Best colleges for Registered Nursing in Arizona
Ranked by graduate earnings
Grand Canyon University, Arizona College of Nursing - Tempe and Chamberlain University - Arizona are the top bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Arizona by graduate earnings. Grand Canyon University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $92,781, College Scorecard. Grand Canyon University, University of Arizona and Arizona State University Campus Immersion award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Arizona: 4,938, 601 and 600 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 37 Arizona colleges offer Registered Nursing and award 12,414 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
Top 9 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grand Canyon University Phoenix Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $92,781 | 4,938 | 43% | $21,535 | $25,500 |
| 2 | Arizona College of Nursing - Tempe Tempe Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $85,169 | 256 | 89% | $32,285 | $51,854 |
| 3 | Chamberlain University - Arizona Phoenix Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $83,188 | 236 | 50% | $36,668 | $39,146 |
| 4 | Brookline College - Phoenix Phoenix Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $78,980 | 63 | 53% | — | $41,937 |
| 5 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe Public · Bachelor's degree | $78,180 | 600 | 68% | — | $26,750 |
| 6 | University of Arizona Tucson Public · Bachelor's degree | $78,168 | 601 | 68% | — | $21,500 |
| 7 | Northern Arizona University Flagstaff Public · Bachelor's degree | $76,782 | 572 | 61% | — | $24,276 |
| 8 | University of Phoenix-Arizona Phoenix Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree Online | $98,826 | 907 | 21% | $15,478 | $27,235 |
| 9 | Aspen University Phoenix Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree Online | $94,023 | 1,267 | 27% | — | $36,787 |
Top 10 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Estrella Mountain Community College Avondale Public · Associate degree | $78,359 | 80 | 32% | — | $34,003 |
| 2 | Carrington College - Phoenix North Phoenix Private for-profit · Associate degree | $76,515 | 78 | 62% | — | $32,969 |
| 3 | Yavapai College Prescott Public · Associate degree | $74,560 | 130 | 34% | — | $21,500 |
| 4 | Mohave Community College Kingman Public · Associate degree | $73,774 | 119 | 38% | — | $17,812 |
| 5 | Pima Medical Institute - Tucson Tucson Private for-profit · Associate degree | $73,509 | 132 | 72% | — | $29,761 |
| 6 | Eastern Arizona College Thatcher Public · Associate degree | $70,074 | 62 | 42% | — | — |
| 7 | Cochise County Community College District Sierra Vista Public · Associate degree | $69,412 | 34 | 30% | — | $10,339 |
| 8 | Chandler-Gilbert Community College Chandler Public · Associate degree | $67,572 | 79 | 30% | — | $22,806 |
| 9 | Glendale Community College Glendale Public · Associate degree | $75,418 | 168 | 16% | — | $24,741 |
| 10 | GateWay Community College Phoenix Public · Associate degree | $74,062 | 226 | 29% | — | $21,225 |
Colleges awarding the most Registered Nursing degrees in Arizona
Top 9 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grand Canyon University Phoenix Private not-for-profit | 4,938 | $92,781 |
| 2 | University of Arizona Tucson Public | 601 | $78,168 |
| 3 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe Public | 600 | $78,180 |
| 4 | Northern Arizona University Flagstaff Public | 572 | $76,782 |
| 5 | Arizona College of Nursing - Tempe Tempe Private for-profit | 256 | $85,169* |
| 6 | Chamberlain University - Arizona Phoenix Private for-profit | 236 | $83,188 |
| 7 | Arizona College of Nursing - Phoenix Phoenix Private for-profit | 194 | $85,169* |
| 8 | Arizona College of Nursing - Tucson Tucson Private for-profit | 101 | $85,169* |
| 9 | Brookline College - Phoenix Phoenix Private for-profit | 63 | $78,980 |
ShowHide the other 28 Arizona colleges offering Registered Nursing
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Top skills
What Registered Nurses earn in Arizona
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Registered Nursing programs in Arizona.
Which Arizona colleges award the most Registered Nursing degrees?+
Grand Canyon University (4,938 graduates a year), University of Arizona (601 graduates a year) and Arizona State University Campus Immersion (600 graduates a year) award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Arizona, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 37 Arizona colleges offer Registered Nursing.
What is the best college for Registered Nursing in Arizona?+
By graduate earnings, Grand Canyon University leads among bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Arizona, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $92,781, College Scorecard. Arizona College of Nursing - Tempe and Chamberlain University - Arizona follow. By degrees awarded, Grand Canyon University is the largest, with 4,938 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Registered Nursing program in Arizona has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Grand Canyon University tops the list at $92,781. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Registered Nurses earn in Arizona?+
The average annual wage for Registered Nurses in Arizona is $99,730 (median $99,500), across about 73,150 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Registered Nursing program?+
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Registered Nurses?+
The national job outlook is about +4.9% growth with around 189,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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