The Best LPN/LVN Programs in San Diego
Credit: Jon Hicks / Stone / Getty ImagesSan Diego has strong career opportunities for licensed vocational and practical nurses — or LVNs and LPNs, respectively — with local salaries averaging $65,900, among the highest in the nation for the professions.
While the programs are identical, California and Texas use the term LVN, and the remaining 48 states use LPN.
LVN programs provide a faster path than registered nurse training, which requires an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. Students build hands-on skills in labs, clinicals, and online courses focused on core nursing practices.
In this guide, we’ll explore San Diego LVN programs, admission requirements, and salary expectations to help you start or shift your nursing career.
How Do LPN/LVN Programs Work?
LPN/LVN programs prepare students for entry-level nursing roles through intensive, short-term training. Programs typically last 12-18 months and combine classroom instruction with clinical experience. The program equips graduates to perform essential nursing duties, such as monitoring vital signs, administering medications, and communicating patient needs to registered nurses (RN) and physicians.
The curriculum mirrors real-world tasks, covering topics like anatomy, pharmacology, patient care, and ethics. Labs and clinical rotations reinforce these skills in multiple hands-on settings. Courses move at a fast pace to ensure students are ready for the NCLEX-PN exam and immediate employment. This focused training makes LPN/LVN programs an efficient pathway into healthcare, especially when you are looking for a practical and quick route to becoming a nurse.
Applying to an LPN/LVN Program
The admission materials necessary for San Diegans who want to apply for an LVN (California) or LPN (other states) program include a high school diploma or GED, transcripts, and English proficiency. Most programs require CPR certification, background checks, drug screening, and immunization records. Some schools may also require entrance exams or nursing prerequisites before they accept you into the program.
- Admission Materials: High school diploma or GED certificate (mandatory), transcripts, prerequisite courses in biology, medical terminology, or human anatomy and physiology, CPR certification, immunization records, physical exam, drug screening, criminal background check, and fingerprinting
- GPA Requirement: Minimum GPA varies by institution, ranging from 2.0-3.0; other programs don’t have a minimum and consider academic performance during application
- Other Requirement: English proficiency testing for non-native English speakers
Learn More About the Best LPN/LVN Programs in San Diego
MiraCosta College
Oceanside, CA- 2 year
- Campus + Online
MiraCosta College, in Oceanside, California, offers a variety of programs in health sciences, including the top-ranked licensed vocational nurse (LVN) program in San Diego County. This program holds accreditation by the California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians.
For the convenience of working students, the school offers most courses on weekends and weekday evenings. Enrollees work toward their 1,536 hours of clinical and classroom time needed for licensing eligibility. All students qualify for tutoring in writing, math, and science.
- Program(s): LVN
- Campus: Oceanside, California
- Type: Public
- Accreditation(s): California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians
- Tuition: $46 per unit for California residents; $353 per unit for nonresidents
- Admission Requirements: GED or high school diploma; prerequisite nursing courses including certified nursing assistant (CNA) courses or current CNA license; immunizations
- Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate:97.96%
- School Site:Tuition | Financial aid
- In-State$1,104
- Out-of-state$8,400
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate100%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled11,125
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment97%
- AccreditationNo
Southwestern College
- Chula Vista, CA
- 2 year
- Campus
Southwestern College, located in Chula Vista, California, accepts 30 students every 18 months to its licensed vocational nurse (LVN) program in San Diego County. The program, designed for full-time students, features some classes and/or clinical hours as early as 6:30 a.m.
This program holds accreditation through the California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians. Enrollees engage with general education and nursing courses. Southwestern College estimates the total cost of the program at $6,284, which includes textbooks, uniforms, clinical fees, and tuition.
- Program(s): Vocational Nurse Program
- Campus: Chula Vista, California
- Type: Public
- Accreditation(s): California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians
- Tuition: $46 per unit for California residents; $335 per unit for nonresidents
- Admission Requirements: Test of Essential Academic Skills; high school diploma or GED certificate; student education plan; cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification; prerequisite courses; immunizations
- Minimum Time Commitment: 18 months
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate:92.75%
- School Site:Tuition | Financial aid
- In-State$1,288
- Out-of-state$9,380
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate70%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled15,985
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment62%
- AccreditationNo
San Diego City College
- San Diego, CA
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
San Diego City College joins the top licensed vocational nursing (LVN) schools in San Diego. The program includes classroom and clinical hours. This school offers regular informational webinars to help students decide if this is their ideal LVN program. Enrollees complete on-campus and clinical hours on weekdays.
The program includes a bridge to registered nurse (RN) licensure through the LVN-to-RN step-up program. The school also maintains a dual acceptance arrangement with Point Loma Nazarene University's RN-to-BSN program and offers a roadmap to San Diego State University's RN-to-BSN program. Admission is based on a multi-criteria point system. Though certified nursing assistant training or healthcare experience is not required, it can give candidates a competitive edge.
- Program(s): LVN-to-RN
- Campus: San Diego, California
- Type: Public
- Accreditation(s): Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing; California Board of Registered Nurses
- Tuition: Approximately $2,000 per semester
- Admission Requirements: Test of Essential Academic Skills; prerequisite courses with a GPA of 2.5 or higher; immunizations
- Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate:100%
- School Site:Tuition | Financial aid
- In-State$1,104
- Out-of-state$8,472
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate60%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled12,956
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment96%
- AccreditationNo
How We Rank Schools
We use a data-driven methodology to rank the best nursing programs, making it easy to find a program that meets your needs. Informed by data from the most reputable sources, including the U.S. Department of Education, our methodology is based on metrics that matter most to nursing students, including academic quality, affordability, reputation, and program offerings. This ranking was created in 2024.
Why Is LPN/LVN Program Accreditation Important?
Accreditation ensures that LPN/LVN programs meet rigorous standards set by state or national accrediting bodies, like the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Nursing school accreditation verifies quality in the program’s curriculum, faculty, and clinical training. Program accreditation helps ensure you’ll meet eligibility requirements for the NCLEX-PN licensure exam and financial aid resources.
Credits from an accredited program also transfer more easily to advanced nursing degrees, including LPN-to-RN bridge programs. All programs in our ranking are fully accredited, providing you with the assurance they deliver a trusted and standardized path into licensed practical or vocational nursing.
Frequently Asked Questions About LPN/LVN Programs in California
LVNs and LPNs in the U.S. earned a median annual salary of $62,340 in 2024. Salaries vary by location, with California offering the highest average at $76,580 annually. Factors influencing earnings include experience, work setting, and geographic location.
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