Best Online Nursing Programs in Lake Elsinore, CA (2026)
Lake Elsinore, California has a population of about 71,516. The city’s median household income is $96,527 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 23.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited nursing programs within 100 miles of Lake Elsinore, with tuition ranging from $1,420 to $13,732 per year. In the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area, the top-earning nursing-related role is Nurse Midwife at a median $201,870 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Nursing Schools to Lake Elsinore
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer nursing programs. Distances are calculated from Lake Elsinore city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside County Office of Education-School of Career Education | Riverside, CA | 16.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Platt College-Riverside | Riverside, CA | 17.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| North-West College-Riverside | Riverside, CA | 18.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Riverside City College | Riverside, CA | 19.9 mi | $1,420 - $12,427 | – |
| Saddleback College | Mission Viejo, CA | 21.1 mi | $1,432 - $13,732 | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California nursing page.
Nursing Wages Near Lake Elsinore
Lake Elsinore is part of the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area (BLS area code 40140). 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 | $130,160 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $122,331 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $75,560 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $71,015 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | N/A | CA statewide | – |
| Nurse Midwife | $201,870 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $189,727 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $162,470 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $152,697 |
| Nursing Assistant | $44,950 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $42,246 |
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.
Lake Elsinore at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 71,516 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $96,527 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 23.0% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 106.4 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Nursing-related employment in Riverside County | 35,912 workers, 671 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Lake Elsinore-Area Cities With Nursing Programs
- Wildomar, CA – 6.4 mi away (36,042 pop)
- Menifee, CA – 8.6 mi away (88,531 pop)
- Perris, CA – 9.7 mi away (76,331 pop)
- Murrieta, CA – 11.4 mi away (476,630 pop)
- Rancho Santa Margarita, CA – 15.6 mi away (48,969 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited nursing programs are near Lake Elsinore, CA?
Our directory lists 5 nursing programs within 100 miles of Lake Elsinore. The closest is Riverside County Office of Education-School of Career Education in Riverside, CA (16.1 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Saddleback College (21.1 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying nursing roles near Lake Elsinore?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying nursing-related roles near Lake Elsinore are: Nurse Midwife ($201,870), Nurse Practitioner ($162,470), Registered Nurse ($130,160). 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 Wildomar instead of Lake Elsinore?
Wildomar, CA is 6.4 miles from Lake Elsinore 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 Lake Elsinore an affordable place to study nursing?
Lake Elsinore’s median household income of $96,527 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Lake Elsinore 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.