Arizona College of Nursing: Tuition, Cost & What Students Say

Arizona College of Nursing is a for-profit institution that offers an accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program across campuses in more than a dozen states. It attracts students who want to enter nursing quickly — the core program runs about 16 months for students who already hold a non-nursing bachelor's degree — and its multi-state footprint makes it one of the more visible private nursing schools in the country.

If you're researching Arizona College of Nursing, you're likely asking the same three questions: What does it cost? How do students rate it? And is it worth it compared to other options?

Here's a straight answer to each.

Tuition and total cost

Arizona College of Nursing charges tuition per credit hour rather than per semester. The accelerated BSN program is approximately 120–128 credit hours total. At roughly $600–$750 per credit hour (rates vary slightly by campus and are updated periodically), the total tuition cost for the full program typically falls in the range of $55,000 to $75,000.

That is the tuition figure — it does not include:

• Books and clinical supplies (estimate $2,000–$4,000 over the program)
• Licensing fees (NCLEX exam, state nursing license application)
• Background checks and immunization documentation required for clinical placements
• Living expenses, which vary significantly by campus location (Southfield, MI and Hartford, CT have very different costs of living)

For students who qualify, federal financial aid (Pell Grants, subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans) is available. Arizona College of Nursing is Title IV eligible. However, because it is a for-profit school, Pell Grant eligibility is generally limited, and most students fund a significant portion through federal loans.

The bottom line on cost: after financial aid, most students graduate with $50,000–$80,000 in debt from this program. That is meaningful — but it also needs to be weighed against starting salaries for registered nurses, which nationally average around $75,000–$90,000 per year depending on location and setting. In many markets, the debt-to-income ratio for nursing graduates is manageable.

Campuses and locations

Arizona College of Nursing has expanded aggressively over the past several years. Current campus locations include:

• Arizona: Phoenix, Tempe, Tucson, Mesa
• Michigan: Southfield
• Connecticut: Hartford
• Colorado: Denver
• Florida: Tampa, Orlando
• Nevada: Las Vegas
• Texas: Austin, Dallas, Houston
• Utah: Murray (Salt Lake City area)
• Indiana: Indianapolis

Each campus operates somewhat independently in terms of clinical placement networks and local hiring relationships. Reviews and outcomes can vary meaningfully from one campus to another — this matters when evaluating whether the school is the right fit for you.

Southfield, MI campus

The Southfield campus serves the Detroit metro area and draws students from across southeast Michigan. Nursing demand in the Detroit market is strong, with Henry Ford Health System, Beaumont Health (now Corewell Health), and the Detroit Medical Center all employing large numbers of RNs. Students at the Southfield campus have generally reported that clinical placements are available, though the experience can be competitive depending on cohort size.

Student reviews of the Southfield campus on platforms like Indeed and Indeed highlight the accelerated pace as both a strength and a challenge. Students who come in with strong study habits and prior healthcare experience tend to perform well. Those entering without any clinical background often find the pace demanding. Faculty quality is described as uneven — some instructors are consistently praised; others less so.

Hartford, CT campus

The Hartford campus serves Connecticut, a state with strong nursing demand driven by Yale New Haven Health, Hartford HealthCare, and Trinity Health of New England. Connecticut RN salaries are among the highest in the country — the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports median annual wages for RNs in Connecticut above $90,000 — which improves the financial calculus of a higher-cost program.

Reviews of the Hartford campus are mixed but broadly in line with the national pattern for the school: students appreciate the accelerated timeline, but some report inconsistency in faculty and administrative responsiveness. Students who have previous healthcare experience (CNA, EMT, medical assistant) report a smoother transition into the clinical components.

Accreditation

Arizona College of Nursing is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), which is one of the two main national accreditors for nursing programs in the United States (the other being CCNE, which accredits many university-based programs). ACEN accreditation means:

• The BSN degree is accepted by most employers for RN positions
• Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN licensing exam
• Credits are potentially transferable (though this varies by receiving institution)
• The program meets minimum standards for nursing education quality

ACEN accreditation is legitimate and recognized. However, it is worth noting that ACEN accredits a broader range of program types than CCNE, which focuses more narrowly on university-affiliated programs. Neither is "better" for employment purposes — employers care about the NCLEX pass rate and state licensure, not which accreditor approved the school.

NCLEX pass rates

NCLEX pass rates are the most objective data point for evaluating a nursing program's quality. Arizona College of Nursing reports first-time NCLEX pass rates that have historically ranged from the low-to-mid 70s to the mid-80s percent, depending on campus and year. The national average first-time NCLEX pass rate for all BSN programs is approximately 85–88%.

This means Arizona College of Nursing's NCLEX pass rates have generally been somewhat below the national average for BSN programs. This is a meaningful data point. A lower first-time pass rate means a higher proportion of graduates need to retake the exam, which delays licensure and employment, and adds cost (each NCLEX attempt costs approximately $200).

Before enrolling, ask the admissions team for the most current first-time NCLEX pass rate for the specific campus you're considering. This data is also publicly reported to state nursing boards.

How it compares to other options

The key comparison for most students is between Arizona College of Nursing and:

1. Accelerated BSN programs at public universities — Programs at state schools are often significantly less expensive (total cost $25,000–$45,000 in many states) but are highly competitive to get into and may have waitlists of 1–2 years.
2. Community college ADN + RN-to-BSN bridge — The two-step path (associate degree first, then bridge to BSN) can be substantially cheaper, though it takes longer. Many hospitals now require or strongly prefer BSN-prepared nurses.
3. Other private accelerated BSN programs — Similar schools like Grand Canyon University, Chamberlain University, and Herzing University offer comparable programs at similar or slightly different price points. GCU and Chamberlain have larger footprints and somewhat more established employer relationships in some markets.

If your goal is to become an RN as quickly as possible and you hold a non-nursing bachelor's degree, Arizona College of Nursing is a legitimate path. The cost is high by the standards of public nursing education, but the 16-month timeline is genuinely competitive — comparable accelerated programs at public universities often run 12–18 months as well, but again, are harder to get into.

What to check before you enroll

If you're seriously considering Arizona College of Nursing, here's what to verify for your specific campus:

• First-time NCLEX pass rate for the past 2–3 years at that campus (request this directly from admissions or find it on the state nursing board website)
• Clinical placement availability — ask specifically how many weeks of clinical hours are required and where students are typically placed
• Total out-of-pocket cost after the financial aid package you're offered
• Graduate employment rate and whether the school has relationships with local hospital systems
• Current enrollment size — cohorts that are too large can create competition for clinical placements

Compare nursing programs on DecideMyCampus

DecideMyCampus shows data from the College Scorecard for all accredited nursing programs — including net price, median earnings for graduates, and completion rates. You can compare Arizona College of Nursing against local public and private alternatives side by side, sorted by the metric that matters most to you.

Search for nursing programs in your state at decidemycampus.com/search and filter by program type to see how programs stack up on cost and outcomes.

Bottom line

Arizona College of Nursing is a real, accredited nursing program that produces working RNs. Its costs are on the high end for nursing education. NCLEX pass rates have historically been somewhat below the national BSN average — verify the current rate for your specific campus before committing. If speed of entry into nursing is your primary criterion and you've been waitlisted at public programs, it's a viable option, provided you go in with a clear understanding of the total cost and the debt load you'll be taking on.

Compare your options with real earnings and cost data before you decide — the numbers for nursing programs vary more than most students expect.