Best Online Nursing Programs in Walnut Creek, CA (2026)
Walnut Creek, California has a population of about 69,790. The city’s median household income is $135,665 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 69.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 54 accredited schools offering nursing programs near Walnut Creek, 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 Walnut Creek
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 54 schools in our directory that offer nursing programs near Walnut Creek. Distances are calculated from Walnut Creek city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mt. Diablo Adult Education-Mt. Diablo USD | Concord, CA | 4.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Merritt College | Oakland, CA | 10.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Los Medanos College | Pittsburg, CA | 12.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Samuel Merritt University | Oakland, CA | 13.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Contra Costa Medical Career College | Antioch, CA | 14.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Contra Costa College | San Pablo, CA | 16.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| California State University-East Bay | Hayward, CA | 16.9 mi | $7,055 - $22,803 | – |
| Unitek College | Hayward, CA | 17.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Touro University California | Vallejo, CA | 17.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Chabot College | Hayward, 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 Walnut Creek
Walnut Creek 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.
Walnut Creek at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 69,790 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $135,665 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 69.4% | 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 Walnut Creek-Area Cities With Nursing Programs
- Pleasant Hill, CA – 4.1 mi away (34,853 pop)
- Lafayette, CA – 4.4 mi away (26,103 pop)
- Concord, CA – 5.2 mi away (649,437 pop)
- Danville, CA – 7.3 mi away (44,631 pop)
- Martinez, CA – 7.8 mi away (38,259 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited nursing schools are near Walnut Creek, CA?
Our directory has 54 accredited schools offering nursing programs near Walnut Creek. The closest is Mt. Diablo Adult Education-Mt. Diablo USD in Concord, CA (4.6 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Chabot College (18.3 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying nursing roles near Walnut Creek?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying nursing-related roles near Walnut Creek 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 Pleasant Hill instead of Walnut Creek?
Pleasant Hill, CA is 4.1 miles from Walnut Creek 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 Walnut Creek an affordable place to study nursing?
Walnut Creek’s median household income of $135,665 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Walnut Creek 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.