2026 Best Nursing Schools in Arizona
Looking for the best Nursing degree programs in Arizona? We have ranked 110 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Nursing Degree Search evaluated 82 schools to produce this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Nursing Degree Schools in Arizona
Here are the top-ranked schools:
Aspen University earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking in Arizona. Set in Phoenix, AZ, Aspen University is a private for-profit institution. Aspen University posts a six-year graduation rate of 27%. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,870. Students borrow a median of $36,946 to complete their Nursing program here. See the full Aspen University profile
Request InformationThe strong Nursing programs at Grand Canyon University earned it the #2 place in Arizona. Grand Canyon University is a private for-profit school based in Phoenix, AZ. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $18,508 in tuition and fees. Grand Canyon University Nursing students take on a median of $30,027 in debt. See the full Grand Canyon University profile
Request InformationOut of the 82 schools in Arizona in this year's ranking, Arizona State University landed the #3 spot. This public school is set in Tempe, AZ. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,223, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Students borrow a median of $21,842 to complete their Nursing program here. Read the full report on Arizona State University
Request InformationOut of the 82 schools in Arizona in this year's ranking, University Of Phoenix Arizona landed the #4 spot. Based in Phoenix, AZ, University Of Phoenix Arizona is a private for-profit institution. University Of Phoenix Arizona posts a six-year graduation rate of 16%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,552. The median Nursing program debt is $35,323. Read more about University Of Phoenix Arizona
Request InformationGateway Community College Phoenix came in at #5 on this year's Nursing ranking in Arizona. Set in Phoenix, AZ, Gateway Community College Phoenix is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,736 to complete their Nursing program here. See the full Gateway Community College Phoenix profile
Request InformationMohave Community College landed the #6 spot in Arizona this year. Located in Kingman, AZ, Mohave Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,208, compared with $7,968 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $14,766 in student loans. See the full Mohave Community College profile
Request InformationUniversity Of Arizona landed the #7 spot in Arizona this year. Located in Tucson, AZ, University Of Arizona is a public institution. University Of Arizona posts a six-year graduation rate of 68%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,573, compared with $39,903 for out-of-state students. Typical Nursing student debt is $21,861. More on University Of Arizona
Request InformationEstrella Mountain Community College landed the #8 spot in Arizona this year. This public school is set in Avondale, AZ. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Students borrow a median of $21,752 to complete their Nursing program here. More on Estrella Mountain Community College
Request InformationNorthern Arizona University did well this year, earning the #9 position. Set in Flagstaff, AZ, Northern Arizona University is a public institution. Northern Arizona University graduates 61% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $12,619 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,044. Northern Arizona University Nursing students take on a median of $21,645 in debt. Read the full report on Northern Arizona University
Request InformationEastern Arizona College came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Eastern Arizona College is a public school based in Thatcher, AZ. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,352, with out-of-state students paying around $9,552. Students borrow a median of $6,781 to complete their Nursing program here. Read more about Eastern Arizona College
Request InformationNorthland Pioneer College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Based in Holbrook, AZ, Northland Pioneer College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,232, with out-of-state students paying around $10,320. Typical Nursing student debt is $8,680. Get the full Northland Pioneer College report
Request InformationArizona Western College landed the #12 spot in Arizona this year. Located in Yuma, AZ, Arizona Western College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,060, while out-of-state students pay about $9,870. Read more about Arizona Western College
Request InformationMesa Community College placed #13 among Nursing schools in Arizona. Based in Mesa, AZ, Mesa Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans. Read more about Mesa Community College
Request InformationPima Community College landed the #14 spot in Arizona this year. This public school is set in Tucson, AZ. In-state tuition and fees average $2,442, compared with $7,758 for out-of-state students. The median Nursing program debt is $10,655. Read the full report on Pima Community College
Request InformationPhoenix College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. This public school is set in Phoenix, AZ. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Phoenix College Nursing students take on a median of $15,204 in debt. See the full Phoenix College profile
Request InformationGlendale Community College Glendale Az did well this year, earning the #16 position. Set in Glendale, AZ, Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $15,996 in student loans. Get the full Glendale Community College Glendale Az report
Request InformationCochise College did well this year, earning the #17 position. Set in Sierra Vista, AZ, Cochise College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,280, while out-of-state students pay about $6,120. Typical Nursing student debt is $12,013. Read the full report on Cochise College
Request InformationChandler Gilbert Community College placed #18 among Nursing schools in Arizona. This public school is set in Chandler, AZ. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Chandler Gilbert Community College Nursing students take on a median of $10,447 in debt. Read the full report on Chandler Gilbert Community College
Request InformationYavapai College came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Located in Prescott, AZ, Yavapai College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,948, compared with $9,486 for out-of-state students. Typical Nursing student debt is $14,087. Read the full report on Yavapai College
Request InformationPathways College
Pathways College placed #20 among Nursing schools in Arizona. More on Pathways College
Request InformationUei College Mesa
Uei College Mesa did well this year, earning the #21 position. Read more about Uei College Mesa
Request InformationAmerican Intercontinental University Online landed the #22 spot in Arizona this year. Read more about American Intercontinental University Online
Request InformationIndian Bible College landed the #23 spot in Arizona this year. Read the full report on Indian Bible College
Request InformationMaricopa Community College System Office did well this year, earning the #24 position. Get the full Maricopa Community College System Office report
Request InformationArizona Culinary Institute placed #25 among Nursing schools in Arizona. Get the full Arizona Culinary Institute report
Request InformationRest of the Top 50 Best Nursing Degree Schools in Arizona
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
Kino College
Kino College came in at #26 in this year's ranking. Read more about Kino College
Request InformationArizona College Mesa did well this year, earning the #27 position. More on Arizona College Mesa
Request InformationPaul Mitchell The School Phoenix placed #28 among Nursing schools in Arizona. More on Paul Mitchell The School Phoenix
Request InformationPima Medical Institute Mesa landed the #29 spot in Arizona this year. Read more about Pima Medical Institute Mesa
Request InformationPure Aesthetics
Pure Aesthetics ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Get the full Pure Aesthetics report
Request InformationGateway Community College Central City ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. See the full Gateway Community College Central City profile
Request InformationCharles Of Italy Beauty College ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. More on Charles Of Italy Beauty College
Request InformationEmpire Beauty School Chandler did well this year, earning the #33 position. More on Empire Beauty School Chandler
Request InformationMidwestern University Glendale placed #34 among Nursing schools in Arizona. Read more about Midwestern University Glendale
Request InformationAveda Institute Tucson did well this year, earning the #35 position. Read the full report on Aveda Institute Tucson
Request InformationCommunity Christian College landed the #36 spot in Arizona this year. See the full Community Christian College profile
Request InformationSonoran Desert Institute placed #37 among Nursing schools in Arizona. More on Sonoran Desert Institute
Request InformationBrookline College Phoenix landed the #38 spot in Arizona this year. Get the full Brookline College Phoenix report
Request InformationChamberlain College Of Nursing Arizona did well this year, earning the #39 position. Get the full Chamberlain College Of Nursing Arizona report
Request InformationTohono Oodham Community College landed the #40 spot in Arizona this year. See the full Tohono Oodham Community College profile
Request InformationAveda Institute Tucson Avondale ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Read the full report on Aveda Institute Tucson Avondale
Request InformationCarrington College Tucson came in at #42 in this year's ranking. More on Carrington College Tucson
Request InformationArizona School Of Integrative Studies ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Read the full report on Arizona School Of Integrative Studies
Request InformationSouth Mountain Community College landed the #44 spot in Arizona this year. See the full South Mountain Community College profile
Request InformationArizona Christian University placed #45 among Nursing schools in Arizona. Read more about Arizona Christian University
Request InformationConservatory Of Recording Arts And Sciences placed #46 among Nursing schools in Arizona. More on Conservatory Of Recording Arts And Sciences
Request InformationArizona State University Skysong did well this year, earning the #47 position. Read more about Arizona State University Skysong
Request InformationPhoenix Seminary
Phoenix Seminary did well this year, earning the #48 position. More on Phoenix Seminary
Request InformationPima Medical Institute Phoenix landed the #49 spot in Arizona this year. See the full Pima Medical Institute Phoenix profile
Request InformationRefrigeration School Inc came in at #50 in this year's ranking. Read more about Refrigeration School Inc
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Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Nursing Degree Search (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: State · 82 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 110 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).