Stanbridge University Named Best of Inland Empire 2025 in Career College, Graduate School, and Online School Categories
Stanbridge University has been named among the Best of Inland Empire 2025 by Inland Empire Magazine.1 Each year, the Best of Inland Empire awards recognize outstanding local institutions that exemplify excellence and make a lasting impact on their communities.
In 2025, Stanbridge University was honored with the number one ranking in three major education categories:
- #1 Best Career College: Trade / Specialty School
- #1 Best Graduate School
- #1 Best Online School
This recognition celebrates Stanbridge University’s ongoing dedication to academic excellence, student achievement, and innovation in healthcare education across the Inland Empire and beyond.
#1 Best Career College: Trade / Specialty School
Stanbridge University was voted Best Career College: Trade / Specialty School for its healthcare training programs that combine hands-on learning with advanced academic preparation. Students can pursue programs at the Riverside campus including:
Through immersive simulation labs and clinical experiences, Stanbridge students gain the confidence and skills to provide compassionate, effective care in healthcare settings.
#1 Best Graduate School
Stanbridge University’s recognition as Best Graduate School in the Best of Inland Empire 2025 awards reflects community acknowledgment of its graduate-level healthcare education. Programs such as the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) demonstrate the university’s commitment to developing leaders in the field through evidence-based learning, research, and practical experience.
#1 Best Online School
As part of its recognition in the Best of Inland Empire 2025, Stanbridge University was also voted Best Online School for its commitment to accessible and flexible education designed to help students achieve their academic and career goals.
The university’s Master of Science in Nursing Education (MSN-Ed) program represents the excellence of Stanbridge’s online offerings. This fully online program helps registered nurses advance their careers by developing the skills to teach, mentor, and lead future generations of healthcare professionals. The MSN-Ed program is available at no cost to Stanbridge University Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduates.2
Recognized for Excellence in the Inland Empire
Being named Best of Inland Empire 2025 across three categories is a reflection of Stanbridge University’s mission to educate future healthcare leaders through compassionate education, hands-on learning, and academic excellence.
Take a Virtual Tour of our Riverside campus to explore our innovative labs, or schedule a meeting with an Admissions Representative to learn more about program options and admissions information.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Best of Inland Empire awards are annual honors presented by Inland Empire Magazine, recognizing top businesses, schools, and organizations in the region based on reader votes and community impact.
In 2025, Stanbridge University earned the #1 ranking in three categories: Best Career College: Trade / Specialty School, Best Graduate School, and Best Online School in the Best of Inland Empire awards.
Stanbridge University’s Riverside campus serves students throughout the Inland Empire, featuring innovative simulation labs, modern classrooms, and hands-on learning environments designed for healthcare training.
Stanbridge University offers accredited healthcare programs including Vocational Nursing (LVN), Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), and Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) at the Riverside campus.
You can schedule a meeting with an Admissions Representative or take a virtual tour of the Riverside campus to explore programs, facilities, and admissions details.
Additional Awards and Honors for Stanbridge University
Stanbridge University offers healthcare degree programs across its Southern California campuses in Irvine, Alhambra, Riverside, and San Marcos. The university has been recognized for both academic excellence and workplace culture, including recognition in the 2025 Carnegie Classifications as an Opportunity College3 and in Research.com’s 2024 Best Healthcare Degree Programs in America.4 Its Orange County campus earned the 2024–2025 ACCSC School of Excellence Award,5 and in 2025, Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce ranked Stanbridge among the top 5% of U.S. colleges for 10-year return on investment, based on earnings and tuition data from qualifying programs.6 Stanbridge is accredited by Investors in People (London)7 and certified as a Great Place to Work.8
Footnotes
1Pressenterprise.com, Best of Inland Empire 2025: All the Winners from This Year’s Survey. Riverside campus only. https://www.pressenterprise.com/2025/09/07/best-of-inland-empire-2025-all-the-winners-from-this-years-survey/. As viewed on September 22, 2025.
2The MSN-Ed program is available at no cost to Stanbridge University Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduates who began their program on or after August 2024 and who enroll in the Master of Science in Nursing Education program beginning immediately after graduating and obtaining their NCLEX-RN licensure.
3Source: https://carnegieclassifications.acenet.edu/institution/stanbridge-university/. As viewed on May 21, 2025.
4Source: Research.com, 2024 Best Healthcare Degree Programs Ranking in America, https://research.com/rankings/healthcare/best-healthcare-usa/?award=f3d66c8ef200b579. Email communication from Chief Data Scientist and Ranking Editor, Imed Bouchrika, Ph.D. to Director of Marketing, Victoria Sauer. As viewed on December 12, 2024.
5Source: Stanbridge University, Orange County campus, Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) School of Excellence 2025 Award. Email communication from Michelle Ragland, Member Services and Events Manager, ACCSC, to Director of Marketing, Victoria Sauer. As viewed on July 17, 2025.
6Source: https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/roi2025/. As viewed March 19, 2025.
7Source: Investors in People. https://www.investorsinpeople.com/. As viewed on June 13, 2025.
8Source: Great Place to Work. https://www.greatplacetowork.com/certified-company/7021962. As viewed on September 17, 2025.