Points of interest…
- The median RN salary in the Phoenix metro area is $82,270.
- Phoenix BSN programs consistently exceed national NCLEX pass rate benchmarks.
- Our rankings use College Scorecard metrics like net price and early-career earnings.
An associate degree gets you licensed, but a BSN now determines where you can work in Phoenix. The metro’s largest health systems (Banner, HonorHealth, Dignity Health) strongly prefer or require the bachelor’s for new hires, following the national push toward Magnet status. Median pay for RNs here reached $82,270 in 2025, and that figure conceals a wider BSN advantage in hiring and advancement.
Phoenix offers a dense selection of pathways: high-value public programs at Arizona State University and Maricopa community colleges, private BSNs at Grand Canyon University, and accelerated tracks for career switchers. The practical question isn’t just which school to pick, but whether the upfront cost of a BSN pays off in a market where the bachelor’s credential is hardening into a de facto floor.
Top BSN Programs in Phoenix, Ranked
We evaluated accredited BSN programs in the Phoenix metro area based on affordability, graduation rates, and early-career earnings from College Scorecard and IPEDS. The list below includes pre-licensure and RN-to-BSN options, ranked by institutional metrics and program features. Data for program-level earnings is still emerging, so we compare debt and completion rates where available.
Factors considered
- Net price and institutional aid
- Institution-wide graduation rate
- Early-career earnings data
- Program flexibility and pathways
- NCLEX pass rates when available
Data sources
- Independent program research
- College Scorecard graduate earnings — collegescorecard.ed.gov
- NCES-IPEDS federal institutional data — nces.ed.gov
- Internal program database
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Grand Canyon University | Phoenix, AZ | ~$10,000/yr (est.) | Aspiring RNs seeking Phoenix clinicals | |
Grand Canyon University’s Phoenix campus offers a comprehensive pre-licensure BSN with immersive simulation labs and clinical rotations across the metro area. The program reports a 97% NCLEX first-time pass rate (2024) and CCNE accreditation. Institution-wide graduation rate is 43%, and the effective net price is about $22,472. Early-career median earnings data are not yet reported.
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| #2 | Glendale Community College | Glendale, AZ | Second-degree career changers | ||
Arizona State University offers a Nursing, BSN degree with traditional, transfer, and accelerated 12-month second-degree pathways. The program is delivered through ASU Sync and in-person clinical experiences, making it accessible to Phoenix students. Institution-wide graduation rate data are not available, but the effective net price is approximately $62,668. Program-level earnings have not been published.
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| #3 | Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe | Tempe, AZ | Adult learners needing flexibility | ||
Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe provides a three-year pre-licensure BSN with new sessions starting every eight weeks and night classes for general education courses. The CCNE-accredited program includes high-fidelity simulation labs and clinical rotations in year three. Institution-wide graduation rate is 89%, effective net price is $31,681, and median debt is $9,500. Early-career earnings are not yet available.
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| #4 | GateWay Community College | Phoenix, AZ | |||
Arizona College of Nursing-Phoenix delivers the same three-year pre-licensure BSN as its Tempe counterpart, with clinical placements in Phoenix-area facilities. The program features night classes and 8-week sessions to accommodate working adults. Net price is $36,660; median debt is $9,500. Institution-wide graduation rate is not available, and program-level earnings have not been published.
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| #5 | Pima Medical Institute-Mesa | Mesa, AZ | |||
Pima Medical Institute-Mesa offers an online RN to BSN program for licensed registered nurses, completing in about one year. The curriculum emphasizes leadership, evidence-based practice, and management skills. Institution-wide net price is $21,461, and graduation rate is 67%. Program-specific earnings data are not currently reported.
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| #6 | Arizona State University | Scottsdale, AZ | $11,000/yr | ||
Carrington College-Mesa provides an online RN to BSN program for licensed RNs, with a completion timeline of about 15 months. The program builds on existing nursing experience to develop leadership capabilities. Net price is $48,877, and institution-wide graduation rate is 54%. Early-career earnings are not yet reported.
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| #7 | Aspen University | Phoenix, AZ | $6,000/yr | ||
| #8 | Estrella Mountain Community College | Avondale, AZ | |||
| #9 | Arizona College of Nursing-Phoenix | Phoenix, AZ | |||
| #10 | Carrington College-Mesa | Mesa, AZ | |||
How We Ranked Phoenix Nursing Schools
Nursing school rankings abound, but few are built on verifiable, third-party data that directly measures student outcomes. Our Phoenix list uses the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard, the same dataset behind the White House’s College Scorecard tool, so every figure is independently auditable.
Metrics That Drive the Ranking
We weight four institution-wide metrics from the 2023, 2024 Scorecard release:
- Net Price: What students actually pay after grants, for full-time undergraduates.
- Graduation Rate: The share of first-time, full-time students who complete within 150% of normal time.
- Median Earnings: Three years post-graduation, among federal aid recipients.
- Debt-to-Earnings ROI: A ratio comparing typical monthly federal loan payments to median earnings, giving a real-world affordability signal.
Because Scorecard fields are reported at the school level, net price and graduation rate reflect the entire campus, not just nursing majors. Earnings and debt data are also limited to aid recipients, but they remain the most robust cross-school comparison available.
NCLEX Pass Rates: Context, Not a Ranking Factor
The Arizona State Board of Nursing publishes NCLEX results for each program. We reference these pass rates alongside every school entry in our list of nursing schools in Arizona because they tell you how well a program prepares students for licensure. They are not a scoring input in our ranking; instead, they serve as a transparent quality check on top of the structural outcome data.
Phoenix BSN Cost, Earnings & Debt at a Glance
Here's how in-state and out-of-state tuition stacks up against long-term earnings for the top-ranked nursing programs accessible from Phoenix.
NCLEX Pass Rates for Phoenix BSN Programs
NCLEX pass rates are one of the most reliable signals of program quality, reflecting how well a nursing school prepares students for the licensing exam. For prospective BSN students in Phoenix, the latest data shows that local programs consistently outperform national benchmarks.1
2024 NCLEX-RN Pass Rates for Major Phoenix BSN Programs
- Arizona State University (ASU): 96% (304 of 317 first-time test-takers passed)
- Grand Canyon University: 97% (275 of 283 passed)
- Arizona College of Nursing: 85% (149 of 176 passed)
- Chamberlain University (Phoenix campus): 91% (198 of 217 passed)
- Brookline College (Phoenix): 95% (79 of 83 passed)
ASU’s BSN NCLEX pass rate of 96% is especially notable given the program’s large cohort size, exceeding both the national average and the Arizona statewide average for all RN programs (94.14%)1. Across these five schools, the combined pass rate was 91.94% for first-time test-takers in 2024.
How Phoenix BSN Programs Compare
These results place Phoenix BSN graduates on strong footing. Nationally, first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates range from 82, 86%1, and the 2025 average rose to 87.5%2. All the listed programs except one met or exceeded the Arizona state average, and four out of five were above 90%. Strong NCLEX performance not only means a smoother path to licensure but also reflects a program’s ability to produce practice-ready nurses.
BSN vs ADN in Phoenix: Salary & Career Differences
The median annual salary for registered nurses in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler metro area is $82,270, with earners in the 10th percentile making about $71,200 and those in the 90th percentile exceeding $124,000.1 However, that overall figure masks a meaningful split between graduates of associate (ADN) and bachelor’s (BSN) programs. In Arizona, RNs who hold a BSN typically earn $6,000 to $10,000 more per year than their ADN colleagues, with an average premium around $8,000.2
How Much More Can a BSN Earn?
Nationally, the BLS reports that the broader category of RNs includes both ADN- and BSN-prepared nurses, but local employer surveys and state-level data point to a clear BSN wage advantage. For a nurse working a full-time Phoenix schedule, an additional $8,000 per year translates to roughly $3.85 more per hour.2 Over a 30-year career, that difference compounds significantly, especially when raises and promotional opportunities are factored in.
Employer Preferences and Magnet Status
Many of the Phoenix region’s largest health systems, including Banner Health, HonorHealth, and Mayo Clinic Arizona, have adopted hiring preferences or outright requirements for BSN preparation, in line with Magnet Recognition Program standards. Magnet-designated facilities, which are committed to nursing excellence, often expect 80% or more of their nursing staff to hold at least a BSN. Newly licensed ADN nurses may still find roles in community hospitals or long-term care, but advancement into leadership, case management, or specialized units usually requires returning for a BSN, such as through RN to BSN programs in Arizona, or higher degree.
Weighing Time and Cost
An ADN program takes about two years and is significantly cheaper in tuition, which can be appealing if you need to enter the workforce quickly. However, a BSN typically takes four years (or less through an accelerated program) and opens doors that remain closed to many ADN holders, including higher starting salaries, broader job options, and a smoother path to graduate study. In the Phoenix market, where competition for hospital positions is strong, the long-term return on a BSN generally outweighs the upfront time and cost.
How to Become a Nurse in Phoenix
Accelerated & Fast-Track BSN Programs in Phoenix
Career changers with existing bachelor's degrees now have multiple pathways into nursing across the Phoenix metro, supported by Best ABSN Programs in Arizona, with program lengths ranging from 12 months to three years depending on format and intensity. These accelerated and fast-track options compress the traditional BSN curriculum into a demanding schedule designed for students who can commit to full-time study.
Accelerated BSN Programs
Accelerated BSN programs typically run 12 to 18 months and require applicants to hold a non-nursing bachelor's degree before enrollment.1 These programs move quickly through didactic coursework and clinical rotations, often with classes scheduled year-round without summer breaks.
Phoenix-area options include:
- Arizona State University: Offers a 12-month accelerated BSN requiring a non-nursing bachelor's degree, minimum 3.0 GPA, and TEAS exam completion.1
- Northern Arizona University (Phoenix campus): Delivers a 12-month accelerated BSN for students with a prior bachelor's degree.2
- Grand Canyon University: Provides a 16-month hybrid accelerated BSN accepting students with either a non-nursing bachelor's degree or at least 60 non-nursing college credits.3
- Joyce University: Features a 20-month accelerated BSN program for career changers.5
Fast-Track Pre-Licensure Programs
Fast-track programs offer a longer timeline, typically around three years, and may accept students without a prior degree. These programs still move faster than traditional four-year BSN tracks but allow more flexibility for students balancing other responsibilities.
- Chamberlain University: Operates a 36-month fast-track pre-licensure BSN at its Phoenix location.4
- Joyce University: Also offers a three-year BSN option alongside its accelerated track.5
Prerequisites and Admission Considerations
Most accelerated programs require completion of anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and statistics before enrollment. Admission is competitive, and schools may require entrance exams like the TEAS. Prerequisites vary by institution, so prospective students should contact admissions offices directly for current requirements and cohort start dates. Clinical placements occur at hospitals and healthcare facilities throughout the Phoenix metro area, giving students hands-on experience in the same systems where many will eventually work.
Frequently Asked Questions About Phoenix Nursing Schools
Finding the right nursing program in Phoenix can bring up practical questions about timelines, admissions, and where to get reliable data. These answers point you toward the most accurate sources for your decision.
Traditional BSN programs typically require four years of full-time study. Many schools offer an upper-division nursing major that students enter after completing prerequisites, often finishing the nursing portion in about two years. Always check each school's official nursing program page for its current duration and any flexible or accelerated tracks.
TEAS score requirements vary widely among programs and can change annually. For the most accurate and current details on minimum scores, average competitive scores, and how they factor into admission decisions, contact each program's admissions office directly.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides national and regional employment trends for registered nurses, but it does not report outcomes for individual schools. Use BLS data for overall career outlook, salary ranges, and job growth, and look to each program's published outcomes for school-specific graduate employment and licensure exam pass rates.
Start by visiting professional organizations such as the Arizona Nurses Association, which offers guidance on program quality and workforce trends. Also verify each program's accreditation status through bodies like the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) to ensure it meets national standards.
