Explore Arizona's Top BSN Programs for 2023: Online & Campus

Is service to others the primary factor driving your career search? Then becoming a highly valued member of your community as a registered nurse may be your perfect career fit. And there’s no better way to qualify for RN licensure in Arizona than through one of the many excellent, fully accredited Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs available in Arizona today.

Colleges and universities throughout the state offer a variety of BSN degree options, each one designed to make earning the degree as easy and affordable as possible. So whether you’re just heading to college, already hold a degree, or are a practicing nurse interested in career advancement opportunities, there’s a BSN program made for you.

This guide will spotlight quality Arizona BSN programs, provide an overview of the current local job market for BSN graduates (hint: it’s really good!), and a whole lot more.

Ready for a great career in service to others? Then keep reading to discover how you can become a valued nursing professional by earning your bachelor degree through one of the top Arizona BSN programs in 2024.

A Look at a Popular BSN Program in Arizona

The easiest way to start your search for the right Arizona BSN program is to take a look at what popular programs have to offer. That’s why we’ve spotlighted a popular BSN program that will help you see what other students just like you look for in a BSN program.

A Look at the Benefits of Earning a BSN Degree in Arizona

We noted earlier that there’s no better way to qualify for your RN license than by earning a BSN degree. That’s because a BSN comes with a number of important academic and career benefits that you simply won’t gain any other way. Here are three of the most valuable of those benefits.

Research and Innovation Opportunities

Major providers of higher education are often described as “research universities” because they prioritize and support the research efforts of faculty members. Nursing faculty often employ the services of both graduate and undergraduate students in conducting their research. As a result, BSN students at top Arizona nursing schools (such as Northern Arizona University) often have access to research opportunities that can play an important part in advancing their careers.

Strong Professional Associations

There’s likely no profession that can boast as many professional associations and organizations as nursing. There are literally dozens of national, state, local, and even school-specific nursing-focused associations in operation today. Check out Arizona State University’s Student Life page to see a sampling of the student and professional organizations accessible to students. These groups offer a wide range of valuable resources to nursing professionals that can be tapped into at any point in their careers.

Diverse Population

Top nursing programs in Arizona today strive for diversity and inclusion in their academics as well as their student populations. The reason is simple, but significant: Diversity in learning mirrors the diversity in patient populations and provides students countless opportunities to encounter a wide range of health conditions and challenges. It also encourages the development of cultural sensitivity in nursing practice, something that’s particularly important in a state as racially, economically, and culturally diverse as Arizona.

To learn more about the importance of diversity in nursing and nursing education, visit the University of Arizona College of Nursing page on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion.

Criteria to Consider When Choosing BSN Programs in Arizona

When you first start looking into potential Arizona BSN programs, you’ll find differences in areas of specialization, academic philosophies, and delivery methods. Nevertheless, there are a number of foundational components that every program you consider must have. Here are three of the most important:

Accreditation

An important component of any Arizona BSN program you consider is proper accreditation. Accreditation ensures the program meets critical standards of academic quality, and it’s one way that employers can feel confident that the BSN graduates they hire have received a quality nursing education.

During your BSN program search, you’ll want to confirm institutional and programmatic accreditation. BSN programs in the U.S. are programmatically accredited by two major organizations: the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

NCLEX Preparation & Pass Rates

A critical component of any pre-licensure BSN program is how well it prepares its students for success in passing the NCLEX-RN exam, a foundational requirement for RN licensure in Arizona and all other states. It’s important to check the current exam pass rates (available through the Arizona State Board of Nursing) for each of the BSN programs you’re considering. A high pass rate is one solid indication of a program’s academic quality.

Well-Rounded Curriculum

A well-rounded BSN curriculum is one that prepares graduates for holistic nursing practice — that is, practice that incorporates both specific nursing knowledge and skills with broader skills in leadership, critical thinking, evidence-based decision-making, and care and treatment that takes into consideration the whole patient.

Types of BSN Programs in Arizona

Nursing schools are keenly aware that their BSN students come from a variety of backgrounds. They have different education and career goals, as well as different needs in terms of fitting their studies into their busy work and life schedules. As a result, most schools offer a variety of BSN program options. We’ve described below the most common of these BSN program types to help you determine the one that best works for you.

FAQs About BSN Programs in Arizona

Now that you’ve got a basic understanding of the benefits of earning your BSN — as well as the various types of BSN programs offered in Arizona — you likely have a few more general questions about nursing bachelor’s programs. Here are the answers to four of the most frequently asked of those questions.

Can I work while pursuing a BSN in Arizona?

It’s important to keep in mind that practically all pre-licensure Arizona BSN programs are full time, making part-time employment an attractive option. Most BSN programs strongly discourage their students from substantial (more than part-time) employment while pursuing their degrees. On the other hand, RN to BSN programs in Arizona (like the one at Arizona State University) offer courses of study designed to allow RNs to continue to work while earning their degrees.

Are there specific prerequisite courses I need to take?

Practically all Arizona BSN programs, both pre-licensure and RN to BSN, require some prerequisite coursework to be completed for admission. Specific course subjects vary from program to program but typically include statistics along with nursing-related science subjects like biology, chemistry, nutrition, and psychology. Examples of programs with prerequisite course requirements include the University of Arizona’s traditional BSN program, the ABSN program at Grand Canyon University, and the RN to BSN program at Northern Arizona University.

Are online BSN programs in Arizona accredited?

Online BSN programs in Arizona are accredited in the same way and by the same accrediting agencies as campus-based programs. That includes both institutional and programmatic accreditation. Examples of online BSN programs in Arizona that are programmatically accredited by the CCNE include Chamberlain University’s hybrid BSN program and the online RN to BSN program from the University of Arizona’s Global Campus. Remember, if you can’t confirm a BSN program’s proper accreditation, scratch that program off your list.

How do BSN programs differ from other nursing programs?

The BSN has become the clear degree of preference of employers for RN applicants, and salaries for BSN degree holders are higher than non-degree holders at an average of $90,072 per year. However, you can become an entry-level nurse in Arizona through other pathways, including:

• Becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA); average hourly wage in Arizona is $18 per hour, which roughly translates to $37,440 per year.
• Becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse; average hourly wage in Arizona is $32 per hour, which roughly translates to $56,160 per year.
• Earning an ADN; average hourly wage in Arizona is $36 per hour, which roughly translates to $72,800 per year.

Employment and Salary Trends for Arizona BSN Nurses

The career prospects for graduates of Arizona BSN programs are strong and expected to remain that way for the foreseeable future. That conclusion is evidenced by the most recent salary and job growth figures from the U.S. Department of Labor presented in the two sections below. Let’s take a closer look.

Earning Potential as a BSN in Arizona

Earnings are an excellent indicator of supply and demand in the job market. That’s certainly true for registered nurses in Arizona, as illustrated by the state and metro area salary figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in the chart below. As you review the figures, keep in mind that the actual salary you earn will depend on several variables, including your specific job title and employer, your specific job duties, and your level professional nursing experience.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2021

The Job Market for Arizona BSN Nurses

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Projections Central website places Arizona in the top position among all states in the U.S. for expected job growth for registered nurses. That’s troubling news for the state’s healthcare industry, but it’s good news for BSN degree holders in Arizona. What it means is that, as an Arizona RN with a BSN degree, you’ll be in the driver’s seat when it comes to career security and access to the very best RN jobs in the state for years to come.

Source: Projections Central