Last Updated: September 30, 2026
Compare six accelerated BSN options available to Arizona students, including campus-based programs and hybrid pathways with required travel. Nursing sequences range from 12 months to a minimum of 20 months; prerequisites and transfer-credit requirements can add time before entry.
Arizona ABSN Programs at a Glance
| School | Est. Tuition | Duration | GPA | Start |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Arizona State University Phoenix / West Valley, AZ | $6,089/semester (AZ) | 12 months | 3.0 prerequisites | January; August |
Creighton University Phoenix, AZ | $55,425 | 12 months | 3.0 cumulative | January; August |
Grand Canyon University Phoenix metro / Tucson, AZ | $53,550 | 16 months | 3.0 pre-nursing; 3.25 prerequisites | Three annually |
Joyce University Arizona clinicals; Draper, UT immersions | $60,520 | 20 months minimum | 2.75 prior degree | Three annually |
Northern Arizona University North Valley Phoenix, AZ | $12,000/academic year | 12 months | 3.0 prerequisites | Fall; spring; summer |
UW–Oshkosh Arizona clinicals; Oshkosh, WI residency | $50,338 | 12 months | 3.0 pre-nursing | February; May; October |
How to Compare Arizona ABSN Programs
Compare billing periods before prices. ASU’s figure is Arizona-resident base tuition per semester; NAU’s is a 2026–27 academic-year estimate. Neither is full-program tuition. Summer tuition and applicable fees are additional; the cost section below separates major fees from tuition.
Choose an attendance model you can sustain. ASU, Creighton and NAU offer 12-month Arizona-based pathways. ASU also offers selected community-based placements through Learn Where You Live.
Hybrid programs still require hands-on attendance. GCU has four Arizona learning locations. Joyce and UW–Oshkosh accept eligible Arizona residents but require travel to Utah or Wisconsin, respectively.
Count preparation time. Joyce’s minimum 20-month timeline depends on sufficient qualifying transfer credit. GCU has an eligible college-credit route as well as a prior-degree route; applicants should compare their own remaining prerequisites rather than assume every advertised duration starts immediately.
Program Format and Attendance
| School | Coursework and hands-on attendance |
|---|---|
ASU | Downtown Phoenix or West Valley; Learn Where You Live combines live remote instruction with hands-on learning in selected Arizona communities. |
Creighton | Campus instruction, simulation and Phoenix clinical experiences; clinical days may last 8–12 hours and include Saturdays. |
GCU | Online theory with labs, simulation and clinical rotations through Chandler, Sun City, Tucson or Phoenix/West Valley. |
Joyce | Online theory, clinical placements and week-long Utah immersions in semesters three, four and five; regional clinical travel may be necessary. |
NAU | North Valley campus in Phoenix, with online/blended coursework and clinical sites throughout Arizona. |
UW–Oshkosh | Online theory, a two-week Wisconsin residency and five subsequent precepted rotations; Arizona admission depends on placement feasibility. |
Online coursework does not mean an entirely online degree or a guaranteed nearby clinical placement. NAU students should plan for travel beyond Phoenix. UW–Oshkosh aims for placements within 65 miles but may require longer commutes; clinical schedules can include nights, weekends and holidays.
Admissions and Prerequisite Differences
| School | Minimum GPA basis | Key admission detail |
|---|---|---|
3.0 prerequisite GPA | TEAS minimum 58.7%; prerequisite GPA and TEAS weighted equally in competitive selection. | |
3.0 cumulative GPA | Prior degree and prerequisites completed 45 days before entry; no TEAS or HESI. | |
3.0 cumulative pre-nursing; 3.25 prerequisite GPA | HESI A2: English composite 80%, math 80%, anatomy and physiology 75%. | |
2.75 prior-degree GPA, per program FAQ | Qualifying degree waives entrance exam; minimum timeline requires 46 qualifying transfer credits. | |
3.0 prerequisite GPA | Non-nursing bachelor’s degree and HESI A2 taken in the applicable admission cycle. | |
3.0 pre-nursing; 2.5 prior-degree GPA | Below 2.5 degree GPA requires qualifying TEAS performance; patient-care preparation also required. |
The GPA definitions are not interchangeable, and meeting a minimum does not guarantee admission. UW–Oshkosh’s 3.25 prerequisite GPA is a preference rather than its minimum.
Prerequisite lists also differ: ASU identifies 35 credits; NAU’s accelerated catalog lists 27, with preparatory biology or chemistry potentially needed before those courses. Creighton lists 33–34 credits. The linked profiles explain course equivalents, minimum grades, transfer rules and unfinished-course limits.
Start Dates and Application Deadlines
| School | Entry | Application timing |
|---|---|---|
ASU | January; August | September 1 priority for January; February 1 for August. |
Creighton | January; August | October 1 and May 1 final deadlines; scholarship priority September 1 and April 1. |
GCU | Three annual starts | Cohort-specific application and testing requirements; confirm available seats before planning entry. |
Joyce | Three annual starts | Rolling admissions; transfer evaluation determines the applicable sequence. |
NAU | Fall; spring; summer | June 1–July 8; October 7–November 18; February 10–March 24, respectively. Separate HESI windows apply. |
UW–Oshkosh | February; May; October | Applications open May 1, October 1 and February 1, respectively; rolling until filled. |
UW–Oshkosh’s February and May application openings occur in the preceding year. Check the current cohort instructions linked from each profile: an application opening, priority deadline and final deadline serve different purposes.
Tuition and Costs
These figures have different billing bases, so they should not be used to rank all six programs by total price. The amounts below exclude prerequisites and living expenses unless specifically included. Future rates, transfer credit and individual enrollment can change the final bill.
| School | Published tuition basis | Fees and other costs |
|---|---|---|
Fall 2026 Arizona-resident base tuition: $6,089 per semester; summer charged separately. | $5,500 nursing program fee per term, or $16,500 over three terms, plus applicable university charges. | |
$55,425 program tuition for 2026–27. | Estimated $6,822 in program and university fees using the published current schedule; actual future charges may change. | |
63 credits × $850 = $53,550, including NSG 310 and the 60-credit major. | Software, materials, applicable course charges and other expenses; $150 graduation fee separately. | |
$60,520 program tuition. | $3,710 published fees; tuition plus those fees totals $64,230. Utah travel and living expenses are additional. | |
$12,000 per academic year, 2026–27 estimate. | Three-semester ABSN includes summer; summer tuition and applicable fees are additional. Annual estimate is not full-program tuition. | |
$50,338 published 12-month tuition package, including course software and NCLEX preparation. | $5,000 deposit is part of tuition, not an additional fee; travel, lodging and other expenses are separate. |
Budget for health clearances, background checks, uniforms, transportation and licensing expenses in addition to tuition. Scholarships and financial aid can reduce out-of-pocket costs, but eligibility and award amounts vary. Creighton’s profile describes Phoenix scholarship opportunities and distinguishes them from Omaha-specific employer programs.
Clinical Training and NCLEX Outcomes
All six options require in-person clinical learning. Clinical-hour totals may include simulation, so a school’s combined clinical/simulation figure should not be presented as bedside hours alone. Joyce’s 517.5 hours, for example, combine direct care and simulation.
The Arizona Board of Nursing’s CY2025 first-time RN NCLEX report identifies these reporting populations:
| Reporting program or campus | CY2025 first-time pass rate | Passed / tested |
|---|---|---|
ASU Accelerated | 79.63% | 86 / 108 |
Creighton Phoenix | 87.96% | 95 / 108 |
GCU Chandler | 92.63% | 88 / 95 |
GCU Sun City | 90.16% | 110 / 122 |
GCU Tucson | 98.00% | 49 / 50 |
GCU West Valley | 94.40% | 118 / 125 |
NAU BSN, school-level | 81.42% | 276 / 339 |
NAU’s result is not specific to the accelerated cohort. Joyce separately publishes an 83.73% CY2025 BSN first-time result across its BSN population, not an Arizona-only ABSN result. Differences in reporting populations and cohort sizes limit direct comparisons; these figures are not a program ranking.
Arizona ABSN Program Summaries
Arizona State University ABSN Program
Phoenix / West Valley; selected Arizona communities | $6,089/semester (AZ) | 12 Months
ASU’s 12-month accelerated BSN includes Downtown Phoenix and community-based January options, plus August entry at West Valley. The 50-credit nursing sequence combines theory, simulation and clinical practice. Arizona-resident base tuition is $6,089 per semester, with summer tuition and a $5,500 nursing fee per term charged separately.
Creighton University ABSN Program
Phoenix | $55,425 | 12 Months
Creighton’s Phoenix ABSN is a 12-month campus program for second-degree students, with January and August starts. The 58-credit nursing sequence includes clinical experience with regional healthcare partners. Published tuition is $55,425, with approximately $6,822 in separately estimated required fees at 2026–27 rates.
Grand Canyon University ABSN Program
Chandler; Sun City; Tucson; Phoenix | $53,550 | 16 Months
GCU offers a 16-month hybrid nursing sequence at Chandler, Sun City, Tucson and West Valley/Phoenix learning sites. Online theory is paired with required in-person labs and clinical rotations. Admission uses a 3.0 GPA across required pre-nursing credits, a 3.25 prerequisite GPA and HESI A2 scores; a previous bachelor’s degree is not required.
Joyce University ABSN Program
Arizona clinical placements; Draper, UT immersions | $60,520 | 20 Months
Arizona residents can apply to Joyce’s Utah-based hybrid ABSN. Online study is combined with assigned clinical placements and approximately one-week Utah immersions in semesters three, four and five. The 20-month minimum requires qualifying transfer credits; required sciences can otherwise be completed within the program.
Northern Arizona University ABSN Program
Phoenix | $12,000/academic year | 12 Months
NAU’s 12-month second-degree BSN combines Phoenix North Valley study with clinical travel throughout Arizona. Published tuition is a $12,000 per academic year estimate for 2026–27, not full-program tuition; summer tuition and applicable fees are additional. Admission requires a 3.0 prerequisite GPA and the HESI A2.
University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh ABSN Program
Arizona clinical placements; Oshkosh, WI residency | $50,338 | 12 Months
UW–Oshkosh accepts eligible Arizona residents into its 12-month hybrid ABSN, subject to securing clinical placements. Online theory is combined with a required two-week Wisconsin residency and subsequent precepted rotations. The published $50,338 tuition package includes course software and NCLEX preparation; travel and other expenses are separate.