Hannah Pierce, BSN
June 19, 2025
Arizona’s healthcare industry is expanding rapidly because the population is aging while healthcare needs are increasing. A significant proportion of Arizona’s population consists of seniors aged 65 and above so nurses need advanced education. Arizona nurses pursue RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs because these programs deliver essential training which helps nurses enhance patient care and address healthcare needs in the state.
Tempe, AZ - Public 4-Year - asu.edu
Online Learning - Visit Website
Arizona State University's online RN to BSN program offers registered nurses an accelerated pathway to advance their careers in healthcare. Designed for working professionals, this flexible program can be completed in 14-24 months, allowing students to enhance nursing expertise while maintaining current employment. The curriculum covers critical areas like leadership, evidence-based practice, and health innovation, preparing nurses for broader roles and improved patient care. With a minimum 2.50 transfer GPA requirement and an active RN license, students gain advanced skills in critical thinking, cultural awareness, and interprofessional collaboration.
Online Learning - Visit Website
Arizona State University's RN to BSN Concurrent Enrollment Program offers a unique, time-efficient pathway for nursing professionals to advance their education. Students can simultaneously complete their associate degree and bachelor's degree, gaining comprehensive nursing knowledge. The program emphasizes evidence-based practice, research, leadership, and public health, preparing graduates for evolving healthcare challenges. With flexible online coursework complementing clinical training, students develop critical thinking, professional communication, and advanced nursing skills, positioning themselves for career growth and higher-level nursing roles.
Flagstaff, AZ - Public 4-Year - nau.edu
Online Learning - Visit Website
Northern Arizona University's RN to BSN program offers licensed nurses a flexible online pathway to complete their bachelor's degree. Designed for working professionals with an associate's degree, this program enhances nursing skills in leadership, collaboration, and critical thinking. Students benefit from a structured online classroom environment, enabling them to advance their healthcare career while maintaining professional commitments. The program prepares graduates to take the national NCLEX-RN licensing exam and explore diverse career opportunities in hospitals, community health agencies, schools, and research facilities.
Phoenix, AZ - Public 4-Year - gatewaycc.edu
Campus Based - Visit Website
GateWay Community College's RN to BSN program offers registered nurses a dynamic pathway to advance their nursing credentials and professional development. This post-licensure degree equips nurses with advanced skills in leadership, evidence-based practice, and holistic patient care. The comprehensive 120-credit program focuses on critical areas like health promotion, patient safety, and healthcare needs of diverse populations. Designed for working RNs with an Associate's degree or diploma, the program provides flexible learning to enhance clinical expertise and prepare for graduate study or expanded career opportunities.
Scottsdale, AZ - Public 4-Year - asu.edu
Online Learning - Visit Website
Arizona State University's online RN to BSN program offers registered nurses a flexible pathway to advance their nursing career. Designed for working professionals, this 36-credit program can be completed in 14-24 months, allowing nurses to enhance their skills while maintaining current employment. The curriculum focuses on critical competencies like evidence-based practice, leadership, and interprofessional collaboration, preparing graduates for diverse healthcare roles with improved clinical outcomes and expanded career opportunities.
Prescott, AZ - Public 4-Year - yc.edu
Online Learning - Visit Website
Yavapai College's RN-BSN program offers registered nurses a dynamic pathway to career advancement through a fully online, flexible degree. Designed for working professionals, the 120-credit program enables students to complete coursework in just one year or three semesters. With affordable in-state tuition ranging from $193 to $290 per credit, nurses can enhance their leadership skills, expand clinical knowledge, and prepare for advanced healthcare roles. Students benefit from strategic service-learning projects, immediate academic support, and opportunities to earn a Leadership Certificate.
Arizona students who want to complete RN to BSN programs can access online options which enable them to study from any location. Arizona State University (ASU) and Northern Arizona University (NAU) and other institutions in the state provide fully online RN to BSN programs with flexible learning schedules. The online educational format works well for practicing nurses because it lets them manage their professional duties while finishing their studies. The available educational options include hybrid programs which blend online study with occasional classroom sessions or clinical practice requirements. Students who enroll in hybrid programs benefit from flexible scheduling combined with practical learning opportunities. Some institutions provide nursing programs during evenings and weekends to help students with active work commitments.
| School Name | Highlights | Retention & Grad Rates |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona State University |
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| Yavapai College |
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| Arizona State University Online |
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| Certifying Board | Arizona State Board of Nursing (AZBN) |
|---|---|
| Certification | BSN from an AZBN‑approved program, NCLEX‑RN, fingerprint background check |
| License Renewal Period | Every four years by April 1 (late renewals to May 1, expires August 1) |
| Continuing Education | Not required |
| License Application Fee | $300 licensure/exam + up to $50 background check |
| Clinical Hours | Verified via official BSN transcripts |
| Application Processing Time | First‑in, first‑served, background checks ~30 days (electronic) or 8–12 weeks (paper) |
| License by Endorsement | $150 application + up to $50 background check, submit active‑license verification, transcripts, citizenship, fingerprints |
Arizona-based BSN nurses receive salaries between $75,000 and $95,000 annually based on their work experience and geographic location. BSN-prepared nurses typically earn higher salaries when they take on leadership or specialized roles. The salaries for nurse managers along with clinical educators and public health nurses in Arizona exceed the typical RN compensation. Arizona faces exceptional nursing job growth prospects with a predicted 39% increase in nursing positions by 2030 due to healthcare requirements for the aging population. BSN-prepared nurses encounter high demand in Arizona healthcare settings because the state’s healthcare system expands to meet its growing needs in both urban and rural areas. The employment market for nurses with RN to BSN training remains highly favorable because many healthcare employers throughout Arizona actively seek these professionals especially Magnet hospitals.
| Salary & Career Outlook | Arizona | USA |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual BSN Salary | $81,200 | $62,340 |
| Avg Hourly Wage | $39.05 | $29.97 |
| 90th Percentile Salary | >$98,000 | $80,510 |
| Median Salary | $81,200 | $62,340 |
| 10th Percentile Salary | <$60,000 | $47,960 |
| Projected Job Growth (2022-2032) | 15% | 3% |
| Annual Job Openings | ~1,500 | ~54,000 |
| School Name | Highlights | Annual Estimated Tuition & Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Yavapai College |
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| GateWay Community College |
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| Rio Salado College |
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The BSN degree in Arizona provides nurses with various professional growth opportunities. Leadership positions such as charge nurse, nurse manager and director of nursing require a BSN degree for nursing professionals. Nurses who hold BSN degrees can move into advanced positions in critical care units, pediatrics or oncology departments which provide better pay and expanded duties. BSN serves as the necessary foundation for graduate studies in nurse practitioner roles, nurse anesthesia, and nurse leadership programs. Having a BSN degree enables nurses to pursue specialized certifications in areas such as public health nursing and geriatric nursing. Nurses who earn a BSN degree gain access to positions that involve teaching as well as policy development and healthcare administration. The BSN degree serves as a career foundation which leads to a rewarding lifelong profession along with multiple paths for advancement and leadership positions in Arizona healthcare institutions.
Additional Nursing Programs in Arizona
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