.
Degree recipients from Azusa Pacific accumulate an average of $26,855 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $276, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Azusa Pacific graduates make an average of $46,840 annually.
California State University - Sacramento did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for healthcare students. It came in at #25 on the list.
On average, students take out $19,924 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $172, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Sac State, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $45,098 during the early years of their career.
Best Healthcare Schools in the Far Western US Region
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Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our best healthcare schools ranking:
Rank | School | Location |
---|---|---|
26 | University of California - Davis | Davis, CA |
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- 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 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%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
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