Best Nursing Schools in the San Francisco Bay Area: Online & Campus

The School of Nursing at San Francisco State University hosts a wealth of programs for every phase of a nursing career. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing is a standard four-year track while the Accelerated Bachelor of Nursing takes four semesters and 15 months and is for individuals with non-nursing bachelor’s degrees. The ADN to BSN program, a collaboration between SF State and area California Community College partners, admits students in the spring and takes about two years.

Graduate programs include an Entry Level Master of Science in Nursing program for students with non-nursing bachelor’s degrees that awards both a BSN and an MSN. The school has also offered an Accelerated Entry Level MSN, and its MSN is designed for those with BSNs. Current RNs with MSNs can earn a Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate.

The BSN program through the School of Nursing and Health Professions at the University of San Francisco usually takes four years but offers generous transfer credits to help cut that time down. Class schedules and curriculum are customized to fit students’ needs. Graduate programs include the Master of Science in Nursing, available as either a direct-entry or an RN steppingstone. The MSN program takes a whole-person care approach and emphasizes leadership, quality, safety, and evidence-based education.

The school’s 14 to 1 student-faculty ratio helps ensure the best possible outcomes for students. Also, in addition to having state-of-the-art nursing simulation labs, the University of San Francisco partners with over 200 healthcare providers in the area to provide the top-notch hands-on training students need to excel in their studies and their careers.

The School of Nursing at the University of California San Francisco offers programs for those who want to pursue graduate degrees in nursing. Its master’s programs include the accelerated Master’s Entry Program for non-nurses with bachelor’s degrees in other areas and the MSN for those who have RN licenses. UCSF also has an MS Healthcare Administration and Interprofessional Leadership program that connects students with professionals dedicated to making healthcare accessible, affordable, and sustainable.

Individuals interested in working as Family Nurse Practitioners can gain the knowledge they need through a post-master’s program. Additionally, the school’s doctoral program offers a PhD with an emphasis on either nursing or sociology and a Doctor of Nursing Practice. Postdoctoral programs are also available, either tailored to the student or chosen through a fellowship program.

The Registered Nursing Department at the City College of San Francisco provides a hybrid Registered Nursing AS Major program for those who need the flexibility to attend school while keeping up with work, family, and community obligations. This associate degree program allows students to engage in coursework, hands-on simulation labs, and hands-on work at clinical sites in the Bay Area. It cultivates the ability to apply the principles of effective communication, provide health education to patients, exercise critical thinking skills, and more.

Those who are RNs and have associate degrees can take advantage of the ADN to BSN program that takes about two years and provides the opportunity to continue working while taking some courses online. This collaborative program partners with San Francisco State University to provide both ADN and BSN degrees.

The BSN program through Cal State East Bay is a four-year pathway to becoming a registered nurse. Those who are LPNs or LVNs can enter the BSN pathway and shave some time off because of their previous coursework and experience. There’s also the post-licensure program that is mostly online for those who hold RN licenses and associate degrees. Students participate in both on and off-campus experiences that include simulations, labs, community interaction, and clinicals in area healthcare facilities.

The MSN program at Cal State East Bay offers concentrations in nursing leadership or nursing education. It’s available hybrid or fully online depending upon the track and the student’s needs for flexibility. Current RNs can earn their MSNs with two years of part-time study.

Many of the nursing programs offered through the School of Science, Allied Health, and Nursing at Holy Names University are hybrid or online. Master’s degree paths include RN to MSN and MSN hybrid programs. The MSN to Family Nurse Practitioner, MSN Nurse Administration, and MSN Nurse Educator programs are also hybrid. The MSN to MBA hybrid track is for those who want to take a business, administration, and management approach to their nursing career. The school’s Doctor of Nursing Practice, the pinnacle of the profession, is offered fully online.

Holy Names offers other nursing programs as well, including a BSN pathway for registered nurses. Specialties in this in-person program include pediatric medical surgery and intensive care.