Top 10 Nursing Schools in Arizona (2026 Rankings)

NAU's School of Nursing consistently earns top rankings in Arizona. The BSN program runs nine semesters (~4.5 years), but the extra time translates into exceptionally high NCLEX pass rates and thorough clinical preparation. NAU also offers one of Arizona's top accelerated BSN programs and a strong emphasis on rural health nursing.

• Retention Rate: 75%
• Median Earnings (2 Years Post-BSN): $63,364
• Online RN-to-BSN available
• Strong rural health nursing focus

ASU's Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation is one of the largest nursing schools in the country. ASU offers four BSN tracks — traditional, accelerated, concurrent, and RN-to-BSN. The Downtown Phoenix campus puts students in Arizona's healthcare hub with clinical placements at Banner Health, Dignity Health, and HonorHealth.

• Retention Rate: 85%
• 4 BSN tracks for maximum flexibility
• Clinical placements at Banner, Dignity Health, HonorHealth
• Leader in nursing research and healthcare innovation

The University of Arizona College of Nursing is a research powerhouse and one of the most prestigious nursing programs in the Southwest — the first college of nursing in Arizona. The school's telehealth and health informatics research programs are nationally recognized, and students get clinical rotations at Banner – University Medical Center (Level I trauma center).

• First college of nursing in Arizona
• Nationally recognized telehealth research
• Clinical rotations at Level I trauma center
• Strong graduate programs

Arizona College of Nursing has grown into a national brand with 21 locations. The school offers a BSN that can be completed in just three years — faster than traditional programs. Recent graduates enjoy higher-than-average NCLEX pass rates, and the same tuition rate applies to every student regardless of residency status.

• BSN completed in 3 years
• Same tuition rate for in-state and out-of-state
• Multiple Arizona campus locations
• Above-average NCLEX pass rates

GCU's College of Nursing and Health Care Professions is one of the largest nursing programs in Arizona with both on-campus and online options. The school has invested heavily in nursing simulation labs and clinical partnerships. GCU is especially popular with working nurses pursuing RN-to-BSN or MSN degrees online.

• Competitive tuition for a private university
• Strong simulation lab investment
• Popular for online RN-to-BSN and MSN
• Christian holistic care mission

Chamberlain University is a national nursing school known for its supportive Chamberlain Care model that emphasizes both academic rigor and personal support. The three-year BSN program and range of graduate options translate into strong retention and NCLEX pass rates.

• 3-year BSN program
• Chamberlain Care student support model
• Full online graduate suite (RN-to-BSN, MSN, DNP)
• Strong NCLEX pass rates

Creighton University's College of Nursing brought its nationally ranked Jesuit nursing education to Arizona. The accelerated BSN program in Phoenix is highly regarded for small class sizes, clinical excellence, and emphasis on service — an excellent choice for career changers with a prior bachelor's degree.

• Nationally ranked Jesuit nursing program
• Small class sizes
• Ideal for career changers (prior bachelor's required)
• Strong emphasis on service

While its reputation is mixed, the University of Phoenix offers CCNE-accredited nursing programs that are fully online, making them accessible for working nurses. The RN-to-BSN and MSN programs are particularly popular with nurses who need maximum scheduling flexibility. Clinical components are arranged locally.

• 100% online flexibility
• CCNE-accredited programs
• Local clinical arrangements
• Maximum schedule flexibility

The Maricopa Community College District produces a significant portion of Arizona's nursing workforce. Multiple campuses offer ADN programs at a fraction of the cost of four-year universities. These programs are highly competitive due to low tuition and strong clinical partnerships. Many graduates go on to pursue RN-to-BSN programs at ASU, NAU, or GCU.

• Among the most affordable nursing programs in Arizona
• Strong clinical partnerships
• Clear pipeline to ASU, NAU, GCU RN-to-BSN programs
• Multiple campus locations

Pima Community College offers an affordable ADN program in Tucson that feeds directly into the University of Arizona's RN-to-BSN pipeline. The program has strong clinical placement partnerships at Tucson's major hospitals and is an excellent starting point for students who want to enter the workforce quickly and affordably.

• Direct pipeline to University of Arizona RN-to-BSN
• Strong Tucson hospital clinical partnerships
• LPN certificate also available
• Affordable in-county tuition