California MSN Programs

Get your master's degree in nursing in California - online & campus-based options.
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Check current course listings for campus-based and online MSN Programs available for California students.

New graduates celebrate with their families at their nursing commencement ceremony.

MSN Programs in California

California may be known for the high end celebrities that frequent the streets, but did you know it is also a great state to be in if you want to get a master's degree in nursing? Indeed, there are many fantastic MSN programs in California, and those programs are made to teach students how to work in special fields of nursing. These sectors may include management, research, education, and much more. In 18 to 24 months, you could get your MSN and be on your way to a new and rewarding career. Here is a look at how the program may work.

Before you start your MSN programs in California, you have to get a bachelor's degree. This will give you all the base level training you need for an MSN, and you will expand on those lessons as you go through your nursing degree program. Master's degree students usually have a specific goal in mind for getting this high level of education, so if you want to be a nurse and nothing more, this may be too much schooling for you. For those who want to be a part of the highest paying jobs in the industry though, there is no better path to travel down.

Some MSN programs in California are more expensive than others. Public schools cost less to attend than private schools, but many of them will not offer training at the graduate level. Thus you need to assess your options before you figure out just how much money it will cost to get your education. Community colleges can only offer training to an associate's level, so you will not be able to look to them for this kind of education. Luckily, there are financial aid opportunities out there no matter what kind of education you are pursuing.

MSN programs in California could greatly increase the amount of money you earn in this profession, but what you earn exactly will depend on where you work. Some nurses get paid more as they get older because they have more experience in the field. There are many variables involved, but rest assured that you will receive a handsome salary if you go through an entire master's degree program. Rather than regretting the future ahead of you, do something to make it better. It may just take a few years of time in a master's program to get you on the way to happiness.


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California Board of Registered Nursing
1625 North Market Boulevard, Suite N-217
Sacramento, CA 95834-1924
Phone: (916) 322-3350
Fax: (916) 574-8637

California Board of Vocational Nurse and Psychiatric Technicians
2535 Capitol Oaks Drive, Suite 205
Sacramento, CA 95833
Phone: (916) 263-7800
Fax: (916) 263-7859

California Nurses Association

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Schools with MSN Programs Accepting Students in California

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Other Schools with MSN Programs in California

Azusa Pacific University
901 E. Alosta Ave
Azusa, CA 91702
California State University
400 West 1st Street
Chico, CA 95929
California State University
5241 N. Maple Ave.
Fresno, CA 93740
University of California - Irvine
Campus Dr. and West Peltason Dr.
Irvine, CA 92697
California State University
1250 Bellflower Boulevard
Long Beach, CA 90840
California State University
5151 State University Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90032
Samuel Merritt College School of Nursing
3100 Telegraph Ave
Oakland, CA 94609
Western University of Health Sciences
309 E Second St.
Pomona, CA 91766
California Baptist University
8432 Magnolia Avenue
Riverside, CA 92504
Sonoma State University
1801 East Cotati Ave.
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
California State University
6000 J Street
Sacramento, CA 95819
California State University
5500 University Parkway
San Bernardino, CA 92407
University of San Diego
5998 Alcala Park
San Diego, CA 92110
San Francisco State University
1600 Holloway Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94132
University of California - San Francisco
55 Laguna Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
University of San Francisco
2130 Fulton Street
San Francisco, CA 94117

California MSN Degree Prerequisites

California nurses who continue their education and gain a Masters in Nursing (MSN) Degree are licensed by the California Board of Nursing as either an Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) or an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner(ARNP).

To enroll in a MSN degree program in California, you must first become licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN). The most common Nursing Masters Degree curriculum in California and across the US is the RN-MSN program. See our directory of California RN to MSN programs

Those holding California RN certification have most likely already earned their Bachelors in Science of Nursing (BSN) degree. This is typically a four year training program at a nationally accredited school of nursing.

Contact your school of choice to learn more about their specific MSN program prerequisites.

California MSN Degree Areas of Specialization

In California, there are typically four specific areas that MSN degree seeking students may choose to specialize in. These include:

  • Nurse Practitioner (NP)
  • Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
  • Certified Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)

Check with the California Board of Nursing to learn about the about the legal authority the state of California grants Advanced Practice Nurses(APNs) and Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioners(ARNPs)in each particular area of specialization.

Online MSN Degree Programs

In California, online nursing degree programs are increasingly popular. This is mainly due to the convenience of nursing distance learning programs. As long as the online MSN program is nationally accredited, earning your MSN degree online is accepted and honored by the state of California.

California MSN Degree Resources

Here are a few examples of MSN degree programs in California.

Find MSN Programs by State