DNP & PhD Programs in California

Where possible, we include NCLEX pass rates data for each campus. The average pass rates are calculated using the last 3 years of data. The average scores are then used in our annual RN/PN rankings. You can read more about it here. You can also view this year's rankings for California here.

Updated: February 5, 2026
Azusa Pacific University

Azusa Pacific University

Azusa, CA
Private
4-year

Accreditations

CCNE Western Association of Schools...

Programs Offered

DNP PhD

NCLEX Stats

NCLEX-RN pass rate
84.3%
RN test takers per year
500
RN NCLEX Pass Rate Trend
California State University-Los Angeles

California State University-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA
Public
4-year

Accreditations

CCNE Western Association of Schools...

NCLEX Stats

NCLEX-RN pass rate
96.2%
RN test takers per year
99
RN rank (2025)
#4
RN NCLEX Pass Rate Trend
Loma Linda University

Loma Linda University

Loma Linda, CA
Private
4-year

Accreditations

CCNE COA Western Association of Schools...

Programs Offered

DNP PhD

NCLEX Stats

NCLEX-RN pass rate
89.9%
RN test takers per year
150
RN rank (2025)
#9
RN NCLEX Pass Rate Trend
Samuel Merritt University

Samuel Merritt University

Oakland, CA
Private
4-year

Accreditations

CCNE COA Western Association of Schools...

NCLEX Stats

NCLEX-RN pass rate
83.7%
RN test takers per year
264
RN NCLEX Pass Rate Trend

The DNP program is accredited by the Senior Commission of WASC.

Touro University California

Touro University California

Vallejo, CA
Private
4-year

Accreditations

CCNE Western Association of Schools... Middle States Commission on Hi...

NCLEX Stats

NCLEX data not available for this campus.
University of California-Davis

University of California-Davis

Davis, CA
Public
4-year

Accreditations

Western Association of Schools...

Programs Offered

DNP PhD BSN to PhD

NCLEX Stats

NCLEX data not available for this campus.
University of California-Los Angeles

University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA
Public
4-year

Accreditations

CCNE Western Association of Schools...

Programs Offered

DNP PhD BSN to PhD

NCLEX Stats

NCLEX-RN pass rate
91.4%
RN test takers per year
60
RN rank (2025)
#8
RN NCLEX Pass Rate Trend
University of California-San Francisco

University of California-San Francisco

San Francisco, CA
Public
4-year

Accreditations

ACME CCNE Western Association of Schools...

Programs Offered

DNP PhD BSN to PhD

NCLEX Stats

NCLEX-RN pass rate
86.6%
RN test takers per year
66
RN NCLEX Pass Rate Trend
University of Massachusetts Global

University of Massachusetts Global

Irvine, CA
Public
4-year

Accreditations

CCNE Western Association of Schools...

Programs Offered

DNP BSN to DNP

NCLEX Stats

NCLEX-RN pass rate
67.4%
RN test takers per year
40
RN NCLEX Pass Rate Trend

University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix offers Doctoral programs at 5 campuses in California.

University of Phoenix - Central Valley Campus

University of Phoenix - Central Valley Campus

Fresno, CA
Public
Less than 2-year

Accreditations

North Central Association of C...

NCLEX Stats

NCLEX data not available for this campus.
University of Phoenix - Sacramento Valley Campus

University of Phoenix - Sacramento Valley Campus

Sacramento, CA
Public
Less than 2-year

Accreditations

North Central Association of C...

NCLEX Stats

NCLEX data not available for this campus.
University of Phoenix - San Diego Campus

University of Phoenix - San Diego Campus

San Diego, CA
Public
Less than 2-year

Accreditations

North Central Association of C...

NCLEX Stats

NCLEX data not available for this campus.
University of Phoenix - Southern California Campus

University of Phoenix - Southern California Campus

Costa Mesa, CA
Public
Less than 2-year

NCLEX Stats

NCLEX data not available for this campus.
University of Phoenix-California

University of Phoenix-California

Ontario, CA
Private
4-year

Accreditations

North Central Association of C...

NCLEX Stats

NCLEX data not available for this campus.
University of San Diego

University of San Diego

San Diego, CA
Private
4-year

Accreditations

CCNE Western Association of Schools...

Programs Offered

DNP BSN to DNP PhD BSN to PhD

NCLEX Stats

NCLEX-RN pass rate
94.6%
RN test takers per year
50
RN rank (2025)
#5
RN NCLEX Pass Rate Trend
University of San Francisco

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, CA
Private
4-year

Accreditations

CCNE Western Association of Schools...

Programs Offered

DNP BSN to DNP

NCLEX Stats

NCLEX-RN pass rate
90.1%
RN test takers per year
187
RN rank (2025)
#9
RN NCLEX Pass Rate Trend
Western University of Health Sciences

Western University of Health Sciences

Pomona, CA
Private
4-year

Accreditations

CCNE Western Association of Schools...

NCLEX Stats

NCLEX-RN pass rate
90.5%
RN test takers per year
70
RN rank (2025)
#9
RN NCLEX Pass Rate Trend