Explore Arizona's Top BSN Programs: Online & Campus
Whether you’re applying to college, changing careers, or building on existing knowledge, a BSN program can help you gain the skills you need to start — or jumpstart — your career as a nurse. This guide will walk you through some of the best programs available in Arizona today and help you find the best one for you.
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.
Arizona State University Digital Immersion
Scottsdale, Arizona
Public
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, Arizona
Public
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 another popular BSN program that will help you see what other students just like you look for.
Grand Canyon University
Phoenix-based, Christian-affiliated Grand Canyon University offers three options for BSN-seeking students, including both accelerated BSN and RN to BSN programs that feature online coursework. The Accelerated BSN is a pre-licensure program for students who hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree that can be completed in 16 months. The course of study is delivered in a hybrid learning format, which combines online didactic coursework with hands-on immersive simulation experiences and nursing skills labs attended on campus. Students additionally complete in-person clinical rotation hours at local program-approved healthcare facilities.
GCU’s RN to BSN program allows current RNs with a previously earned ADN or nursing diploma the ability to earn their nursing bachelor’s in as few as 14 months. Nursing theory coursework is delivered and completed entirely online. However, students are required to complete practicum hours in a clinical setting in the student’s local community. The RN to BSN program’s current per-credit tuition rate is a notably affordable $340.
GCU additionally offers a campus-based Pre-Licensure BSN that is completed with four years of full-time study.
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.
Accelerated BSN Programs
Students with a previously earned non-nursing bachelor’s degree can save time and money in obtaining their BSN through an accelerated BSN (ABSN) program, which allows students to apply general education coursework earned in previous bachelor’s degree to the ABSN program. This allows them to focus on nursing courses and earning a degree in just 12 to 16 months. Didactic coursework may or may not be offered online. Nevertheless, ABSN students will likely complete required hands-on labs on their school’s campus and clinical practice hours at program-approved healthcare facilities.
Examples of Arizona Nursing Schools with This Program
Direct Entry BSN Programs
A direct entry BSN program is a pre-licensure program in which the student is admitted directly into the BSN program as an incoming freshman and begins nursing coursework in their freshman year. Direct entry BSN programs differ from many traditional entry-level BSN programs that require students to complete some or all general education requirements before being admitted into the nursing program and starting their nursing coursework in their junior year. Admission into these programs is typically limited to highly motivated applicants who meet pre-established criteria as determined by the program.
LPN to BSN Programs
LPN to BSN programs allow currently licensed practical nurses to complete the didactic coursework and clinical rotation hours needed for NCLEX exam and RN license eligibility along with the additional general education and advanced nursing classes required to earn the BSN. Students may be able to complete general education and some nursing courses online. However, LPN to BSN students, like those in all other pre-licensure BSN programs, will be required to attend hands-on labs on campus and complete their clinical rotations at program-approved healthcare facilities.
Examples of Arizona Nursing Schools with This Program
Online BSN Programs
Online programs offer lots of valuable benefits, including study flexibility and cost savings from not having to travel to campus to attend classes. However, almost all pre-licensure Arizona BSN programs are campus-based. Nevertheless, pre-licensure students in other Arizona BSN programs — like the ASU program linked below — will likely be able complete some of their general education courses online. Additionally, as described in the next section, most RN to BSN programs in Arizona are offered fully online.
Examples of Arizona Nursing Schools with This Program
RN to BSN Programs
Employers prefer to hire registered nurses with a bachelor’s degree, so it’s no surprise that current RNs are returning to school to earn their BSNs. The result is the very popular RN to BSN program. Because these students have licenses and thus have already completed clinical practice hours, most RN to BSN programs in Arizona today are delivered in fully online formats. Full-time students may be able to complete their degrees in a few as two years. However, most programs accommodate full-time working RNs by offering part-time options designed to be completed in four years or more.
Examples of Arizona Nursing Schools with This Program
Traditional BSN Programs
Traditional BSN programs are designed for incoming freshmen with no nursing experience and little or no previous college experience. Like most standard bachelor’s degrees, the traditional BSN typically takes four years of full-time study to earn (the three-year Arizona College of Nursing program linked below is an exception). Traditional BSN programs in Arizona are campus-based, but some offer online general education and nursing courses. All of these programs additionally require completion of the in-person clinical rotation hours needed to qualify for the NCLEX exam and RN licensure.
Examples of Arizona Nursing Schools with This Program
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
Registered nurses play an important role in the healthcare community, and they’re compensated well for it. Professionals make an average of $88,310 per year. Arizona nurses in the 10th percentile of earners make $70,060, while the 90th percentile earn $109,750. There are salary differences depending on where you work. For example, in Tucson, the 90th percentile of registered nurses earn $99,570, and the 10th percentile make $64,440. The average earnings are $88,030. In the Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale area, the salary range for registered nurses is $71,230 to $111,400, with the average salary being $89,390 per year. Registered nurses in Arizona will also enjoy healthy job growth in the years to come. There will be a 21.90% increase in jobs, so every year, there will be 4,820 new positions. In the United States, there will be 193,100 new jobs created annually, which is a 5.60% increase. For more details, look at the data we compiled below.
| Area | 10th Percentile | Median | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $70,060 | $88,310 | $109,750 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | $78,540 | $95,570 | $104,590 |
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $65,010 | $82,620 | $102,550 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | $71,230 | $89,390 | $111,400 |
| Prescott, AZ | $64,810 | $91,170 | $120,720 |
| Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | $61,850 | $82,460 | $98,480 |
| Tucson, AZ | $64,440 | $88,030 | $99,570 |
| Yuma, AZ | $69,660 | $87,210 | $109,750 |
Source: Registered Nurses, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.
| Area | Curr. Jobs | Proj. Jobs | New Jobs | Growth % | Avg. Ann. Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 3,172,500 | 3,349,900 | 177,400 | 5.60% | 193,100 |
| Arizona | 59,110 | 72,050 | 12,940 | 21.90% | 4,820 |
Source: Projections Central
Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.
