For our 2024 rankings of prelicensure BSN 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 bachelor’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 prelicensure BSN programs accordingly.
#1: Creighton University - Phoenix
3110 North Central Avenue, Suite 200B
Phoenix, AZ 85012
https://www.creighton.edu
96.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Accelerated Second Degree BSN
Average of 61 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2019 through 2020
#2: Arizona College of Nursing
1620 West Fountainhead Parkway, Suite 110
Tempe, AZ 85282
https://www.arizonacollege.edu
95.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 35 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2016 through 2020
#3: University of Arizona
1305 North Martin Avenue
Tucson, AZ 85721
https://www.arizona.edu
94.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 116 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#4: Arizona State University
550 North Third Street
Phoenix, AZ 85004
https://www.asu.edu
91.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 236 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#5: Northern Arizona University
202 East Pine Knoll Drive
Flagstaff, AZ 86011
https://www.nau.edu
91.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 151 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#6: Chamberlain University - Phoenix
2149 West Dunlap Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85021
https://www.chamberlain.edu
89.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 161 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#7: Grand Canyon University
3300 West Camelback Road
Phoenix, AZ 85017
https://www.gcu.edu
86.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 388 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#8: Brookline College
2445 West Dunlap Avenue, Suite 100
Phoenix, AZ 85021
https://www.brooklinecollege.edu
85.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 95 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2020
#9: University of Phoenix
4035 South Riverpoint Parkway
Phoenix, AZ 85040
https://www.phoenix.edu
80.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 45 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#10: Aspen University - Phoenix
4615 East Elwood Street, Suite 100
Phoenix, AZ 85040
https://www.aspen.edu
80.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 25 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2020 through 2020