2021 - Best Nursing Schools in Arizona

Overview of Nursing Schools in Arizona

About Nursing Schools in Arizona

In our Arizona RN program guide, find rankings for both ADN and BSN Degree programs, tuition costs, NCLEX passing rates, and more. Research key Arizona RN Program information to help you compare program metrics and to apply to best RN program for your career in nursing.

In the State of Arizona, nurses are helping to change the face of healthcare. To ensure that they have the best education and preparation for future health care challenges, registered nurses need to graduate from a state-approved associate's degree in nursing program or a BSN degree program.

Nurses who graduate from an RN program can obtain certification in over 100 nursing specialties, go on to earn an RN to BSN or RN to MSN degree.

BSN degree holders have options to earn an Advance Practice Register Nursing (APRN) degree and become a Nurse Practitioner (NP), or earn an advanced degree for a career in any number of nursing leadership roles such Nurse Educator or Clinical Nurse Specialist.

Overall, Arizona offers 32 nursing schools with 10 private schools and 22 public schools.

Arizona has 14 cities offering nursing schools including Avondale, Chandler, Chandler, Coolidge, Douglas, Flagstaff, Glendale, Kingman, Mesa, Phoenix, Prescott, Scottsdale, Tempe, Tempe and Tucson.

Options for earning your nursing degree in Arizona have never been more flexible. Arizona nursing schools have become adept at offering effective alternatives for you to earn your nursing degree, no matter your life situation or schedule. You will find 3 different paths to earn your nursing degree in Arizona including Campus, Online and Hybrid.

Arizona RN Program Comparisons: ADN vs BSN

Best Ranked Nursing Schools in Arizona

To help nursing students in their search for a top RN program, the education experts at RNCareers.org publish their annual findings of the best nursing schools for both Arizona and the country. Schools ranked on our list have proven their ability to educate highly competent nurses.

To create our rankings, we evaluated 17 ADN degree programs and 5 BSN degree programs in Arizona. We obtained each institution’s first-time NCLEX-RN passing rates, the number of students taking the test, the program nursing accreditation and more. We then compared the results against other nursing programs in Arizona to provide our state rankings. View our methodology. 

Best BSN Nursing Schools in Arizona

Best ADN Nursing Schools in Arizona

Additional Listings of the Top Arizona Nursing Programs

Online RN Programs in Arizona

Today, there are very few disadvantages to earning an online RN degree. With advances in online learning coupled the need to educate more nurses because of the nursing shortage, many nursing schools are offing online nursing programs.

For nurses needing to complete clinicals, nursing programs usually help a nurse to find one.

Be sure to choose an accredited program that meets quality standards set by either the ACEN or CCNE accrediting agencies. An accredited online RN Nursing program will help ensure that your units pass can transfer to another accredited college and help you in gain employment. Learn more about online RN programs.

APRN Programs in Arizona

RNs who wish to become advanced practice registered nurses will want to pursue any number of avenues to earn Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. Earning a Master of Science in Nursing consists of graduate-level coursework and clinical practice for those nurses who wish to direct patient roles such as a nurse practitioner. You can also pursue indirect patient roles such as teaching or leadership roles, or become involved in policy, state-wide health initiatives or community engagement. There are many clinical and non-clinical avenues that an RN with MSN can pursue.Learn how to become a Nurse Practitioner (NP) and research schools in Arizona offering the following high paying nurse practitioner specialties:

• Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
• Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
• Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
• Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)

Learn about Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Degree.

Arizona RN Licensing Requirements

The state of Arkansas has strict requirements candidates must meet in order obtain licensure as an RN.

Those applying for licensure in Arkansas through an endorsement must have completed an approved nursing program in a different state. International students who completed a program similar to a program in Arkansas may also apply for licensure. However, they must have proof of eligibility for licensure in the country they graduated from. They must also prove that they can read, write, and speak English through the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools. This does not include English-speaking countries such as Canada, Australia, and England.

Arkansas State Board of Nursing

Arkansas Nurses Association
University Tower Building
1123 S. University, Suite 800
Little Rock, AR 72204-1619
Phone: (501) 686-2700
Fax: (501) 686-2714

RN License by Exam

The first and most direct path to obtaining licensure is through examination. Candidates need to register for the NCLEX-PN exam through Pearson VUE.  In addition to completing the exam, candidates  must also complete the following steps:

Complete a State-approved nursing program:

In order to become eligible for state licensure through the state of Arkansas, candidates must have completed high school as well as a preparation program approved by the state. Applicants who have completed a program in a different state have the possibility of being eligible for licensure if the Arkansas State Board of Nursing believes they are qualified. Nursing programs must have been approved by the Department of Higher education and hold accreditation from a recognized body.

Complete online application for licensure:

Every candidate must apply for licensure through the Arkansas State Board of Nursing. They must also gain permission to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) before taking the exam. This should be completed about two months before graduation from a nursing program.

Complete a criminal background check:

First-time applicants must complete a background check at both the state and federal levels. When this has been completed, the applicant must also submit a fingerprint that will be forwarded to the Arkansas State Police. Licenses may be denied on the basis of disciplinary history or criminal background.

RN License by Endorsement

One can obtain licensure through endorsement if they already have a license in one of the other 50 states. Out of state candidates have the opportunity to work using a temporary permit while they are working on gaining their endorsement.

Candidates who have had their license for less than five years will need to provide documentation stating they have practiced for 1,000 hours or completed a program in an approved accredited university.

RN License for Nurses Educated Abroad

Candidates who are educated abroad also have an opportunity to obtain licensure as long as they provide transcripts that reflect a similar education.

RN Salaries in Arizona

According to a survey by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the prospects for BSN graduates were better in the southern parts of the country. This does not mean that by attending a school in the south automatically guarantees you a job. It also does not mean that you won’t be able to find a job by not attending school in the south. The participants in the survey were college deans who indicated that 82% of their graduates had job offers right after graduation. Healthcare is a necessity. However, like every other industry, it has been affected to some degree by the broken economy. There are some nurses who will refuse to relay retirement. There is a long-term need for professional nurses that will never cease.

Arkansas Registered Nursing Salaries

Below is a table of the hourly mean RN Salary and the annual median wage in all the metropolitan areas in the state of Arkansas. By looking at this table, you will notice that the annual median wage in Fayetteville metropolitan area has the highest annual median wage. However, Little Rock has the highest number of employed RNs.

The average salary for a nurse in Arkansas is $60,755. The top-paying industries are nursing care facilities and outpatient hospital centers. Nursing homes pay the lowest wages at $49,000 per year on average. The highest paying industry is general medical and surgical hospitals with an average annual wage of $73,000 per year.

Registered nurses that have a bachelor's degree typically earn more than registered nurses who only have an associate's degree or higher level diploma as well as those without any college education at all. In addition to salaries being impacted by educational attainment levels, they also vary based upon geographic location within the state of Arkansas with some areas having significantly lower wages than others due to the shortage of jobs available in these regions.