Nursing in Arizona
Arizona has 32 nursing schools running 92 board-approved programs, and the median RN program’s first-time NCLEX pass rate was 90.8%. Registered nurses here earn a median of $99,500; nurse practitioners, $134,420. Arizona is a compact state, so a license here can be a multistate license. Every figure below names its source and the period it covers.
Nursing Schools in Arizona
72 of Arizona’s 92 programs have a published 2025 first-time pass rate. RN programs averaged 89.3% — 2.8 points above the 86.5% national average. Practical nursing programs averaged 95%.
| Degree | Programs | Median pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| Associate (ADN) | 27 | 93% (23 rated) |
| Bachelor’s (BSN) | 28 | 88.1% (23 rated) |
Both degrees lead to the same RN license. ADN vs BSN, compared nationally →
Highest first-time pass rates (2025)
In-state RN programs. Ties go to the program with more nursing graduates. A single year’s rate swings widely for small programs; check the trend before you choose.
- Cochise CollegeSierra Vista · ADN100%
- Jersey CollegeTucson · ADN100%
- Maricopa NursingMesa · ADN98.8%
- Grand Canyon UniversityTucson · BSN-Accelerated98%
- Eastern Arizona CollegeThatcher · ADN97.2%
What Nurses Earn in Arizona
Federal wage survey data (BLS OEWS, May 2025) — employer-reported, not job-board estimates. The RN median in Arizona is $1,950 above the $97,550 national median; the NP median is $2,120 above the $132,300 national NP median.
| Arizona | Registered nurse | Nurse practitioner |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $99,500 | $134,420 |
| Median hourly | $47.84 | $64.63 |
| Starting range (10th pct.) | $70,540 | $104,400 |
| Top earners (90th pct.) | $130,930 | $173,270 |
| Employed in state | 73,150 | 7,220 |
Licensing in Arizona
Arizona is a Nurse Licensure Compact state (implemented January 19, 2018). A nurse whose primary residence is Arizona can hold one multistate license and practice in every other compact state without applying for another license.
Either way the license starts the same: graduate from a board-approved program and pass the NCLEX. Fees, processing times, and continuing-education rules are set by the Arizona board of nursing and change — confirm them with the board directly. The board documents these pass rates came from: 2026-06-30.
Sources
- First-time NCLEX pass rates by programEach state board of nursing — the exact board documents are linked on every state page · Data: 2025 first-time test takers · Checked
- Program cost, completion, and graduate earningsU.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · Checked
- Registered nurse wages and employment (SOC 29-1141)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics · Data: May 2025 · Checked
- Nurse practitioner wages and employment (SOC 29-1171)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics · Data: May 2025 · Checked
- Nurse Licensure Compact member states and implementation datesNational Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) · Checked
Frequently Asked Questions
How many nursing schools are in Arizona?
Arizona has 32 nursing schools running 92 board-approved programs — 62 RN programs and 30 practical nursing programs (state board of nursing list, 2025 pass-rate year).
What is the NCLEX pass rate in Arizona?
The median Arizona RN program's first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate was 90.8%, and the average across programs was 89.3% — 2.8 points above the 86.5% national average (2025 first-time test takers, from the state board of nursing).
How much do nurses make in Arizona?
Registered nurses in Arizona earn a median of $99,500 a year ($47.84 an hour), $1,950 above the national RN median. Nurse practitioners earn a median of $134,420 (BLS, May 2025).
Is Arizona a compact nursing state?
Arizona is a Nurse Licensure Compact state (implemented January 19, 2018). A nurse whose primary residence is Arizona can hold one multistate license and practice in every other compact state without applying for another license. Source: NCSBN compact map, checked September 17, 2026.
Nursing in other states
Keep going
- Degree pathwayADN vs BSNBoth degrees lead to the same RN license. Here is how associate and bachelor’s programs actually compare on NCLEX pass rates, graduate debt, and earnings.
- GuideADN vs BSN: Which Nursing Program Should You Choose?Compare ADN and prelicensure BSN pathways by time, total cost, admission, clinical logistics, employer expectations, and bridge options—not prestige alone.
- FinderCheapest RN programs in the U.S.The lowest-cost RN programs nationally, with their NCLEX pass rates alongside.
- FinderCompare nursing schoolsPut any nursing programs side by side on pass rate, cost, and outcomes.
- GuideHow Competitive Is Nursing School Admission?Estimate nursing-school competitiveness using seats, qualified applicants, point rubrics, recent cutoffs, attrition, and the parts of your application you can still change.
- Degree pathwayLPN to RNThe pay difference between a practical nurse and a registered nurse, and how practical-nursing and RN programs compare on pass rates, debt, and graduate earnings.