Most important takeaways…
- About 2,960 NPs work in the San Francisco metro, earning some of the highest wages in the country.
- AB 890 now allows qualifying California NPs to practice independently after a transition-to-practice period.
- CSU and UC campuses offer the lowest resident tuition, though most programs require hybrid clinical components.
- FNP, PMHNP, AGACNP, PNP, WHNP, and AGNP specialties are all available within commuting distance of San Francisco.
California's full practice authority rollout under AB 890 is reshaping how Bay Area nurses think about NP training, since the credential now carries different career weight than it did five years ago. San Francisco sits at the center of one of the densest concentrations of academic medical centers in the country, anchored by UCSF Health, Stanford Health Care, Kaiser Permanente, Sutter, and the SF VA Medical Center, all of which routinely host NP students and hire graduates.
Prospective NPs in the metro area can choose from MSN, DNP, and post-master's certificate pathways across FNP, AGNP, PMHNP, PNP, WHNP, and AGACNP specialties, with options spanning UC campuses, CSU programs, private universities, and online FNP programs in California and beyond. The practical tension is rarely access. It is cost, clinical placement logistics, and matching the right credential to a specific patient population.
NP Programs in the San Francisco Metro Area
San Francisco nurses exploring NP education will find that many of the strongest programs sit across California's public university systems rather than within the city limits. Several are reachable from the Bay Area by commute or available in hybrid and online formats, and all produce graduates eligible for California NP licensure, including practice in San Francisco. Notably, the San Francisco VA Health Care System operates a Primary Care NP Residency that accepts FNP and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care graduates from these institutions, giving Bay Area nurses a direct post-graduation pathway into local practice.
- Program breadth and specialty coverage
- Institutional graduation and retention rates
- Tuition affordability for California residents
- Clinical placement support and format flexibility
- Accreditation and BRN approval status
- Independent program research
- NCES-IPEDS federal institutional data — nces.ed.gov
- Internal program database
- College Scorecard graduate earnings — collegescorecard.ed.gov
San Jose State University
Located about an hour south of San Francisco in San Jose, this university offers the most geographically convenient NP option on this list for Bay Area commuters. Its MSN Family Nurse Practitioner program uses a hybrid format with online coursework and Tuesday evening on-campus sessions, running five semesters in a full-time cohort model. In-state graduate tuition starts near $9,900 per year. The university's institution-wide graduation rate is approximately 69%, which reflects undergraduate outcomes across all programs rather than its graduate nursing track specifically.
- Hybrid format with Tuesday evening on-campus sessions
- Five-semester, full-time cohort structure
- Fall admission only with small cohort sizes
- Requires BSN, 3.0 GPA, and California RN license
- Two years of RN experience preferred
- Prepares for FNP national certification exam
Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner — Hybrid
University of California-Davis
UC Davis participates in a multi-campus UC collaboration for psychiatric mental health training that includes UCSF in San Francisco, making clinical placements in the city more accessible for enrolled students. Its hybrid DNP in Family Nurse Practitioner runs three years and includes four on-campus immersion experiences, while the PMHNP certificate is a 12-month, 48-unit graduate program with clinical sites across California. In-state tuition runs roughly $15,100 per year, and the institution carries a strong 86% graduation rate.
- Three-year hybrid program with full-time enrollment
- Four on-campus immersion experiences required
- Synchronous and asynchronous coursework options
- AACN accredited with capstone project
- Clinical rotations near California communities
- Application window runs September through January
- 12-month hybrid graduate certificate (48 units)
- Collaboration with UCSF, UCLA, and UC Irvine
- Clinical placements available across California
- Prepares for ANCC PMHNP board certification
- Full-time enrollment with 16 to 24 weekly clinical hours
- Virtual classes with three annual immersion sessions
Doctor of Nursing Practice, Family Nurse Practitioner — Hybrid
UC Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate — Hybrid
University of California-Los Angeles
UCLA's School of Nursing offers one of the broadest NP portfolios in the UC system, spanning FNP, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care, and PMHNP tracks at both master's and doctoral levels. The Post BSN-to-DNP pathway launched its inaugural cohort in fall 2025, and the hybrid PMHNP certificate draws on a UC-wide collaboration that includes UCSF. The university posts a 93% graduation rate and in-state tuition near $14,500 per year.
- Three-year on-campus doctoral program
- Four specialty tracks available within DNP pathway
- Requires California RN license and 3.0 GPA
- Statistics and human physiology prerequisites
- One year RN experience recommended, two preferred
- Inaugural cohort began fall 2025
- 12-month hybrid graduate certificate (48 units)
- Prepares for PMHNP-BC national certification
- Clinical placements throughout California
- Virtual Wednesday sessions with three immersion weekends
- Open to licensed NPs, CNSs, CNMs, and CRNAs
- Addresses California mental health provider shortage
- Master's level campus-based program
- Comprehensive adult and older-adult healthcare focus
- Certification exam eligibility upon completion
- Optional occupational health coursework available
- Interdisciplinary healthcare approach emphasized
- Multiple clinical practice settings included
- Campus-based master's program for acute care settings
- Advanced diagnostic and treatment skill development
- Comprehensive patient assessment training
- Evidence-based clinical practice framework
- Multiple specialization options within the track
- Advanced clinical leadership preparation
Post BSN-DNP, Family Nurse Practitioner — On-Campus
UC Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate — Hybrid
MSN, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner — On-Campus
MSN, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner — On-Campus
California State University-Long Beach
Cal State Long Beach fields one of the widest NP specialty menus in the CSU system. MSN tracks cover FNP, Pediatric Primary Care, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care, and Adult-Gerontology Acute Care, while a BSN-to-DNP pathway adds PMHNP and additional adult-gerontology concentrations. Programs are CCNE accredited and BRN approved. In-state tuition is among the lowest on this list at roughly $8,900 per year, and all graduates qualify for California NP licensure and practice in San Francisco.
- CCNE accredited with BRN approval
- 30 to 48 units required for completion
- 3.0 GPA and California RN license required
- Prerequisites include statistics and pathophysiology
- Thesis or capstone project options available
- Core advanced practice nursing coursework included
- Campus-based master's pediatric NP specialty
- CCNE accredited and BRN approved
- 3.0 GPA minimum with prerequisite courses
- Culminating options include thesis, project, or exam
- Six concentration options within the nursing school
- Prepares for pediatric primary care certification
- 72-unit, three-year hybrid doctoral program
- 1,000 clinical hours with placement support
- Prepares for PMHNP national certification exam
- Electives include Medical Spanish coursework
- Admission requires interview and essay
- Evidence-based doctoral project required
- Three-year, 72-unit hybrid doctoral pathway
- 1,000 clinical hours across practice settings
- CCNE accredited with five concentration options
- 3.0 GPA minimum and three recommendation letters
- BSN and California RN license required
- Doctoral project focused on patient care improvement
MSN, Family Nurse Practitioner — On-Campus
MSN, Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner — On-Campus
BSN-to-DNP, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner — Hybrid
BSN-to-DNP, Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner — On-Campus
University of California-Irvine
UC Irvine's nursing programs include a hybrid DNP with a Family Nurse Practitioner concentration and a PMHNP graduate certificate offered through the UC multi-campus mental health initiative. The DNP-FNP was the first of its kind at a UC campus, with three annual on-campus intensives and interprofessional learning across university schools. The PMHNP certificate shares the UC-wide collaboration that includes UCSF in San Francisco. In-state tuition is about $14,800 per year, and the institution carries an 87% graduation rate.
- Three-year hybrid program with full-time enrollment
- Three on-campus intensive sessions per year
- First UC campus to launch DNP-FNP track
- Synchronous and asynchronous learning options
- Prepares for FNP board certification exam
- Optional NLN CNE certification pathway
- 12-month hybrid graduate certificate (48 units)
- Full-time enrollment with four consecutive quarters
- Clinical placements across California regions
- Prepares for ANCC PMHNP-BC certification
- 16 to 24 weekly clinical training hours
- UC-wide collaboration including UCSF in San Francisco
Doctor of Nursing Practice, Family Nurse Practitioner — Hybrid
UC Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate — Hybrid
San Diego State University
San Diego State's School of Nursing offers a distinctive dual-focus MSN that combines Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP training with an Acute/Critical Care Clinical Nurse Specialist track, requiring 768 clinical hours. Its DNP pathway includes FNP, PMHNP, and Adult-Gerontology concentrations across three- and four-year plans. The school secures all clinical placements for DNP students, and programs require 1,000 clinical hours at the doctoral level. In-state tuition is approximately $10,300 per year.
- Campus-based program with dual NP and CNS focus
- 768 clinical hours across primary and acute settings
- Eligible for ANCC, AANP, and AACN certification
- Advanced diagnostic reasoning and pharmacology training
- Dedicated concentration chair and graduate advisor
- Evidence-based practice and leadership emphasis
- Three-year campus program with part-time option
- 1,000 clinical hours with school-arranged placements
- Prepares for FNP-BC or FNP-C certification
- No entrance exam required for admission
- 3.0 GPA minimum with prerequisite courses
- Statistics prerequisite and capstone project required
- Three- or four-year campus-based doctoral track
- 1,000 clinical hours secured by the school
- Prepares for PMHNP-BC national certification
- 70 to 78 total units depending on specialty pace
- Evidence-based practice project required
- Full-time and part-time enrollment options
MSN, Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner — On-Campus
DNP, Family Nurse Practitioner — On-Campus
DNP, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner — On-Campus
California State University-Fullerton
Cal State Fullerton's School of Nursing offers a campus-based MSN in Women's Health Care that stands out as one of the few WHNP programs in the state. Students choose between a standalone Women's Health NP emphasis or a combined Nurse-Midwife and WHNP track. Clinical placements are faculty-arranged and span outpatient, hospital, and community settings. In-state graduate tuition is approximately $9,000 per year, making it one of the more affordable options for California residents.
- Campus-based program focused on primary care for women
- Care across the lifespan from adolescence through menopause
- Two emphasis tracks including combined Nurse-Midwife option
- Faculty-arranged clinical placements in diverse settings
- Research critique and ethical decision-making curriculum
- Health promotion and disease prevention for vulnerable populations
MSN, Women's Health Nurse Practitioner — On-Campus
California State University-Stanislaus
Stanislaus State in Turlock offers a two-year, 56-unit MSN in Family Nurse Practitioner through a hybrid format that combines online didactic coursework with on-campus simulation sessions and outpatient clinical practice. The school also provides a post-graduate PMHNP certificate for NPs who already hold a master's degree. BRN approved for both FNP and PMHNP, the programs carry some of the lowest net prices in the CSU system at roughly $6,100 per year.
- Two-year, 56-unit hybrid program with fall-only admission
- 750 clinical hours in California outpatient settings
- On-campus simulation meetings supplement online coursework
- BRN approved and prepares for national FNP certification
- Requires BSN, 3.0 GPA, and one year of RN experience
- California RN licensure required for enrollment
- Hybrid post-master's certificate for licensed NPs
- Covers psychotherapy, neuroscience, and psychopharmacology
- Population-based mental health and clinical reasoning focus
- Requires MSN, California RN license, and one year experience
- Background check, CPR certification, and drug screening required
- 3.0 GPA maintenance with no grade below B minus
MSN, Family Nurse Practitioner — On-Campus
Post-Graduate Psychiatric Mental Health NP Certificate — Hybrid
California State University-Fresno
Fresno State's MSN in Family Nurse Practitioner requires a minimum of 43 units, including 750 clinical practicum hours. The campus also offers both an FNP post-master's certificate (30 units) and a one-year hybrid PMHNP certificate for NPs expanding into psychiatric care. Programs are CCNE accredited and BRN approved. In-state graduate tuition is about $8,900 per year with a net price averaging around $7,000.
- CCNE accredited, BRN approved campus program
- Minimum 43 units with 750 clinical practicum hours
- Requires BSN, 3.0 GPA, and three recommendation letters
- Application period runs October through May
- Thesis or culminating project required for graduation
- California RN licensure mandatory for admission
- 30-unit certificate for experienced master's-prepared nurses
- Credit for previous relevant graduate courses allowed
- Customized study plan tailored to prior education
- Primary care family focus across the lifespan
- Campus-based delivery at Fresno State
- Designed for nurses adding FNP to existing credentials
- One-year hybrid post-master's certificate program
- CCNE accredited psychiatric mental health focus
- Prepares primary care NPs for PMHNP practice
- Serves patients across all life stages
- Hybrid format combining online and on-campus learning
- BRN approved for California NP licensure
MSN, Family Nurse Practitioner — On-Campus
Family Nurse Practitioner Post-Master's Certificate — On-Campus
Psychiatric Mental Health NP Post-Master's Certificate — On-Campus
California State University-Los Angeles
Cal State LA offers post-master's certificates in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP through its Patricia A. Chin School of Nursing. These campus-based programs are designed for nurses who already hold an MSN and want to add a new population focus. The AGPCNP certificate is 17 units and includes clinical practice components serving culturally diverse communities. At roughly $3,900 average net price per year, Cal State LA is the most affordable option on this list.
- Campus-based program for MSN-prepared nurses
- Prepares for AGACNP national certification exams
- Requires master's in nursing and current RN licensure
- Clinical training in hospital and acute care settings
- Part of the Patricia A. Chin School of Nursing
- BRN approved for California NP practice
- 17-unit campus-based post-master's certificate
- Focus on health promotion and disease prevention
- Manages acute and chronic conditions in adults
- Serves culturally diverse urban communities
- Requires California RN license and one year clinical experience
- Prepares for state and national NP certification
Post-Master's Certificate, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP — On-Campus
Post-Master's Certificate, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP — On-Campus
NP Specialties Available in San Francisco
Primary care generalist or specialized acute and psychiatric care: the specialty you choose shapes everything from your clinical hours to your job market, so it is worth mapping the Bay Area landscape before you apply.
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
FNP is by far the most widely available specialty in the San Francisco metro area. San Francisco State University offers an on-campus MSN with an FNP concentration right in the city, and nearby San Jose State University runs a hybrid FNP program just 50 miles south, making it a realistic commute or remote option for Bay Area nurses. FNPs treat patients across the entire lifespan, from pediatric well visits to geriatric chronic disease management, in primary care clinics, community health centers, and telehealth settings. Given San Francisco's extensive network of federally qualified health centers and community clinics, FNP graduates have broad placement options throughout the region.
Adult-Gerontology and Acute Care Specialties (AGNP and AGACNP)
Adult gerontology nurse practitioner programs in California and adult-gerontology acute care (AGACNP) options are less common in the immediate San Francisco metro. AGNPs focus on adults and older adults in outpatient and primary care settings, while AGACNPs work in hospital-based roles such as intensive care, hospitalist teams, and surgical units. Understanding the difference between FNP and AGNP can help you decide whether a generalist or adult-focused track fits your career goals. Nurses targeting these specialties may need to look at hybrid or online programs based outside the city, or consider schools in the broader Northern California corridor.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
Demand for PMHNP-prepared providers in the Bay Area is growing quickly, driven by persistent shortages of mental health clinicians across San Francisco, Marin, Oakland, and the surrounding counties. PMHNPs assess, diagnose, and prescribe for patients with conditions ranging from anxiety and depression to serious mental illness across all ages and care settings. The UC system offers a collaborative PMHNP post-graduate certificate through UC Davis and UC Irvine in a 12-month hybrid format, combining online coursework with immersion sessions and clinical placements across California. This is currently one of the more accessible pathways to PMHNP credentials for Bay Area nurses who already hold an advanced practice license.
Pediatric and Women's Health Specialties (PNP and WHNP)
Pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP) programs are rare in the immediate San Francisco area. Loma Linda University offers a DNP-level PNP program in a hybrid format, though it is located in Southern California and requires planning around clinical placements in the Inland Empire region. Women's health nurse practitioners specialize in reproductive health, obstetrics, and gynecology across the lifespan. Local options for this specialty are limited; nurses interested in women's health may find themselves enrolling in online or hybrid programs and arranging clinical hours with Bay Area OB-GYN practices or public health clinics independently.
Choosing Based on Availability
If you are based in San Francisco and want to minimize travel, FNP programs give you the most in-region options. If your clinical interests point toward psychiatry, the UC hybrid PMHNP certificate is designed for working APRNs and draws students from across Northern California. For less common specialties like PNP, AGACNP, and WHNP, a fully online or hybrid program combined with locally arranged clinical hours is typically the most practical path.
MSN vs. DNP vs. Post-Master's Certificate: Choosing the Right Path
San Francisco nurses weighing an NP credential have three main academic pathways, each with different time commitments and goals. Because credit hours, clinical requirements, and program length vary widely across California institutions, verify details directly with each university and the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) before committing. Professional organizations such as the California Association for Nurse Practitioners (CANP), AACN, and NONPF publish accreditation standards and benchmarking resources that can help you compare programs. The BLS is useful for national employment trends, but state-level scope of practice and approval lists come from the BRN.
What NP Programs in San Francisco Actually Cost
Tuition at California's public universities varies surprisingly little on the sticker price, but the institution-wide average net price (what students actually pay after grants and scholarships) can differ by thousands of dollars. California residents benefit the most at CSU and UC campuses, where in-state tuition runs roughly $9,000 to $15,000 per year. The net price figures below are institution-wide averages drawn from federal data and reflect undergraduate and graduate students combined, so treat them as a ballpark rather than a guarantee of your NP program costs. Always confirm graduate-specific tuition and fees directly with each school.
| Institution | Type | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Avg. Net Price (Institution-Wide) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco State University | Public | $9,370 | $19,450 | $12,278 |
| San Jose State University | Public | $9,934 | $20,014 | $13,760 |
| Sonoma State University | Public | $10,148 | $20,228 | $12,885 |
| University of California, Los Angeles | Public | $14,476 | $29,578 | $12,548 |
| University of California, Irvine | Public | $14,827 | $29,929 | $14,251 |
| CSU Long Beach | Public | $8,898 | $18,978 | $10,440 |
| CSU Fullerton | Public | $8,994 | $19,074 | $6,555 |
| CSU Fresno | Public | $8,865 | $18,945 | $7,000 |
| CSU Stanislaus | Public | $9,766 | $19,846 | $6,067 |
| CSU Bakersfield | Public | $9,611 | $19,691 | $5,652 |
| CSU Dominguez Hills | Public | $8,978 | $19,058 | $8,615 |
| CSU Channel Islands | Public | $8,683 | $18,763 | $9,849 |
| CSU San Marcos | Public | $9,606 | $19,686 | $10,229 |
| CSU Los Angeles | Public | $8,688 | $18,768 | $3,967 |
| Fresno Pacific University | Private | $13,780 | $13,780 | $13,630 |
Related Articles
Online, Hybrid, and On-Campus Format Options
When people search for online NP programs in California, they usually mean programs that let them complete most coursework from home while balancing work and family. In the Bay Area, that's the reality for nearly every advanced-practice nursing program: a hybrid model that blends web-based lectures, virtual case discussions, and occasional on-campus labs or intensives with face-to-face clinical rotations in your community.
What 'Online' Actually Means for Nurse Practitioner Education
No NP program is entirely online. California Board of Registered Nursing regulations require hundreds of supervised clinical hours in real patient-care settings, and those always happen in person. The term "online" refers to didactic coursework (pathophysiology, pharmacology, health assessment, theory) delivered asynchronously or through live virtual classrooms. Even programs marketed as fully online bring students to campus a few times per year for skills labs, simulation sessions, or comprehensive exams.
Hybrid Models Across the San Francisco Metro
Most Bay Area NP programs follow a hybrid structure. University of San Francisco's DNP family nurse practitioner track runs 8 semesters part-time (2.5 to 3 years) with 72 units and 1,000 clinical hours; core theory courses are delivered online, while occasional campus meetings and all clinical rotations happen face to face.2 UCSF's BSN-entry DNP advanced nursing focus is a full-time, 11-quarter hybrid program starting each fall.1 San Jose State University's MSN family nurse practitioner concentration runs 5 semesters full-time in a cohort model, with Tuesday evening classes on campus and hybrid clinical practica. Sonoma State's MSN offers both full-time (4 semesters) and part-time (6 semesters) tracks, with web-based coursework, on-campus seminars and labs, and clinical preceptorships arranged regionally.
Clinical Placement Realities for Distance Students
The California BRN requires that clinical sites meet specific standards and that preceptors hold current national certification in the specialty they're supervising. Schools typically help students identify placements near home, but securing preceptors remains competitive in the Bay Area. Hybrid programs expect you to attend occasional Saturday skills labs or orientation sessions on campus, then complete clinical rotations within commuting distance of your residence. If you work full-time as an RN, you'll usually schedule clinical days on your days off or arrange a reduced work schedule during high-intensity practicum quarters.
Traditional On-Campus Programs Still Exist
A few programs maintain more traditional campus-based delivery. California State University Fresno's MSN nurse practitioner primary care family track and CSU Long Beach's family nurse practitioner specialty are largely campus-based, with didactic courses meeting in person and clinical rotations coordinated through the school. These formats work well if you live close to campus and prefer structured, face-to-face classroom time, but they're less flexible for working nurses commuting from San Francisco or the East Bay.
Clinical Placements and Practicum Sites in the Bay Area
Programs that arrange your clinical placements versus programs that hand you a list of hospitals and wish you luck: that distinction matters more than most prospective NPs realize. Clinical hours are the single biggest logistical hurdle in NP education, and how a school handles them can make or break your timeline.
How Many Hours You'll Actually Need
MSN-level NP programs typically require around 500 to 750 supervised clinical hours, while DNP programs push that closer to 1,000 or more.1 Every hour has to be logged with a credentialed preceptor in a setting that matches your specialty track. For a deeper look at what to expect, our guide to nurse practitioner clinical rotations breaks down the process step by step. Multiply those hours by a working nurse's schedule, and you can see why placement logistics deserve a hard look before you enroll.
The Bay Area Advantage
Few metros offer a denser practicum network. UCSF's BSN Entry to DNP program arranges placements through partnerships with UCSF Health, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Sutter Health, Stanford Health Care, Zuckerberg San Francisco General/SFDPH, Alameda Health System, Dignity Health, the VA, John Muir Health, and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital.1 Community health centers across San Francisco, Oakland, and the Peninsula round out the options.
A caveat worth noting: if you are an outside student trying to rotate through UCSF Health, you must self-secure a preceptor, and an affiliation agreement has to be in place.2 There is no central preceptor database, so the legwork is real. Students enrolled in online programs arranging local clinical placements often face this challenge firsthand in competitive markets like the Bay Area.
Placement Models to Compare
- Program-arranged: UCSF coordinates clinical sites for its enrolled DNP students through established partnerships.1
- Self-placement: Many online and out-of-state programs require students to identify their own preceptors, which in a competitive market like the Bay Area can add months to your timeline.
Board Certification Eligibility
Accredited nursing programs (ACEN vs CCNE) in the Bay Area prepare graduates to sit for both AANP and ANCC certification exams, depending on specialty. UCSF's FNP and AGPCNP tracks lead to AANP and ANCC eligibility; AGACNP graduates sit for ANCC and AACN exams; PMHNP graduates take the ANCC PMHNP-BC; pediatric tracks route to PNCB or ANCC pediatric acute care.1 Confirm exam eligibility with each program before you commit, since track design directly determines which certifications you can pursue.
NP Earnings and Job Outlook in the San Francisco Metro
The San Francisco metro area is one of the highest-paying regions in the country for nurse practitioners. According to the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data, roughly 2,960 NPs are employed across the San Francisco, Oakland, and surrounding communities. Nationally, NP employment is projected to grow about 35% over the coming decade, and California's own projections point to similarly robust demand in the range of 30% to 40%. That combination of strong wages and healthy job growth makes the Bay Area an especially compelling place to launch or advance an NP career.
| Wage Measure | San Francisco Metro Area | Los Angeles Metro Area | San Diego Metro Area | National Median (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $139,930 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 25th Percentile | $170,370 | $140,230 | $130,880 | N/A |
| Median Annual Wage | $220,330 | $164,510 | $162,030 | $126,260 |
| 75th Percentile | $234,120 | $184,670 | $181,030 | N/A |
| Total NP Employment | 2,960 | 6,400 | 2,790 | N/A |
California NP Licensing at a Glance
More Programs to Consider in the Bay Area and Beyond
While the top-ranked programs are excellent options, many other accredited NP programs are within commuting distance of San Francisco or offer flexible hybrid/online formats. The following schools represent additional choices in the Bay Area, Greater Los Angeles, San Diego, the Central Valley, and the Inland Empire, each with its own unique strengths.
Bay Area
Sonoma State University Rohnert Park, CA · Hybrid
- Master of Science in Nursing (Family Nurse Practitioner)
San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA · On-Campus
- Master of Science in Nursing: Concentration in Family Nurse Practitioner
- Post-MSN Certificate
- Master of Science in Nursing (Family Nurse Practitioner)
Touro University California Vallejo, CA · Hybrid
- Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Samuel Merritt University Oakland, CA · Hybrid
- Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate
- Doctor of Nursing Practice - Family Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Greater Los Angeles
California State University-Channel Islands Camarillo, CA · Hybrid
- Master of Science in Nursing (Family Nurse Practitioner)
University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA · Hybrid
- Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN-FNP)
California State University-Dominguez Hills Carson, CA · Hybrid
- MSN Family Nurse Practitioner
- Doctor of Nursing Practice--Family Nurse Practitioner
Azusa Pacific University Azusa, CA · On-Campus
- MSN with NP Specialties (Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP))
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Certificate
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) Certificate
- Master of Science in Nursing with Nurse Practitioner Specialties (Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner)
- BSN to DNP (Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner)
- BSN to DNP (Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP))
- BSN to DNP (Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP))
- BSN to DNP (Health Systems Leadership)
West Coast University-Orange County Anaheim, CA · Online
- Master of Science in Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner
- MSN Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- MSN Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- MSN Psychiatric-Mental Health NP (PMHNP)
- Post-Master's - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP
San Diego Area
University of San Diego San Diego, CA · On-Campus
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner in Emergency Care
- BSN to DNP (Family Nurse Practitioner)
- BSN to DNP Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- BSN to DNP (Family Nurse Practitioner in Emergency Care)
Point Loma Nazarene University San Diego, CA · Hybrid
- Nursing, M.S. (Family Nurse Practitioner)
- Post-Graduate Certificate, Family Nurse Practitioner
- Doctor of Nursing Practice, Family Nurse Practitioner
California State University-San Marcos San Marcos, CA · Hybrid
- Nursing, M.S.N. (Family Nurse Practitioner)
- Master of Science in Nursing (Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner)
- Nursing Practice Doctorate (Family Nurse Practitioner)
- BSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice (Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner)
- BSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice (Family Nurse Practitioner)
Central Valley
California State University-Bakersfield Bakersfield, CA · On-Campus
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) (Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP))
- DNP-FNP Program (Family Nurse Practitioner)
Fresno Pacific University Fresno, CA · On-Campus
- Master of Science in Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner
Inland Empire
Loma Linda University Loma Linda, CA · Hybrid
- Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
- Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
- Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner BS to DNP
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Primary Care Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) - Acute Care Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP) Concentration
Explore More
- ACNP Programs in California
- AGNP Programs in California
- DNP NP Programs in California
- FNP Programs in California
- PMHNP Programs in California
- PNP Programs in California
- Best NP Program Options in Anaheim, California
- Best Nurse Practitioner Options in Long Beach, CA
- Best Nurse Practitioner Options in Pasadena, CA
- Best Nurse Practitioner Programs in Irvine, CA
- Best Nurse Practitioner Programs in Los Angeles
- Best Nurse Practitioner Programs in San Diego, CA
- Nurse Practitioner Programs in San Jose, CA
