Updated October 15, 202625+ min read

Nursing Schools in Oakland, CA

Compare commutable ADN and BSN schools by NCLEX results, cost, and time to licensure

The ADN vs BSN nursing school choice starts with two credentials that lead to the same California RN license and the same NCLEX-RN exam: an associate degree from a community college, where in-state tuition and fees run under $1,700 a year, or a bachelor's from a university, where the total can cross six figures. The exam does not care which one you hold. Hiring managers sometimes do.

Programs sit within a reasonable commute of Oakland in Berkeley, San Leandro, Hayward, Fremont, Pleasant Hill, and San Francisco across the Bay Bridge. Admission, not tuition, is usually the binding constraint: impacted public programs run multi-semester waitlists or lotteries, while private seats open faster and cost far more, making the private vs public nursing school tradeoff worth weighing.

Where East Bay Nurses Work: Kaiser, Sutter, Highland, and UCSF Benioff Oakland

The hospital where you do your clinical rotations is often the first employer to look at your résumé, so a program's clinical partners deserve as much attention as Cost of RN Programs. Oakland students typically rotate through Kaiser Permanente Oakland, Sutter Alta Bates Summit (Oakland and Berkeley campuses), Alameda Health System's Highland Hospital, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, and John Muir Health in Walnut Creek and Concord. San Francisco systems are a short BART ride away and widen the pool further.

Who Runs New-Grad Residencies

Kaiser Permanente Oakland offers a 12-month new-graduate RN residency.12 Eligibility lists both ADN and BSN graduates, and past cohorts have included nurses with and without a BSN.1 Sutter Alta Bates Summit also offers a new-graduate residency.4

The picture is different elsewhere. UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland does not run a formal new-grad residency, though it accepts ASN, BSN, and MSN nurses with 0 to 6 months of experience whose degree was conferred within the past 18 months.3 Highland Hospital and John Muir Health do not currently list one,45 and John Muir's status is undetermined,5 so confirm directly before you plan around it.

Residencies are competitive, and a BSN generally strengthens an application for new grad nurse residency programs at large systems. Kaiser's stated eligibility shows an ADN is not automatically a barrier, but it is a factor in your ADN vs. BSN decision.

Why Clinical Placements Help After the NCLEX

Students who rotate at a hospital arrive with familiar units, preceptors, and charting systems. Managers have already seen how they perform, and that history can shorten the path from passing the NCLEX-RN to a job offer.

What to Ask When Comparing Programs

  • Placement sites: Ask which of these hospitals the program uses for medical-surgical, pediatric, and critical care rotations.
  • Residency alignment: Check whether graduates have moved into Kaiser or Sutter residencies, and whether those cohorts included ADN or BSN graduates.
  • Degree timing: Note UCSF's 18-month window, which rewards applying soon after graduation.
  • Commute: Rotations may be at Walnut Creek, Berkeley, or San Francisco, so test the drive or BART trip.

Oakland and East Bay Nursing Schools With the Top NCLEX-RN Pass Rates

Below is a ranked list of nursing schools serving Oakland and the East Bay, ordered by NCLEX-RN first-time pass rates drawn from state board results across the latest three reporting years and weighted by the size of each school's testing cohort. Accreditation status and completion and retention figures separate the schools whose pass rates sit close together. Every program here is within a realistic commute of Oakland, whether by BART, AC Transit, or a drive across a bridge.

How we ranked these
Factors considered
  • Graduation and retention outcomes
  • NCLEX-RN first-time pass rates
  • Accreditation and state approval
  • Program cost and length
  • Commuter access from Oakland
Data sources
  • NCES-IPEDS federal institutional data — nces.ed.gov
  • Program-level NCLEX pass rates from the state boards of nursing — ncsbn.org
  • In-house program catalog data
  • Original research on individual programs

Chabot College

#1

Hayward, CA · ~$9,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 98.7% (2-yr weighted avg)

Hispanic-Serving Institution

Best for: Cost-focused East Bay ADN commuters

Chabot College runs a two-year Associate in Science in Nursing in Hayward that admits only 40 students each fall through a merit and holistic review, so early preparation on the TEAS and prerequisites matters. The program reports a 100% licensure pass rate, holds a Strong Workforce Gold Star award, and its total program cost of roughly $8,000 to $8,500 makes it one of the more affordable routes to an RN license near Oakland. Licensed vocational nurses can enter through an LVN to RN bridge, and a transfer agreement with Cal State East Bay keeps a bachelor's degree within reach. The Hayward campus is a short drive or BART ride south of Oakland.

  • Two-year, full-time ADN admitting 40 students each fall
  • Merit and holistic selection; TEAS entrance exam required
  • Application window runs November 1 to January 31
  • Reported 100% licensure pass rate and Strong Workforce Gold Star
  • LVN to RN bridge option for licensed vocational nurses
  • Transfer pathway to a BSN at Cal State East Bay
  • Prerequisites in anatomy, physiology, and microbiology
  • Reported total program cost near $8,000 to $8,500

City College of San Francisco

#2

San Francisco, CA · ~$7,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 93.7% (3-yr weighted avg)

Hispanic-Serving Institution

Best for: Urban commuters wanting a large ADN cohort

City College of San Francisco offers an Associate Degree in Nursing at its Ocean Campus, where classroom instruction and skills lab work pair with patient care rotations at hospitals throughout the Bay Area. The program tests one of the region's largest NCLEX-RN cohorts, which gives graduates a broad peer network and wide clinical variety. Admission requires the TEAS, and the department runs information sessions in the fall for prospective applicants. For Oakland residents, the campus is reachable by BART plus a short connecting bus ride.

  • Associate Degree in Nursing at the Ocean Campus
  • Classroom, skills lab, and Bay Area hospital clinical training
  • TEAS entrance exam required; application deadline February 20
  • One of the region's largest NCLEX-RN testing cohorts
  • Prepares graduates for entry-level registered nurse positions
  • Information sessions offered in the fall

College of Marin

#3

Kentfield, CA · $12,000/yr (est. net price) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 91.7% (3-yr weighted avg)

Best for: Students planning a later BSN transfer

College of Marin's Associate in Science in Nursing is ACEN accredited and built around critical thinking, communication, and clinical competence. Students train at the Kentfield campus and complete rotations in hospitals and emergency departments, with coursework that transfers to UC and CSU bachelor's programs. It is a smaller program by cohort size, which can mean closer faculty attention and a tighter alumni network. The drive from Oakland crosses the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge.

ACEN accredited
  • ACEN accredited Associate in Science in Nursing
  • Kentfield campus with clinical placements in hospitals and emergency departments
  • Coursework builds critical thinking and cultural competence
  • Transfer pathways to UC and CSU bachelor's programs
  • Specialization interests include oncology, gerontology, and anesthesiology

College of San Mateo

#4

San Mateo, CA · ~$1,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 90.9% (3-yr weighted avg)

Hispanic-Serving Institution

The College of San Mateo nursing program leads to an Associate of Science in Nursing and combines classroom teaching with a high-tech skills lab and clinical placements at local hospitals and community agencies. Its BSN completion partnerships with San Francisco State, Ohio University, and Cal State East Bay let graduates keep advancing without starting over. Graduates move into staff nurse roles in hospitals, clinics, and long-term care settings. San Mateo is a straightforward drive or Caltrain trip down the Peninsula from Oakland.

ACEN accredited
  • ACEN accredited Associate of Science in Nursing
  • High-tech skills lab with clinicals at local hospitals and agencies
  • BSN completion partnerships with SF State, Ohio University, and Cal State East Bay
  • Prepares graduates for hospitals, clinics, and long-term care roles

California State University-East Bay

#5

Hayward, CA · $8,000 – $20,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 90.6% (3-yr weighted avg)

Hispanic-Serving Institution

Cal State East Bay in Hayward offers a pre-licensure BSN that can be finished in five semesters, mixing in-person, hybrid, and online coursework with clinical placements at area hospitals and community partners. Admission is competitive and gives priority to current Cal State East Bay students, local applicants, and military members, with a 3.00 prerequisite GPA and a TEAS score of 70% required. Licensed vocational nurses have a dedicated LVN-BSN pathway, and optional points reward health care experience and second language proficiency. The Hayward campus is one of the closest four-year options to Oakland.

CCNE accredited
  • Full-time, five-semester pre-licensure BSN
  • Minimum 3.00 prerequisite GPA and TEAS score of 70%
  • In-person, hybrid, and online courses with local clinical placements
  • Priority admission for local area and military applicants
  • Fall and spring starts; two separate applications required
  • Optional points for health experience and second language skills
CCNE accredited
  • Pathway for licensed vocational nurses advancing to a BSN
  • Simulation and interventions lab
  • Clinical experiences at local hospitals and retirement communities
  • Community engagement experiences included

University of San Francisco

#6

San Francisco, CA · ~$41,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 89.6% (3-yr weighted avg)

The University of San Francisco offers a CCNE accredited BSN across eight semesters, with hands-on practice in a Simulation Center and Clinical Skills Lab. Students can join global immersions, work on health policy in Washington, or take part in the Nurse Health Equity Scholars program, and the program reports a 90% NCLEX pass rate with approval from the California Board of Registered Nursing. It is a private university option with a strong national reputation for undergraduate nursing. The hilltop campus is a direct BART and Muni ride from Oakland.

CCNE accredited
  • CCNE accredited eight-semester BSN
  • Reported 90% licensure pass rate
  • Simulation Center and Clinical Skills Lab
  • Global immersion and Nurse Health Equity Scholars options
  • Hilltop and Sacramento campus locations
  • Financial aid available; recognized for student diversity

Merritt College

#7

Oakland, CA · $1,000 – $10,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 89.1% (3-yr weighted avg)

Hispanic-Serving Institution

Merritt College is the only college in the Peralta Community College District with an entry-level registered nursing program, which makes it the Oakland-based public ADN option in this list. The two-year Associate Degree Nursing curriculum covers fundamentals, pharmacology, maternity, pediatric, psychiatric, and medical-surgical nursing, with clinical rotations at Bay Area hospitals. Admission requires a 2.5 GPA, core biology courses, and a TEAS score of 62%, and state board materials have described plans to restore a 40-student entry cohort. Reported total program costs vary widely between sources, so confirm current figures with the department before applying.

  • Oakland campus ADN with clinical rotations at Bay Area hospitals
  • Two-year program totaling 46 credit hours, fall start
  • Minimum 2.5 GPA and TEAS score of 62%
  • Science prerequisites must be completed within seven years
  • ADN to BSN pathway available for graduates
  • Reported 90% licensure pass rate
  • Verify current total program cost; published estimates vary widely

Contra Costa College

#8

San Pablo, CA · $5,000 – $10,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 86.6% (3-yr weighted avg)

Hispanic-Serving Institution

Contra Costa College in San Pablo offers an Associate Degree in Nursing with clinical experience in hospitals, clinics, and public health agencies. The program accepts advanced placement for LVNs, transfer students, and nurses trained outside the United States, and offers challenge exams for prior learning. It is currently in candidacy for ACEN accreditation, and admission shifts to a merit-based process beginning Fall 2027. A concurrent enrollment option lets students keep building toward a BSN or MSN.

  • Clinicals in hospitals, clinics, and public health agencies
  • Advanced placement for LVNs, transfer students, and foreign-trained nurses
  • Merit-based admission beginning Fall 2027
  • In candidacy for ACEN accreditation
  • Concurrent enrollment pathway toward a BSN or MSN
  • Challenge exams, TEAS prep, and career coaching available
  • Military benefits accepted; financial aid and scholarships available

Dominican University of California

#9

San Rafael, CA · ~$35,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 80.4% (3-yr weighted avg)

Hispanic-Serving Institution

Dominican University of California in San Rafael delivers a CCNE accredited BSN over six semesters with more than 1,000 clinical and lab hours across acute care, long-term care, and community settings. First-year students can enter directly on four-year or four-and-a-half-year tracks, and no entrance exam is required because the school is test optional. Graduates qualify for the NCLEX-RN and for a California Public Health Nursing Certificate. The San Rafael campus is a bridge drive north of Oakland.

CCNE accredited
  • CCNE accredited six-semester BSN with over 1,000 clinical hours
  • No entrance exam required; test optional
  • Direct entry on 4-year and 4.5-year tracks
  • Prepares for NCLEX-RN and a California Public Health Nursing Certificate
  • Clinical simulation labs and faculty mentoring
  • Opportunities for research and international study
  • $0 application fee; aid and scholarships available

San Francisco State University

#10

San Francisco, CA · $10,000 – $15,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 84.9% (3-yr weighted avg)

Hispanic-Serving Institution

San Francisco State University runs a two-year prelicensure BSN for California residents, admitting just 60 students each year. Applicants need a 3.0 GPA and an ATI TEAS score of 78, and clinical rotations cover maternity, pediatrics, medical-surgical, gerontology, psychiatric and mental health, and community health nursing. The program is CCNE accredited and prepares graduates for NCLEX-RN and public health nursing certification, with credit available for military experience. SF State is reachable from Oakland by BART and Muni.

CCNE accredited
  • Two-year prelicensure BSN limited to 60 California residents per year
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA and ATI TEAS score of 78
  • CCNE accredited and approved by the California BRN
  • Clinicals span maternity, pediatrics, med-surg, gerontology, and psych
  • Credit for military experience; military benefits accepted
  • Prepares for NCLEX-RN and public health nursing certification

Lowest-Cost ADN and BSN Programs Within Commuting Distance of Oakland

No nursing school near Oakland is free, but public community college ADN programs come close: in-state tuition and fees run under $1,700 a year, and College of San Mateo's average annual net price after grants is just $536, according to 2024 federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data. Every program below is public, including Cal State East Bay's BSN at an average annual net price of $9,320, which is why no private university BSN appears among the lowest-cost options; expect those programs to cost considerably more. The median debt figures reflect all graduates of each college, not nursing students alone, and the callout that follows explains fee waivers that can lower community college costs even further.

School (City)SectorDegreeProgram LengthIn-State Tuition and FeesAverage Annual Net PriceMedian Graduate Debt (All Programs at the College)
College of San Mateo (San Mateo)Public community collegeADNN/A$1,332$536$14,695
City College of San Francisco (San Francisco)Public community collegeADNN/A$1,696$6,906$8,218
Chabot College (Hayward)Public community collegeADN2 years$1,150$9,053$9,500
California State University, East Bay (Hayward)Public universityBSN2.5 years (five semesters)$7,583$9,320$16,544
Contra Costa College (San Pablo)Public community collegeADNN/A$1,312$9,490N/A

ADN or BSN? Getting Into Merritt College and Samuel Merritt University

A low-cost public seat that leads to an Associate Degree in Nursing, or a private university program that leads straight to a bachelor's: that is the real choice between Merritt College and Samuel Merritt University. They are two separate Oakland schools that happen to share a name.

Merritt College ADN: What It Takes for 2026-2027

Merritt's prerequisite list is short but unforgiving. You need 24 units, each completed with a C or better:1

  • Anatomy and physiology: BIOL 20A and 20B, or BIOL 2 and BIOL 4
  • Microbiology: BIOL 3
  • Composition: ENGL C1000 or 1000S

Every general education course must also show a C or higher by the time you apply. Minimum thresholds include:

  • Overall GPA: 2.5 or higher
  • College-level English: 2.5 cumulative or higher
  • Biology core (anatomy, physiology, microbiology): 2.5 or higher
  • TEAS: 62% or higher on your first attempt

Applications open each spring for fall entry. Merritt has not published its exact 2026 dates, its 2026-2027 cohort size, or a clear statement on whether seats are filled by multi-criteria screening or lottery. Confirm all three on the college's nursing page before you plan around them.1 Treat the posted thresholds as minimums, not targets. The first-attempt TEAS rule is the one that catches applicants off guard, so prepare seriously before you sit for the exam.

Samuel Merritt University BSN: More Direct, Higher Cost

Samuel Merritt admits traditional BSN students as first-semester juniors. The nursing degree then takes four semesters (about 24 months), with fall and spring starts. To qualify, you need at least 60 transferable semester units (90 quarter units). Those units must include:

  • Sciences: anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and chemistry, all with labs
  • Communication: English composition, literature or critical thinking, and speech
  • Social and behavioral sciences: sociology or cultural anthropology, a social science elective, and lifespan developmental psychology
  • Health: nutrition

The university recommends a 3.0 GPA across prerequisites and a 3.0 in four science courses. It also expects at least one term of 9 semester units completed within the past two years.

Tuition at a private university runs well above community college fees, so confirm Samuel Merritt's current 2026 rate directly with the school. The trade-off is that you finish with a BSN and skip a separate bridge program later.

Realistic Timelines

Plan on one to two years of prerequisites before either nursing sequence begins. At Samuel Merritt, that means roughly two years of lower-division coursework followed by two years of nursing. At Merritt College, prerequisites come first, then the ADN sequence. Earning a BSN afterward requires an RN to BSN bridge, which many East Bay nurses complete while working.

Options to Rule Out

Fully online pre-licensure RN programs are not a real option, because California requires in-person clinical hours for licensure. UC Berkeley offers no pre-licensure nursing degree. And "Oakland University" nursing is in Michigan, not California.

Should You Start With a Community College ADN or Go Straight to a CSU East Bay BSN?

The ADN-first route lets you pass the NCLEX, start earning RN wages, and then finish your BSN online at CSU East Bay in about a year of full-time study. CSU East Bay has ADN partnerships with Merritt, Chabot, Contra Costa, Los Medanos, Ohlone, De Anza, and College of San Mateo, though partnership does not guarantee admission. Cost figures below cover CSU East Bay tuition only and exclude prerequisites, ADN tuition, books, uniforms, and living costs.

ADN plus CSU East Bay RN to BSN bridge versus CSU East Bay pre-licensure BSN, comparing time, cost, admission

From Graduation to License: The California BRN Process

LVN to RN Programs Near Oakland

Licensed vocational nurses in the East Bay rarely have to start an RN program from scratch. Advanced placement lets an LVN skip the first-semester fundamentals and skills courses and enter the ADN or BSN sequence partway through, while California's 30-unit option is a shorter, non-degree route to the NCLEX-RN built for working LVNs. The tradeoff with the 30-unit option is portability: an RN license earned that way is not accepted in every state. In practice, LVNs who use advanced placement around Oakland save roughly a semester, and the 30-unit option trims the timeline further.

University of San Francisco
Licensed vocational nurses can work toward RN licensure through the L.V.N. 30 Unit Option, a non-degree pathway covering the minimum coursework California requires to sit for the licensing exam. Students build assessment and care coordination skills with hands-on practice in the Simulation Center and Clinical Skills Lab.
  • L.V.N. 30 Unit Option
San Francisco, CA · On-Campus
College of San Mateo
This LVN-RN program picks up in the second year, with clinical coursework in psychiatric nursing and medical-surgical acute care plus observation in surgery, recovery, emergency, and critical care. Leadership and management classes focus on organizing care and setting priorities, backed by skills lab practice and open lab access.
  • LVN-RN
San Mateo, CA · On-Campus
California State University-East Bay
The LVN-BSN Pathway sits inside the pre-licensure BSN, so licensed vocational nurses advance without starting over. After prerequisite coursework, students complete two and a half years of nursing classes with simulation, an interventions lab, and clinical placements in local hospitals, community health agencies, and retirement communities.
  • LVN-BSN Pathway
Hayward, CA · On-Campus
City College of San Francisco
LVNs with an active California license can waive or challenge out of first-semester fundamentals and enter the core nursing sequence directly, earning an Associate of Science in Registered Nursing. The program runs about two academic years with clinical rotations at community hospitals, and a 30-unit option is available for working LVNs.
  • LVN to RN bridge course
San Francisco, CA · On-Campus

Accelerated BSN and Entry-Level MSN Programs Near Oakland

If you already hold a bachelor's degree in another field, the Bay Area offers two main routes into nursing: an accelerated BSN, which typically runs about 12 to 18 months, or an entry-level MSN, which takes roughly two to three years and often awards a master's degree alongside eligibility for RN licensure. Both assume you have finished the science prerequisites and carry a competitive GPA, usually a 3.0 or better. The campuses below are within commuting distance of Oakland and admit second-degree students.

Samuel Merritt University
A 12-month, on-campus accelerated BSN for students who have completed at least 75 transferable college credits, combining classroom instruction with clinical experiences across Bay Area sites. Second-degree applicants can also choose a three-year entry-level MSN with a family nurse practitioner focus or a 27-month case management concentration.
  • Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • Entry-Level Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Entry-Level Master of Science in Nursing, Case Management
Oakland, CA · On-Campus
University of San Francisco
A two-year, 68-unit Master's Entry MSN with a Clinical Nurse Leader focus, designed for career changers who hold a bachelor's degree outside nursing. The curriculum includes more than 1,000 clinical and internship hours at Bay Area hospitals, with fall and spring start terms.
  • Master’s Entry MSN, Clinical Nurse Leader
San Francisco, CA · On-Campus
San Francisco State University
A 15-month, four-semester accelerated BSN for students who already hold a bachelor's degree, with a minimum 3.0 prerequisite GPA and a TEAS score of 78 or higher. The university also offers a six-semester Entry Level MSN that awards both a BSN and an MSN and includes five concentration options.
  • Accelerated BSN Program
  • Entry Level Master of Science in Nursing (ELM)
San Francisco, CA · On-Campus

What Oakland-Area RNs Earn

Bay Area RN pay ranks among the highest in the nation. Federal wage data for Oakland is published as part of the broader San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont metro area rather than for the East Bay alone.

RN to BSN/MSN Programs in Oakland, CA

If you already hold a registered nurse license, this directory is only a starting point. Registered nurses in Oakland and the East Bay who want to move from an ADN to a BSN, or continue on to a master's degree, can find California options on registerednursing.org's RN to BSN and MSN program pages, which cover admission expectations and how to compare formats. The programs below are the RN to BSN options within commuting distance of Oakland.

San Francisco State University
Built for registered nurses who already hold an associate degree, this campus-based RN to BSN track emphasizes professional role development, leadership, and evidence-based practice. Coursework includes Bridge to Professional Nursing and Professional Practice Concepts, along with community, reproductive, and psychiatric mental health content.
  • ADN-BSN
San Francisco, CA · On-Campus
California State University-East Bay
A mostly online RN to BSN designed for working nurses who hold an ADN and an active California RN license. Students can finish in one year full-time or two years part-time, with a single off-campus community experience course, and graduates are eligible for the California Public Health Nursing Certificate.
  • Post-Licensure
Hayward, CA · Online

APRN & Nurse Practitioner Programs in Oakland, CA

Already licensed as an RN and weighing a move into advanced practice? The California nurse practitioner programs page and the APRN program pages on registerednursing.org walk through NP, nurse-midwifery, and clinical nurse specialist pathways in the state, including licensure and certification steps. The graduate programs below sit within commuting distance of Oakland.

Samuel Merritt University
The MSN Family Nurse Practitioner track runs 48 units over 20 months full time or 28 months part time, combining online coursework with 630 clinical hours and two on-campus intensives. Admission requires an active RN license, a bachelor's degree, and a 2.5 GPA.
  • Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice - Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice - Psychiatric Mental Health (Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner)
Oakland, CA · Hybrid
University of San Francisco
USF's Family Nurse Practitioner DNP track uses a hybrid format with teaching weekends on campus and prepares students for ANCC or AANP certification. A psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner pathway and a Master's Entry Clinical Nurse Leader option are also offered.
  • Master's Entry MSN, Clinical Nurse Leader
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice (Health Systems Leadership)
  • Family Nurse Practitioner, DNP
  • Executive Leadership, DNP
  • Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (MSN), DNP
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice (Family Nurse Practitioner)
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice (Population Health Leadership)
  • Health Systems Leadership, DNP (Management)
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) (Population Health Leadership)
  • Health Systems Leadership, Management Concentration, DNP
San Francisco, CA · Hybrid
San Francisco State University
The MSN with a Family Nurse Practitioner concentration spans 52 units and includes 600 clinical hours focused on primary care diagnosis and management. Applicants need a BSN, an active RN license, and at least one year of clinical experience; graduates qualify for California NP licensure and national board certification.
  • Master of Science in Nursing: Concentration in Family Nurse Practitioner
San Francisco, CA · On-Campus
University of California-San Francisco
UCSF's adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner track is delivered in a hybrid format and prepares graduates for ANCC and AACN certification, with training across diverse hospital practice settings. Nurse-midwifery and pediatric acute care NP specialties are also available.
  • Nurse-Midwifery
  • Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Acute Care
  • Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (Acute Care)
  • Post-Master's Entry to DNP (Leadership Focus)
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Nursing Master of Science (Clinical Nurse Specialist)
  • BSN Entry to DNP, Advanced Nursing Focus (Health Policy-Public Health)
San Francisco, CA · Hybrid

Comprehensive List of Nursing Schools Near Oakland, CA

12 schools within 25 miles, grouped by city. Select a program to see its highlights, and use the Website link for the school's own program page.

Hayward, CA

California State University-East Bay

  • Bachelor's - LVN-BSN Pathway
    • CCNE accredited
    • Simulation and interventions lab
    • Clinical experiences at local hospitals
    • Community engagement experiences
    • Retirement communities clinical sites
    Concentration: LVN-BSN · Hybrid · Website
  • Bachelor's - Pre-Licensure Program
    • CCNE accredited
    • Entrance exam required
    • Exams: TEAS
    • 5-Semester program
    • Two and a half years (five terms)
    • Starts fall/spring
    • 3.0 GPA minimum
    • Prerequisite courses required
    Hybrid · Website

Chabot College

  • Associate - Associate in Science in Nursing
    • Entrance exam required
    • Exams: TEAS
    • 2-Year program
    • 1 start dates per year
    • Starts fall
    • 100% licensure pass rate
    • Prerequisite courses required
    • Prepares for NCLEX-RN
    On-Campus · Website

Kentfield, CA

College of Marin

  • Associate - Nursing Education: Registered
    • ACEN accredited
    • Work in hospitals or ERs
    • Specialize in oncology, gerontology
    • Prepare for entry into nursing
    • Develop critical thinking skills
    • Transfer pathways to bachelor's programs
    On-Campus · Website

Moraga, CA

Saint Mary's College of California

  • Bachelor's - Bachelor of Science in Nursing
    • CCNE accredited
    • Starts fall/spring
    • Approved by California BRN
    • WASC accredited
    • Immersive clinical placements
    • Clinical partnerships with VA
    • Rural healthcare rotations
    • Lasallian liberal arts foundation
    On-Campus · Website

Oakland, CA

Merritt College

  • Associate - Associate Degree Nursing (ADN)
    • California Board of Registered Nursing accredited
    • Entrance exam required
    • Exams: TEAS
    • 2-Year program
    • 46 total credit hours
    • Starts fall
    • 90% licensure pass rate
    • 2.5 GPA minimum
    On-Campus · Website

Samuel Merritt University

  • Bachelor's - Bachelor of Science in Nursing
    • CCNE accredited
    • Entrance exam required
    • Exams: HESI, TEAS
    • 2-Year program
    • Complete in two-year program
    • Apply by 2026-07-01
    • 100% job placement rate
    • 3.0 GPA minimum
    On-Campus · Website

San Francisco, CA

City College of San Francisco

  • Associate - Registered Nursing
    • Entrance exam required
    • Exams: TEAS
    • Apply by 2026-02-20
    • Prepares for NCLEX
    • Combines classroom, lab, and clinical training
    • Prepares for entry-level RN positions
    • Located at Ocean Campus in San Francisco
    • Information sessions offered in Fall 2025
    On-Campus · Website

San Francisco State University

  • Bachelor's - Bachelor of Science in Nursing
    • CCNE accredited
    • Entrance exam required
    • Exams: TEAS
    • 2-Year program
    • 3.0 GPA minimum
    • Prerequisite courses required
    • Prepares for NCLEX-RN
    • Military benefits accepted
    On-Campus · Website

University of San Francisco

  • Bachelor's - Nursing, BSN
    • CCNE accredited
    • 8-Semester program
    • 90% licensure pass rate
    • Prepares for NCLEX
    • Financial aid available
    • No. 1 for diversity
    • Top 3% in Undergraduate Nursing
    • Simulation Center and Clinical Skills Lab
    On-Campus · Website

San Mateo, CA

College of San Mateo

  • Associate - Associate of Science Degree in Nursing
    • ACEN accredited
    • Prepares for NCLEX
    • Partnerships for BSN completion
    • High-tech skills lab
    • Clinical experience at local hospitals
    On-Campus · Website

San Pablo, CA

Contra Costa College

  • Associate - Registered Nursing
    • Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) accredited
    • Apply by 2027-02-01
    • 1 start dates per year
    • Starts fall
    • Prepares for NCLEX-RN
    • Military benefits accepted
    • Financial aid available
    • Scholarships available
    On-Campus · Website

San Rafael, CA

Dominican University of California

  • Bachelor's - Bachelor of Science in Nursing
    • CCNE accredited
    • No entrance exam required
    • Test optional
    • 6-Semester program
    • Starts fall/spring
    • 1 letters of recommendation (minimum)
    • 1000 clinical hours
    • Prerequisite courses required
    On-Campus · Website

Program data from the schools and the National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS).

Oakland Nursing School FAQs

These answers cover the questions Oakland and East Bay students ask most often when weighing an ADN or BSN program. Confirm program-specific details directly with each school and the California Board of Registered Nursing before you apply.

Can you become an RN online in Oakland, CA?
Not entirely. Many prerequisites and some nursing theory courses can be taken online or in a hybrid format.1 Supervised clinical hours, however, must be completed in person at approved hospitals and healthcare facilities.2 Before enrolling in any program marketed as online, review nursing school requirements and confirm with the California Board of Registered Nursing and the school that the program is BRN-approved and arranges clinical placements you can reach from Oakland.
Are there free or low-cost nursing programs in Oakland?
Public California community colleges that offer the ADN are generally the lowest-cost route to an RN license3, well below private nursing schools. Community college fee waivers, federal and state grants, and scholarships can reduce costs further. Eligibility depends on income, residency, and enrollment status, so few students pay nothing. Check the lowest-cost table above and confirm current fees with each college.
How long does it take to become a registered nurse in Oakland if I'm starting from scratch?
Plan on roughly 2.5 to 4 years.4 Prerequisites and general education typically take 6 to 24 months, followed by about 24 months of ADN nursing coursework and clinical training. After graduating, you still need to apply to the California BRN and pass the NCLEX-RN2. Repeating science courses, waiting for an admission slot, or studying part time can extend that timeline.
Is a BSN required to get hired at Bay Area hospitals?
No. An ADN graduate who passes the NCLEX-RN holds the same RN license as a BSN graduate. In practice, competitive new-graduate residency programs at large Bay Area systems often favor BSN-prepared applicants. A common strategy is to start working as an ADN-prepared RN, gain experience, and finish an affordable RN to BSN online program while employed, using the bridge options listed on this page.

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