Best Online Nursing Programs in Lafayette, CA (2026)
Lafayette, California has a population of about 25,277. The city’s median household income is $222,393 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 77.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 54 accredited schools offering nursing programs near Lafayette, with tuition ranging from $7,055 to $22,803 per year for indexed programs. In the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area, the top-earning nursing-related role is Nurse Practitioner at a median $220,330 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Nursing Schools to Lafayette
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 54 schools in our directory that offer nursing programs near Lafayette. Distances are calculated from Lafayette city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mt. Diablo Adult Education-Mt. Diablo USD | Concord, CA | 7.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Merritt College | Oakland, CA | 7.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Samuel Merritt University | Oakland, CA | 9.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Contra Costa College | San Pablo, CA | 13.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Touro University California | Vallejo, CA | 15.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Unitek College | Hayward, CA | 16.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Los Medanos College | Pittsburg, CA | 16.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| California State University-East Bay | Hayward, CA | 16.6 mi | $7,055 - $22,803 | – |
| Chabot College | Hayward, CA | 17.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Contra Costa Medical Career College | Antioch, CA | 18.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California nursing page.
Nursing Wages Near Lafayette
Lafayette is part of the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area (BLS area code 41860). 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 | $188,020 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $162,647 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $90,810 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $78,555 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | N/A | CA statewide | – |
| Nurse Midwife | $204,980 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $177,318 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $220,330 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $190,597 |
| Nursing Assistant | $53,990 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $46,704 |
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.
Lafayette at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 25,277 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $222,393 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 77.0% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 115.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Nursing-related employment in Contra Costa County | 18,538 workers, 403 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Lafayette-Area Cities With Nursing Programs
- Walnut Creek, CA – 4.4 mi away (69,122 pop)
- Pleasant Hill, CA – 4.9 mi away (34,853 pop)
- Martinez, CA – 7.4 mi away (38,259 pop)
- Concord, CA – 8.5 mi away (649,437 pop)
- Berkeley, CA – 8.7 mi away (121,240 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited nursing schools are near Lafayette, CA?
Our directory has 54 accredited schools offering nursing programs near Lafayette. The closest is Mt. Diablo Adult Education-Mt. Diablo USD in Concord, CA (7.3 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Contra Costa Medical Career College (18.3 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying nursing roles near Lafayette?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying nursing-related roles near Lafayette are: Nurse Practitioner ($220,330), Nurse Midwife ($204,980), Registered Nurse ($188,020). 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 Walnut Creek instead of Lafayette?
Walnut Creek, CA is 4.4 miles from Lafayette 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 Lafayette an affordable place to study nursing?
Lafayette’s median household income of $222,393 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Lafayette 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.