Best Online Nursing Programs in Santa Clara, CA (2026)
Santa Clara, California has a population of about 129,239. The city’s median household income is $173,670 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 65.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 51 accredited schools offering nursing programs near Santa Clara. In the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area, the top-earning nursing-related role is Nurse Practitioner at a median $225,730 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Nursing Schools to Santa Clara
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 51 schools in our directory that offer nursing programs near Santa Clara. Distances are calculated from Santa Clara city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mission College | Santa Clara, CA | 2.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts | San Jose, CA | 3.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| San Jose State University | San Jose, CA | 5.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| De Anza College | Cupertino, CA | 5.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| West Valley College | Saratoga, CA | 7.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Unitek College | Fremont, CA | 10.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Ohlone College | Fremont, CA | 11.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Evergreen Valley College | San Jose, CA | 11.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Carrington College-San Jose | San Jose, CA | 13.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Chabot College | Hayward, CA | 20.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California nursing page.
Nursing Wages Near Santa Clara
Santa Clara is part of the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area (BLS area code 41940). 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 | $208,940 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $189,257 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $92,840 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $84,094 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | N/A | CA statewide | – |
| Nurse Midwife | $196,700 | CA statewide | $178,170 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $225,730 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $204,466 |
| Nursing Assistant | $56,220 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $50,924 |
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.
Santa Clara at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 129,239 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $173,670 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 65.3% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 110.4 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Nursing-related employment in Santa Clara County | 50,202 workers, 410 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Santa Clara-Area Cities With Nursing Programs
- Sunnyvale, CA – 3.5 mi away (152,771 pop)
- Cupertino, CA – 5.4 mi away (60,643 pop)
- Campbell, CA – 5.9 mi away (40,939 pop)
- Milpitas, CA – 6.3 mi away (77,528 pop)
- Mountain View, CA – 6.6 mi away (80,447 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited nursing schools are near Santa Clara, CA?
Our directory has 51 accredited schools offering nursing programs near Santa Clara. The closest is Mission College in Santa Clara, CA (2.0 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Chabot College (20.6 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying nursing roles near Santa Clara?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying nursing-related roles near Santa Clara are: Nurse Practitioner ($225,730), Registered Nurse ($208,940), Nurse Midwife ($196,700). 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 Sunnyvale instead of Santa Clara?
Sunnyvale, CA is 3.5 miles from Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara an affordable place to study nursing?
Santa Clara’s median household income of $173,670 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Santa Clara 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.