2021 - Best 22 Nursing Schools in Arizona

Scottsdale Community College is located in Scottsdale, Arizona.  This community college is known to offer perks to its students, such as the latest versions of Windows and Microsoft Office suite; this allows their students to have the latest technology with which to do their assignments.  They also offer academic support services to students in a variety of topics.  Scottsdale Community College offers an ADN program.

At the Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC) nursing programs, students learn the practical and technical skills along with the clinical training to become a registered nurse with an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree.

Students are prepared to work in a number of healthcare settings including physician offices, hospitals, nursing homes among others.

EMCC is located in Avondale, AZ and is part of the Maricopa Community College District Nursing Program (MCCDNP). Its nursing program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and approved by the Arizona State Board of Nursing.

EMCC offers the following nursing programs:

• Registered Nurse (AAS)
• Students planning to earn their BSN and transfer to ASU through the Alliance for RN to BSN or to NAU’s RN to BSN program

Mesa Community College is located in Mesa, Arizona, but has five campuses throughout the city.  Students in the RN program at Mesa Community College may also be enrolled Concurrent Enrollment Program (CEP), which partners the student with a local university.  The student takes courses at both the community college and university concurrently, allowing them to earn both their RN and BSN degrees within one to two semesters of each other.

Paradise Valley Community College is located in Phoenix, Arizona. Paradise Valley Community College is teamed up with eight community colleges in Maricopa County, forming the Maricopa Community College District (MCCD), all of which offer the RN degree.

The Maricopa Community College District Nursing Program (MCCDNP) is offered at nine Maricopa Community Colleges. The campus at Glendale Community College offers the Nursing Associate in Applied Science (AAS). Different course schedules are offered throughout the various campus with options for full-time, accelerated, part-time, and online enrollment. Nursing degrees and certificate options throughout the district include:

• Nursing (AAS)
• Nurse Assisting (CCL)
• Practical Nursing (CCL)
• Students planning to earn their BSN and transfer to ASU may be able to enroll into the Maricopa-ASU Partnership Program (MAPP).

Clinical experiences are setup at inpatient and outpatient settings and the aim of the nursing program is to provide clinical experience within reasonable driving distance from the college you attend. During your clinical experience, nursing students work directly with patients, nurses, physicians, and other health care professionals. You will receive hands-on experience in all major specialty areas in community agencies, long-term care facilities, and hospitals.

Glendale Community College is accredited the ACEN, and GCC’s Associate in Applied Science (AAS) Nursing Program is approved by the Arizona State Board of Nursing.

GateWay Community College is located in Phoenix, Arizona.  Their nursing program graduates more nurses per year than any other nursing school in the entire state of Arizona.  Their program is also unique because one semester allows the student to take the Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) certification exam, and if enrolled in the fast track program, two semesters will allow the student to sit for the NCLEX-PN exam, all while pursuing an RN degree.

The Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC) Maricopa Nursing Program is accredited by the ACEN and approved by the Arizona State Board of Nursing. CGCC offers the following nursing programs:

• Practical Nursing
• Registered Nurse (AAS)
• Students planning to earn their BSN and transfer to ASU may be able to enroll into the Maricopa-ASU Partnership Program (MAPP).

CGCC school of nursing provides a “learner-centered educational environment that supports the mission of Maricopa Nursing, a district-wide curriculum with a variety of coursework committed to preparing future nurses in a dynamic, multicultural world.”

During your clinicals, nursing students will work directly with patients, nurses, physicians, and other healthcare professionals. You will receive hands-on experience in community agencies, long-term care facilities, and hospitals. Clinical experiences are offered in a number of inpatient and outpatient settings.

Yavapai College is located in Prescott, Arizona.  It also has a campus in Clarkdale, Arizona (Verde Valley); nursing classes are offered at both campuses.  Yavapai College Nursing believes that “nursing is an art and science and that a sound nursing education curriculum integrates knowledge from the sciences and the humanities. The nursing curriculum is based on concepts relating to the client, health, environment, nursing therapeutics, and learning.”

The Pima Community College (PCC) is a public institution located in Tucson, Arizona. PCC nursing programs are accredited by the ACEN are offered at its West Campus and Desert Vista Campus.

Through partnerships between PCC campuses and local universities, Pima’s Nursing program offers pathways for students to receive training and earn nursing certificates and degrees in the following healthcare specialties:

• Nursing Assistant
• Patient Care Technician
• Licensed Practical Nurse
• Associate of Applied Science in Nursing
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing is offered as a Concurrent Enrollment Program (CEP) at both Northern Arizona University or Arizona State University while you pursue an ADN degree at Pima.
• RN Refresher Course Certificate

PCC students are well prepared to work in many healthcare settings including physician offices, hospitals, and nursing homes.

Phoenix College is located in Phoenix, Arizona.  Their motto is “Go far, close to home” because their community college has over 150 programs to choose from, with a variety of scheduling options, from days, evenings and weekends, to online or fast track programs.  In addition, their tuition is less than half the cost of Arizona public universities.

With its main campus located in Kingman, AZ, the Mohave Community College of Nursing is a public institution and also serves Mohave county with three additional campuses located in Lake Havasu City, Bullhead City, and Colorado City. Their associate degree programs are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing with (ACEN) and by the Arizona State Board of Nursing.

Keeping true to its mission to “inspire, promote and empower students in learning the art and science of nursing leading to excellence and success in professional practice,” its nursing school has an impressive record of its students consistently passing the NCLEX exam their first time, and go on to serve the healthcare communities of Mohave county, Arizona and beyond.

Arizona nurses have four programs to choose from when considering enrolling in Mohave Community College including:

• An Associates of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Nursing that offers a traditional path for a career as a Registered Nurse (RN).
• An LPN to RN designed to transition LPNs into a registered nursing role in two semesters.
• The Practical Nursing Step-Out Program is approved by the Arizona State Board of Nursing and provides an option for current AAS Nursing students wanting to “step-out” of their current RN program and gain employment as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).
• The Registered and Licensed Practical Nurse Refresher Programs provide courses for the RN or LPN an update and refresh their nursing knowledge and skills.

The University of Arizona is in Tuscon, Arizona.  Their nursing program has a lot to boast about – they are #20 in the “Top 30 Cutting-Edge Nursing Schools.”  In addition, they are #1 in the state of Arizona for program outcomes according to the Arizona State Board of Nursing.  Their programs are also offered online, which caters to non-traditional learners, especially veterans, earning them #32 among “Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs for Veterans.”

Brookline College has multiple campuses, one of which is located in Phoenix, Arizona.  Their RN to BSN program is also available in an online format.  Their RN to BSN program can be completed in one year, if attending full-time.  However, a part-time option is also available.  Their online RN to BSN program was created in response to the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) recommendation that health care organizations increase their number of Bachelor’s-prepared RN staff to 80% by 2020.