Best ADN Programs in Arizona for 2026

Pima Medical Institute's Associate Degree in Nursing at its Mesa campus is a fully on-campus, approximately 20-month program that prepares graduates to sit for the NCLEX-RN. The curriculum moves through five structured semesters covering anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and nursing theory, then applies that knowledge through hands-on lab exercises using high-fidelity simulation mannequins and supervised clinical externships in real patient-care settings. No portion of the prelicensure clinical requirement can be completed online. PMI also offers a direct pathway forward: ADN graduates are eligible to roll into the school's online RN-to-BSN program, making the ladder strategy straightforward without switching institutions.

IPEDS data shows a 67% graduation rate for this program. Admit-rate figures are not published for this campus. In-state tuition data for PMI is not included in the provided dataset, so prospective students should request the current academic catalog for full cost figures. The program earned a Hakia Score of 86, the highest among Arizona ADN programs in this ranking, reflecting outcomes and program completeness. It fits students who want an accelerated, structured path to RN licensure with built-in simulation depth and a clear bridge to a BSN once employed. Graduates qualify for RN roles with a national field median salary of $97,550 per year according to the BLS.

Who this fits: Career-changers and recent high school graduates in the East Valley who want to reach RN licensure in under two years through a tightly sequenced, simulation-heavy program, with an on-ramp to a BSN from the same institution.

Carrington College Phoenix North offers an Associate Degree in Nursing that is delivered entirely on campus with mandatory clinical rotations. The program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), the national benchmark for associate-level nursing programs. Two distinct accelerated tracks exist for non-traditional entrants: an LVN-to-RN bridge that allows licensed vocational nurses to challenge foundational coursework and licensure requirements by passing ATI benchmark assessments and final exams, and a military advanced-placement pathway for Navy Corpsmen, Army 68W Medics, and Air Force BMTCP or IMDT personnel who can document their healthcare occupation training. Veterans' previous coursework, including military education, is evaluated for transfer credit under a defined policy.

IPEDS data reports a 62% graduation rate at this Phoenix campus, which serves an enrollment of approximately 1,080 students across its programs. Tuition specifics are directed to the academic catalog rather than published on the program page, so current cost figures should be confirmed directly. The program carries a Hakia Score of 85.7, ranking it second among Arizona ADN programs in this index. Graduates sit for the same NCLEX-RN as BSN graduates and earn an identical RN license; the BLS reports a national RN median of $97,550 annually. Admit-rate data is not available for this campus.

Who this fits: LVNs ready to bridge to RN, military healthcare veterans seeking credit for prior service training, and Phoenix-area students who want an ACEN-accredited associate degree with a defined accelerated entry track.

Carrington College Tucson delivers its Associate Degree in Nursing on campus with required clinical rotations; no prelicensure clinical component is completed online. The program holds ACEN continuing accreditation, confirmed at the Tucson location, and follows the same curriculum architecture as the broader Carrington system: evidence-based care across the lifespan, patient-centered planning, and scope-of-practice communication. Both the LVN-to-RN bridge and military advanced-placement track are available at this campus. LVNs must pass ATI Fundamentals benchmark assessments and a 75% threshold on program finals to challenge LVN coursework. Military healthcare personnel in qualifying occupations (Navy HM, Army 68W, Air Force BMTCP/IMDT) may enter with advanced standing upon credential verification and competency exams.

The Tucson campus records a 66% graduation rate against an enrollment of 517, making it the strongest completion performer among the three Carrington Arizona locations in this ranking. No admit-rate data is published. Tuition details require the current academic catalog. The Hakia Score of 85.5 places this campus third statewide in the ADN ranking. All graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN, earning the same full RN credential as a BSN graduate; BLS data puts the national RN median at $97,550 per year. The common follow-on play is working as an RN while completing an online RN-to-BSN bridge.

Who this fits: Tucson-area students, LVNs, and military veterans in southern Arizona who want an ACEN-accredited on-campus ADN with the highest completion rate of any Carrington campus in the state.

Carrington College Mesa offers an on-campus Associate Degree in Nursing with mandatory clinical rotations at partner facilities in the East Valley. The program is ACEN-accredited at the Mesa location, which is noted explicitly in the accreditation disclosure on the program page. Like all Carrington ADN campuses, Mesa supports an LVN-to-RN bridge for licensed vocational nurses who pass ATI Fundamentals benchmarks and a 75% program final threshold, as well as a military advanced-placement pathway for Navy Corpsmen, Army 68W Medics, and qualifying Air Force personnel. Veterans' prior college and military training is evaluated for transfer credit under a published policy.

IPEDS data reports a 54% graduation rate at the Mesa campus against an enrollment of 528, the lowest completion figure among the Carrington Arizona locations in this ranking. No admit-rate data is published, and current tuition requires the academic catalog for verification. The Hakia Score of 83.1 reflects those outcomes in the weighting methodology. Graduates sit for the NCLEX-RN and earn the same RN license as BSN graduates; the BLS reports a national RN median of $97,550 per year. Prospective students should weigh the 54% completion rate carefully and ask Carrington admissions about current NCLEX first-attempt pass rates before enrolling.

Who this fits: Mesa-area LVNs or military veterans who need the geographic convenience of this campus and can take advantage of the bridge or advanced-placement tracks; traditional applicants should compare completion rates with the Tucson and Phoenix North campuses before deciding.

Eastern Arizona College's Associate of Applied Science in Nursing is a prelicensure ADN program based in Thatcher, Arizona, built around direct patient care and hands-on clinical rotations in hospitals, community clinics, schools, and home health settings. The program accepts applications twice yearly (April 1 for fall, November 1 for spring) through a competitive separate admissions process, and requires the ATI TEAS entrance exam. EAC also runs a full nursing ladder from Certified Nursing Assistant through Licensed Practical Nurse to RN, and a newly launching RN-to-BSN track beginning Fall 2026 for graduates who want to bridge up. University transfer partnerships with Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and Grand Canyon University let current ADN students pursue BSN coursework concurrently.

EAC's in-state tuition sits at $2,352 per year, making it one of the most affordable RN pathways in Arizona. The graduation rate is 42%, above average for community college ADN programs where attrition is structurally high due to rigorous clinical standards. Admit rate data is not available for this program. The ACEN accreditation (Spring 2016 through Spring 2029) means graduates meet the national standard for RN licensure exam eligibility, sitting for the same NCLEX-RN as BSN graduates and earning an identical RN license. EAC's Hakia Score of 81.3 places it fifth among Arizona ADN programs. It fits cost-focused students in the rural southeastern Arizona region who want a structured ladder pathway and the option to add a BSN while still enrolled.

Mohave Community College's Associate of Applied Science in Nursing is delivered across four campuses in Kingman, Lake Havasu City, Bullhead City, and Colorado City, covering the full spread of Mohave County. The program uses a stackable credentials model: students who complete the second semester are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-PN (LPN license), and those who finish the fourth semester are eligible for the NCLEX-RN. Existing Licensed Practical Nurses and paramedics receive credit toward the program for prior schooling and licensure, shortening the path to RN. Admission requires a minimum 3.0 GPA on prerequisite science and general education courses, a TEAS score of 62% or higher taken in person, and an active CNA or LNA certificate with at least six months of recent hands-on job experience. That CNA requirement ensures every incoming student arrives with real patient contact before the clinical semesters begin.

Mohave's published NCLEX-RN outcomes show a 2024-25 first-time pass rate of 86.55% and an ultimate pass rate of 98.32%, with a 93.8% job placement rate for the same cohort, all figures reported to ACEN as part of ongoing accreditation benchmarking. The 2024-25 graduation rate came in at 62.0%, strong for a community college ADN. In-state tuition is $2,184 per year, the lowest among the programs in this ranking. Admit rate data is not published. With a Hakia Score of 80.3, Mohave ranks sixth overall and is the top value option for students in western and northwestern Arizona, particularly those who already hold a CNA or LPN credential and want the fastest onramp to a full RN wage.

Estrella Mountain Community College offers the Associate in Applied Science in Nursing as part of the coordinated Maricopa Community Colleges nursing program, which runs across eight campuses including Estrella Mountain in Avondale. The program requires 62 to 75 credits and is structured to deliver clinical experience in a variety of healthcare environments, from acute-care hospitals to long-term care and community settings. Admission requires a high school diploma or GED, a Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card from the Arizona Department of Public Safety, passing a drug screen, and documentation compliance with Maricopa's health and safety requirements checklist. Students planning to continue to a BSN can take prerequisite coursework at any Maricopa campus and transfer; the AAS degree is designed explicitly as an articulation foundation for university nursing programs. Clinical rotations are fully in person; the program is only available to students located in Arizona per Maricopa district policy.

Estrella Mountain enrolls roughly 10,109 students across the college, giving ADN students access to a larger campus infrastructure and advising network. In-state tuition is $2,328 per year. The graduation rate is 32%, reflecting the competitive, clinically intensive nature of the program. Admit rate data is not published separately for the nursing program. The program does not publish standalone NCLEX-RN pass rates at the campus level; outcomes are tracked at the Maricopa district level and reported to ACEN. Graduates sit for the same NCLEX-RN as BSN graduates and hold an identical RN license. With a Hakia Score of 75.1, Estrella Mountain ranks seventh and is a strong option for students in the West Valley of metro Phoenix who want a large-college environment and direct articulation pathways to ASU, NAU, or Grand Canyon University for an eventual BSN.

Pima Community College's Associate of Applied Science in Nursing is a 5 to 6 semester full-time program based in Tucson and delivered in person, online, and hybrid formats depending on the coursework component; clinical rotations are hands-on and cannot be completed remotely. The program uses a stackable pathway: after the first semester students may sit for the CNA exam, and after completing the first three semesters they may sit for the NCLEX-PN to work as an LPN. A distinctive feature is Pima's concurrent enrollment agreement with Northern Arizona University, Arizona State University, and Grand Canyon University, which lets qualified ADN students pursue a BSN simultaneously rather than waiting to bridge up after graduation. The program is Title IV financial aid eligible and includes a Veterans Benefits pathway. Admission carries additional requirements beyond the general college application, and students are encouraged to meet with an advisor before applying to map the full credential sequence.

Pima's in-state tuition is $2,412 per year. The graduation rate is 28%, the most selective completion rate in this group, reflecting Tucson's competitive ADN cohort and the program's rigorous clinical standards across a regional healthcare market that includes Banner-University Medical Center and other acute-care systems. Admit rate data is not published. Pima does not publish NCLEX-RN pass rates on its program page; graduates are eligible to sit for the same NCLEX-RN as any RN program and earn an identical license regardless of degree level, as the BLS confirms. With a Hakia Score of 74.9, Pima ranks eighth and is best suited to Tucson-area students who want the simultaneous ADN-plus-BSN track or who are already working as CNAs or LPNs and want a structured ladder to full RN licensure without relocating.

Chandler-Gilbert Community College offers the Registered Nurse Pathway as an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree requiring 62 to 75 credits, structured through the Maricopa County Community College District alongside seven sister campuses. The program runs entirely in person: clinical rotations take place across a range of acute, long-term, and community-based healthcare settings, and no component can be completed remotely. A Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card from the Arizona Department of Public Safety is required before admission, so applicants should start that process early. The curriculum is aligned with Nurse of the Future Competencies and is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN and earn the same full registered nurse license as any BSN graduate.

At $2,328 per year in-state tuition, Chandler-Gilbert is one of the lowest-cost paths to an RN credential in Arizona. The program reports a 30% graduation rate per IPEDS, which reflects the demanding clinical and academic standards common to Maricopa nursing programs rather than program quality alone; attrition in ADN programs nationally tends to be high. No NCLEX pass rate is published on the program page. Chandler-Gilbert earned a Hakia Score of 74.4, the basis for its rank 9 placement among Arizona ADN programs. BLS data puts the national median RN salary at $97,550 per year, the same ceiling for every ADN graduate who earns the RN license. This program fits cost-conscious students in the East Valley who want a structured, campus-based cohort and the option to bridge to a BSN later through articulation pathways Maricopa already supports.

GateWay Community College delivers the Maricopa AAS in Nursing as one of eight district campuses sharing a common ACEN-accredited curriculum. The program requires 62 to 75 credits completed entirely on campus and in clinical sites across the Phoenix metro; Arizona law limits enrollment to students physically located in Arizona, and no portion of a prelicensure clinical program can be completed online. Clinical rotations span acute care, long-term care, and community-based settings. Admission requires a high school diploma or GED, a Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card, a negative urine drug screen, and a signed Health Declaration reviewed by a licensed provider. Graduates sit for the NCLEX-RN and earn an unrestricted registered nurse license identical to what a BSN graduate holds.

GateWay's in-state tuition is $2,328 per year, matching the district rate across all Maricopa nursing campuses. The program's 29% graduation rate, reported through IPEDS, reflects program selectivity and the clinical rigor common to Maricopa nursing rather than an outlier problem; the graduation rate at Chandler-Gilbert one rank above it is 30%. No NCLEX pass rate is published on the GateWay program page. GateWay earned a Hakia Score of 73.3, placing it 10th among Arizona ADN programs. BLS data puts the national median RN salary at $97,550, the same floor available to every ADN graduate who passes the NCLEX. GateWay fits students based in central Phoenix who want a smaller campus environment within the full Maricopa infrastructure, including the district's existing BSN articulation pathways for RNs who want to bridge up while working.