For our 2024 rankings of ADN programs, the research team at Nursing Schools Almanac compiled an extensive database of student performance on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Aspiring registered nurses in the United States must pass this examination before they may commence practice. Thus, student performance on the NCLEX-RN exam provides an excellent benchmark for comparing the relative quality of associate’s degree programs.
We used our database to calculate each program’s NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers. This is the standard program assessment metric reported by the Arizona State Board of Nursing and the test’s administrator, Pearson Vue. Whenever possible, we calculated this first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate over an extensive period of time, typically the past decade of student performance. We then used this metric to rank all of Arizona’s ADN programs accordingly.
#1: Mesa Community College
1833 West Southern Avenue
Mesa, AZ 85202
https://www.mesacc.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 96.3%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 175
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#2: Paradise Valley Community College
18401 North 32nd Street
Phoenix, AZ 85032
https://www.paradisevalley.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 96.1%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 43
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#3: Scottsdale Community College
9000 East Chaparral Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85256
https://www.scottsdalecc.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 95.5%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 116
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#4: GateWay Community College
108 North 40th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85034
https://www.gatewaycc.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 94.7%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 203
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#5: Chandler-Gilbert Community College
2626 East Pecos Road
Chandler, AZ 85225
https://www.cgc.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 92.4%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 60
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#6: Glendale Community College
6000 West Olive Avenue
Glendale, AZ 85302
https://www.gccaz.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 91.5%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 158
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#7: Yavapai College
1100 East Sheldon Street
Prescott, AZ 86301
https://www.yc.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 91.1%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 88
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#8: Phoenix College
1202 West Thomas Road
Phoenix, AZ 85013
https://www.phoenixcollege.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 90.8%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 116
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#9: Eastern Arizona College
615 North Stadium Avenue
Thatcher, AZ 85552
https://www.eac.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 89.6%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 60
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#10: Pima Community College
2202 West Anklam Road
Tucson, AZ 85709
https://www.pima.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 89.4%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 169
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#11: Central Arizona College
8470 North Overfield Road
Coolidge, AZ 85128
https://www.centralaz.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 88.9%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 48
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#12: Mohave Community College
1971 Jagerson Avenue
Kingman, AZ 86409
https://www.mohave.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 87.9%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 98
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#13: Northland Pioneer College
2251 East Navajo Boulevard
Holbrook, AZ 86025
https://www.npc.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 87.7%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 43
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#14: Estrella Mountain Community College
3000 North Dysart Road
Avondale, AZ 85323
https://www.estrellamountain.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 87.2%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 53
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#15: Arizona Western College
2020 South Avenue 8E
Yuma, AZ 85365
https://www.azwestern.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 87.1%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 63
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#16: Cochise College
4190 West Highway 80
Douglas, AZ 85607
https://www.cochise.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 86.9%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 62
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#17: Pima Medical Institute
2121 North Craycroft Road, Building 1
Tucson, AZ 85712
https://www.pmi.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 86.3%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 98
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020; includes both the Tucson and Mesa campuses
#18: Coconino Community College
2800 South Lone Tree Road
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
https://www.coconino.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 85.0%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 31
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#19: Carrington College
2149 West Dunlap Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85021
https://www.carrington.edu
NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 79.4%
Average number of ADN students graduating annually: 77
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020; includes the Phoenix, Mesa, and Tucson campuses