Best Online Nursing Programs in Brea, CA (2026)
Brea, California has a population of about 47,337. The city’s median household income is $124,837 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 50.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 131 accredited schools offering nursing programs near Brea, with tuition ranging from $7,073 to $18,953 per year for indexed programs. In the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area, the top-earning nursing-related role is Nurse Midwife at a median $190,230 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Nursing Schools to Brea
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 131 schools in our directory that offer nursing programs near Brea. Distances are calculated from Brea city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California State University-Fullerton | Fullerton, CA | 3.2 mi | $7,073 - $18,953 | – |
| Fullerton College | Fullerton, CA | 4.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| California Career Institute | Anaheim, CA | 7.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| North-West College-Anaheim | Anaheim, CA | 8.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Platt College-Anaheim | Anaheim, CA | 8.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| American Career College-Anaheim | Anaheim, CA | 8.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| West Coast University-Orange County | Anaheim, CA | 8.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Mt San Antonio College | Walnut, CA | 8.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Biola University | La Mirada, CA | 8.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Sri Sai Krish Institute | ORANGE, CA | 10.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California nursing page.
Nursing Wages Near Brea
Brea is part of the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (BLS area code 31080). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to California statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $133,440 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $117,465 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $76,290 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $67,157 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | N/A | CA statewide | – |
| Nurse Midwife | $190,230 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $167,456 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $164,510 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $144,815 |
| Nursing Assistant | $46,140 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $40,616 |
Source: BLS, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
Brea at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 47,337 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $124,837 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 50.2% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 113.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Nursing-related employment in Orange County | 63,561 workers, 1,084 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Brea-Area Cities With Nursing Programs
- Placentia, CA – 3.1 mi away (52,228 pop)
- Fullerton, CA – 4.6 mi away (140,721 pop)
- La Habra, CA – 4.9 mi away (61,664 pop)
- Diamond Bar, CA – 5.8 mi away (56,793 pop)
- Yorba Linda, CA – 6.0 mi away (68,235 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited nursing schools are near Brea, CA?
Our directory has 131 accredited schools offering nursing programs near Brea. The closest is California State University-Fullerton in Fullerton, CA (3.2 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Sri Sai Krish Institute (10.3 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying nursing roles near Brea?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying nursing-related roles near Brea are: Nurse Midwife ($190,230), Nurse Practitioner ($164,510), Registered Nurse ($133,440). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with California statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Placentia instead of Brea?
Placentia, CA is 3.1 miles from Brea and has its own set of local nursing programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Brea an affordable place to study nursing?
Brea’s median household income of $124,837 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Brea while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and California public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Related Resources
Data verified: May 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2024; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.