3 accredited schools across the San Diego metro area trained 78 LPNs in 2023–24. Here’s how they compare on cost, length and size, plus what the job pays locally.
Updated October 2026 · Data: IPEDS 2023–24, BLS May 2025
Sorted by number of 2023–24 graduates (IPEDS), a proxy for program size and stability.
Public two-year college in Chula Vista that reported 34 LPN graduates in 2023–24. Annual in-district tuition (before fees): $1,288 ($9,436 out of state).
Private for-profit four-year institution in San Diego that reported 32 LPN graduates in 2023–24. Published tuition and fees plus books and supplies come to $37,991 for a program of about 15 months.
Private for-profit career school in National City that reported 12 LPN graduates in 2023–24. Published tuition and fees plus books and supplies come to $41,500 for a program of about 52 weeks.
3 accredited schools in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area graduated 78 LPN students in 2023–24. The largest was Southwestern College with 34.
Among schools that published a program price, North-West College-San Diego in San Diego listed the lowest total: $37,991 for tuition, books and supplies.
Licensed Practical Nurses in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro earn a median $79,720 a year ($38.33/hour), per BLS May 2025 data. That compares with $79,750 statewide and $64,400 nationally.
State-approved practical nursing programs usually take about a year of full-time study; part-time and associate-degree routes take longer.