LVN Programs in the San Diego area

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area

Programs

3 within 10 miles

Median pay here

$79,720

licensed practical and vocational nurses, BLS May 2025

Lowest listed cost

$37,419

of 2 with a cost, IPEDS

LVN Programs in the San Diego area at a glance

Open to the public: 5 programs: 5 at colleges and schools (IPEDS)
Distance from San Diego: 3 within 10 miles; nearest 0.9 miles, farthest 27.7 miles
Listed program cost: 2 of 5 list one: $37,419 to $37,775 (IPEDS)
Program length: 2 colleges list a length: 13 months to 15 months (IPEDS)
Completions, 2023-24: 78 LVN awards at the 3 colleges that reported any (IPEDS)
Licence: Licensed vocational nurse (LVN), issued by the California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians; the exam is the NCLEX-PN
Exam and licence fees: BVNPT application for licensure by examination (California program graduate, exam fee not included) $300; BVNPT initial license fee $300; NCLEX-PN registration (until January 31, 2027) $200; NCLEX-PN registration (on or after February 1, 2027) $350 (read October 10, 2026)
Pay here: $79,720 median for licensed practical and vocational nurses ($38.33 an hour); 10th to 90th percentile $64,950 to $96,390; 6,610 employed in the metro area; California median $79,750 (BLS OEWS, May 2025)

Program	Where	Type	Program cost	Length	Completions	Miles
National University	San Diego	Associate	Not reported	Not reported	0	0.9
North-West College-San Diego	San Diego	Certificate	$37,419	15 months	32	4.8
The Nurse Academy	National City	Certificate	$37,775	13 months	12	9.8
Southwestern College	Chula Vista	Certificate	Not reported	Not reported	34	14.3
MiraCosta College	Oceanside	Certificate	Not reported	Not reported	0	27.7

WIOA in California: 4,171 programs are on the state's list in the U.S. DOL file, 28 of them LVN.
Pell Grants for short programs
Workforce Pell
GI Bill