Best Online Nursing Programs in Palm Springs, CA (2026)
Palm Springs, California has a population of about 44,998. The city’s median household income is $71,979 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 45.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited nursing programs within 100 miles of Palm Springs. 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 Palm Springs
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer nursing programs. Distances are calculated from Palm Springs city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California Nurses Educational Institute | Palm Springs, CA | 2.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Mirage | Rancho Mirage, CA | 8.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| College of the Desert | Palm Desert, CA | 8.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Mt San Jacinto Community College District | San Jacinto, CA | 24.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Copper Mountain Community College | Joshua Tree, CA | 26.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California nursing page.
Nursing Wages Near Palm Springs
Palm Springs 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.
Palm Springs at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 44,998 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $71,979 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 45.1% | 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 Palm Springs-Area Cities With Nursing Programs
- Cathedral City, CA – 4.8 mi away (54,056 pop)
- Palm Desert, CA – 10.6 mi away (52,231 pop)
- Desert Hot Springs, CA – 10.6 mi away (43,327 pop)
- Indio, CA – 18.0 mi away (402,166 pop)
- La Quinta, CA – 18.1 mi away (40,956 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited nursing programs are near Palm Springs, CA?
Our directory lists 5 nursing programs within 100 miles of Palm Springs. The closest is California Nurses Educational Institute in Palm Springs, CA (2.9 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Copper Mountain Community College (26.4 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying nursing roles near Palm Springs?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying nursing-related roles near Palm Springs 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 Cathedral City instead of Palm Springs?
Cathedral City, CA is 4.8 miles from Palm Springs 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 Palm Springs an affordable place to study nursing?
Palm Springs’s median household income of $71,979 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Palm Springs 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.