Best Online Nursing Programs in San Diego, CA (2026)
San Diego, California has a population of about 1,385,061. The city’s median household income is $104,321 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 49.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 85 accredited schools offering nursing programs near San Diego, with tuition ranging from $1,332 to $11,543 per year for indexed programs. In the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, the top-earning nursing-related role is Nurse Practitioner at a median $162,030 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Nursing Schools to San Diego
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 85 schools in our directory that offer nursing programs near San Diego. Distances are calculated from San Diego city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National University | San Diego, CA | 0.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Northcentral University | San Diego, CA | 0.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | ✓ |
| Ashford University | San Diego, CA | 1.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| San Diego State University | San Diego, CA | 4.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| United States University | San Diego, CA | 5.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| North-West College-San Diego | San Diego, CA | 5.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of San Diego | San Diego, CA | 5.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Grossmont College | El Cajon, CA | 6.8 mi | $1,332 - $11,543 | – |
| San Diego City College | San Diego, CA | 8.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Concorde Career College-San Diego | San Diego, CA | 8.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California nursing page.
Nursing Wages Near San Diego
San Diego is part of the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area (BLS area code 41740). 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 | $133,090 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $118,937 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $77,280 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $69,062 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | N/A | CA statewide | – |
| Nurse Midwife | $155,030 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $138,543 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $162,030 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $144,799 |
| Nursing Assistant | $46,600 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $41,644 |
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.
San Diego at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,385,061 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $104,321 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 49.9% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 111.9 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Nursing-related employment in San Diego County | 59,177 workers, 962 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other San Diego-Area Cities With Nursing Programs
- La Mesa, CA – 7.3 mi away (59,948 pop)
- Santee, CA – 8.2 mi away (57,834 pop)
- Lemon Grove, CA – 8.5 mi away (26,860 pop)
- El Cajon, CA – 9.6 mi away (103,768 pop)
- National City, CA – 11.5 mi away (61,147 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited nursing schools are near San Diego, CA?
Our directory has 85 accredited schools offering nursing programs near San Diego. The closest is National University in San Diego, CA (0.3 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Concorde Career College-San Diego (8.9 miles). 1 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying nursing roles near San Diego?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying nursing-related roles near San Diego are: Nurse Practitioner ($162,030), Nurse Midwife ($155,030), Registered Nurse ($133,090). 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 La Mesa instead of San Diego?
La Mesa, CA is 7.3 miles from San Diego 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 San Diego an affordable place to study nursing?
San Diego’s median household income of $104,321 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in San Diego 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.