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Best Nursing Schools in Phoenix: Rankings, Tuition & Programs for 2026

GradeToGrad Editorial Team

March 18, 2026

Compare 24 Phoenix nursing programs. Maricopa CCs at $2,358/year with 98% NCLEX pass rates. ASU and GCU lead universities with 96-97% pass rates.

Why Study Nursing in Phoenix?

Phoenix is one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the US, and healthcare is expanding with it. Banner Health (the state's largest employer), HonorHealth, Dignity Health, Valleywise Health, and Mayo Clinic's Arizona campus all drive strong nursing demand. The metro has 24 nursing programs, and the Maricopa Community College District — with 10 campuses — provides one of the most affordable and effective nursing pathways in the country.

University Programs

Arizona State University (Tempe)

ASU's Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation has a 96% NCLEX first-time pass rate with 304 of 317 candidates passing. Doctoral nursing graduates earn $111,949/year. In-state tuition is $12,051 with a 90% acceptance rate. Students benefit from state-of-the-art simulation labs and clinical rotations at Banner, Mayo Clinic, and Phoenix Children's Hospital.

Grand Canyon University (Phoenix)

GCU has a 97% NCLEX pass rate — the highest among Phoenix universities. Graduate Certificate nursing graduates earn $123,400/year at $17,450 tuition. With a 60% acceptance rate and 68,619 students, GCU is one of the largest nursing programs in the country, offering traditional BSN and online RN-to-BSN pathways.

Northern Arizona University (Flagstaff)

While based in Flagstaff, NAU has Phoenix-area clinical placements. Master's nursing graduates earn $96,135/year at $12,652 tuition with a 91% acceptance rate.

University of Phoenix

The online-focused university offers doctoral nursing programs with graduates earning $95,921/year at $9,552 tuition. With 76,996 students, it serves working nurses seeking advanced degrees.

Maricopa Community College District

The Maricopa District operates 10 community colleges across the Phoenix metro, all sharing $2,358/year tuition ($97/credit hour). Several campuses have nursing programs with exceptional pass rates — GateWay and Phoenix College both achieve 98% NCLEX pass rates.

Maricopa Nursing Programs by Earnings

School	Location	Tuition	ADN Earnings
Coconino CC	Flagstaff	$2,712/yr	$68,995
Chandler-Gilbert CC	Chandler	$2,358/yr	$68,231
Scottsdale CC	Scottsdale	$2,358/yr	$67,593
Glendale CC	Glendale	$2,358/yr	$65,903
Paradise Valley CC	Phoenix	$2,358/yr	$63,815
GateWay CC	Phoenix	$2,358/yr	$63,003
Estrella Mountain CC	Avondale	$2,358/yr	$62,142
Mesa CC	Mesa	$2,358/yr	$61,338
Phoenix College	Phoenix	$2,358/yr	$61,143

Chandler-Gilbert CC has the highest ADN earnings in the district at $68,231/year. GateWay CC and Phoenix College have 98% NCLEX pass rates — near perfect.

Concurrent Enrollment Program (CEP)

A unique Maricopa-ASU partnership lets students enroll in both Maricopa and ASU classes simultaneously, graduating with an AAS and BSN in the same semester. This is one of the most innovative CC-to-BSN pathways in the country.

Transfer Pathways

MyPath2ASU: Maricopa students use this tool to plan prescribed coursework that transfers seamlessly to ASU for a bachelor's degree.

AZTransfer: Arizona's statewide transfer system ensures courses taken at any Arizona CC transfer to the three state universities (ASU, UA, NAU).

Financial Aid

Arizona Promise Program — free community college for qualifying students
Federal Pell Grant — up to $7,395/year (covers Maricopa tuition 3x over)
Maricopa Foundation scholarships — hundreds of scholarships for district students

Next Steps

Compare Phoenix nursing programs on GradeToGrad.