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.
Arizona RN Program Comparisons: ADN vs BSN
| Compare RN Programs | ADN | BSN |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Nursing Programs | 19 | 11 |
| Average NCLEX Passing Rate | 90.36% | 90.08% |
| NCLEX Passing Rate Range | 85.50% to 96.69% | 87.06% to 93.49% |
| Average Net Price | $7,808.00 | $15,848.86 |
| Average Net Price Range | $2,662.00 to $11,356.00 | $11,941.00 to $20,084.00 |
| Average Student Loan | $5,894.13 | $17,070.13 |
| Average Student Loan Range | $3,775.00 to $9,500.00 | $9,459.00 to $23,500.00 |
| See Additional Detail | ADN Rankings for Arizona State | BSN Rankings for Arizona State |
Best Ranked RN Programs 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 in 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.
Grade | Degree | University | AZ Rank | US Rank | City | Type: | Offered As: | Accreditor(s): | More: | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 97.43 | ADN | Maricopa Nursing - Scottsdale Community College | 1 | 55 | Scottsdale | 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. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
| 97.02 | ADN | Maricopa Nursing - Estrella Mountain Community College | 2 | 65 | Avondale | 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:
| Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
| 96.31 | ADN | Maricopa Nursing - Mesa Community College | 3 | 91 | Mesa | 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. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
| 96.04 | ADN | Maricopa Nursing - Paradise Valley Community College | 4 | 100 | Phoenix | 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. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
| 95.64 | ADN | Maricopa Nursing - Glendale Community College | 5 | 120 | Glendale | 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:
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.
| Public | Campus, Hybrid, Online | ACEN | See School Details | |
| 95.07 | ADN | Maricopa Nursing - GateWay Community College | 6 | 142 | Phoenix | 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. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
| 94.84 | ADN | Central Arizona College | 7 | 155 | Coolidge | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | ||
| 92.74 | ADN | PIMA Medical Institute-Tucson | 8 | 251 | Tucson | Private For-Profit | Campus, Online | CCNE | See School Details | ||
| 91.72 | ADN | Coconino Community College | 9 | 287 | Flagstaff | Public | Campus | See School Details | |||
| 91.07 | ADN | Northland Pioneer College | 10 | 313 | Holbrook | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | ||
| 90.97 | ADN | Maricopa Nursing - Chandler-Gilbert Community College | 11 | 318 | Chandler | 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:
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. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
| 89.69 | ADN | Yavapai College | 12 | 367 | Prescott | 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.” | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
| 88.24 | ADN | PIMA Community College - West Campus | 13 | 416 | Tucson | 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:
PCC students are well prepared to work in many healthcare settings including physician offices, hospitals, and nursing homes.
| Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
| 88.07 | ADN | Cochise College | 14 | 426 | Douglas | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | ||
| 87.71 | ADN | Maricopa Nursing - Phoenix College | 15 | 441 | Phoenix | 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. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
| 83.85 | ADN | Mohave Community College | 16 | 544 | Kingman | 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:
| Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
| 83.44 | ADN | PIMA Medical Institute-Mesa | 17 | 552 | Mesa | Private For-Profit | Campus | See School Details | |||
| 97.21 | BSN | University of Arizona | 1 | 61 | Tucson | 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.” | Public | Campus, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | |
| 94.84 | BSN | Grand Canyon University | 3 | 151 | Phoenix | Private For-Profit | Campus, Hybrid, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | ||
| 94.83 | BSN | Northern Arizona University | 4 | 152 | Flagstaff | Public | Campus, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | ||
| 91.67 | BSN | Chamberlain University | 5 | 277 | Phoenix | Private For-Profit | Campus, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | ||
| 83.55 | BSN | Brookline College-Phoenix | 6 | 449 | Phoenix | 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. | Private For-Profit | Campus, Online | CCNE | See School Details |
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.Arizona RN Licensing Requirements
In the state of Arizona, nurses can be granted licensure through examination or by endorsement. Endorsement applicants must have completed an approved nursing program and provide proof of licensure from a different state with continuing education hours. The Arizona State Board of Nursing oversees all the registered nurses and licensed practical nurses in the state to ensure the safety of all health patients. There are a few requirements needed to be a licensed RN in the state of Arizona. There are a few steps required to complete or obtain nursing licensure in the state of Arizona.Arizona State Board of Nursing
4747 North 7th Street, Suite 200 Phoenix, AZ 85014-3653 Phone: (602) 889-5150 Fax: (602) 889-5155RN License by Exam
In addition to completing the NCLEX exam, nursing candidates must also provide the following documentation:- A completed application with the appropriate fees paid
- A diploma, associates degree, or baccalaureate degree from an approved nursing program
- Fingerprint results from the Arizona Department of Public Safety and FBI
- If an applicant is under investigation, there must be approval by the board
RN License by Endorsement
Practicing nurses who are licensed in one of the other 50 states can obtain licensure in Arizona through an endorsement. In order to complete this, out of state graduations must submit transcripts which include graduation dates and degree type sent by the school to the Arizona Board of Nursing.License Renewal
- Must practice 960+ hours of nursing in the past 5 years
- A graduate from a nursing program and obtained a degree in the past five years
- Completed a refresher course that has been approved by the Arizona Board in the past five years
- Obtained an advanced nursing degree in the last five year
RN Licensure for Nurses Educated Abroad
Nurses formally trained outside the United States will most likely be required to have their education evaluated by the CGFNS Credentials Evaluation Service. Candidates will have to make a separate demonstration of English Language competency. They can choose to take either the IELTS or the TOEFL exam to complete this requirement. However, this requirement does not apply to nurses educated in Canada with the exception of Quebec.RN Salaries in Arizona
Nurses who completed an RN to BSN program in Arizona have a broader knowledge of patient care and better understand the complexities of healthcare in full detail. If you wish to desire a position in bedside nursing, you may realize that the added education value of a BSN degree will provide you with effective strategies in the management of support staff and the advantages of a view of the healthcare process. It has been reported that there is an anticipated growth of 31% in Arizona’s nursing industry by the year 2020. This is far faster than the national average.LPN Salary vs RN Salary in Arizona
Compare LPN to RN Salaries in Arizona in the following table. Learn more in our LPN Salary Guide and RN Salary Guide.| State | LPN Average Annual Wage | RN Average Annual Wage | Percentage Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $49,560 | $70,720 | 30% |
Arizona Registered Nursing Salaries
The metropolitan area of Prescott has the highest annual median wage. However, the Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale metropolitan area has the highest hourly mean wage as well as the highest amount of registered nurses.| Area name | Employment | Hourly median wage | Annual median wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Havasu City - Kingman, AZ | 1,200 | $28.85 | $60,020 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, AZ | 32,610 | $34.88 | $72,550 |
| Prescott, AZ | 1,100 | $35.30 | $73,420 |
| Tucson, AZ | 8,030 | $32.04 | $66,650 |
| Yuma, AZ | 1,010 | $35.23 | $73,280 |