Grand Canyon University
CCNE AccreditedGrand Canyon University (GCU) is a private Christian university headquartered in Phoenix, AZ and ranked #13 nationally for nursing (2026). Its ABSN program operates across 12 learning sites in 7 states — the largest geographic footprint of any ABSN program in the U.S. The hybrid model pairs online nursing theory with in-person skills labs, simulation, and locally arranged clinical rotations. Three cohort start dates per year with no long waitlists.
Grand Canyon University at a glance
- Grand Canyon University reports a first-time NCLEX pass rate of 97%. Multi-year board data for this school is not yet published here.
- Grand Canyon University has 11 nursing sites across 7 states (10 ABSN learning sites), including Chandler, Sun City, Tucson.
- Opportunity Score: 78/100 — our weighted composite of NCLEX outcomes, tuition, clinical partnerships, and state job-market strength. Strongest components: NCLEX pass rate and Clinical partnerships.
- Clinical placement access scores 83/100, based on the hospital systems this school places students into.
- Listed program tuition ranges from $18,900 to $51,000 total across 20 programs.
- Nursing programs here admit roughly 78% of applicants.
- 26 nursing programs listed — BSN, DNP, MSN, RN-BSN offered hybrid / online / on campus.
- Programmatic accreditation: CCNE.
97%
Reported first-time NCLEX pass rate
Source: State board of nursing
11
Nursing campuses in 7 states
Source: School locations page
78/100
Opportunity Score
Source: MyNursingSchools methodology
83/100
Clinical placement access
Source: School-published clinical partners
- Programs Offered
- 26
- NCLEX Pass Rate
- 97%
- Acceptance Rate
- ~78%
- Clinical Access
- 83/100
Sources: NCSBN, school-reported data. Methodology.
Nursing Programs at Grand Canyon University(26)
Sponsored · Disclosure
Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) – Albuquerque
Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) – Boise (Meridian)
Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) – Denver (Englewood)
Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) – East Valley (Chandler)
Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) – Las Vegas (Henderson)
Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) – Miramar (Miami)
Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) – Orlando
Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) – Salt Lake (Sandy)
Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) – St. Louis
Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) – Sun City
Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) – Tucson
Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) – West Valley (Phoenix)
Explore Similar Nursing Programs
Comparing options beyond Grand Canyon University? These accredited schools actively enroll nursing students — view their programs to request tuition and admissions details.
Grand Canyon Universityoverall score
Strengths
- NCLEX pass rate
- Clinical partnerships
- Job market strength
Watch-outs
- Tuition affordability
Score breakdown
- NCLEX pass rate97
- Job market strength80
- Graduation rate57
- Online flexibility66
- Tuition affordability45
- Clinical partnerships83
The Opportunity Score blends NCLEX pass rate, tuition affordability, graduation outcomes, schedule flexibility, hospital clinical partnerships, and state job-market strength. Missing inputs are excluded and remaining weights are redistributed proportionally. How we calculate this.
Grand Canyon Universityclinical access
- GCU coordinates clinical placements through field counselors; ABSN sites include skills labs and immersive simulation.
- HonorHealth's clinical workforce director reported 368 GCU nursing students placed in a single year.
- Banner Health hosts East Valley ABSN clinicals at Banner Ocotillo Medical Center in Chandler.
- Orlando ABSN students complete most clinicals at AdventHealth; Miramar partners with Memorial Healthcare System; St. Louis with Mercy.
Named hospital & health-system partners
- HonorHealth
- Banner Health
- AdventHealth
- Memorial Healthcare System
- Mercy
Sources: news.gcu.edu, news.gcu.edu, gcu.edu. How we score this
Admissions at Grand Canyon University
Program-Specific Details
Accelerated BSN
Minimum GPA: 3.3
Minimum GPA requirement for ABSN prerequisite courses: a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher in prerequisite coursework is required to be eligible for the ABSN.
The Accelerated BSN (ABSN) is a hybrid program: lectures largely delivered online, with in-person skills labs, immersive simulations, and clinical rotations required on campus.
BSN (Traditional)
GCU’s College of Nursing and Health Care Professions offers nursing programs in online, hybrid, and on-campus formats to accommodate different lifestyles.
DNP
GCU’s College of Nursing and Health Care Professions offers nursing programs in online, hybrid, and on-campus formats to accommodate different lifestyles.
MSN — Family Nurse Practitioner
GCU’s College of Nursing and Health Care Professions offers nursing programs in online, hybrid, and on-campus formats to accommodate different lifestyles.
MSN — Health Care Quality & Patient Safety
GCU’s College of Nursing and Health Care Professions offers nursing programs in online, hybrid, and on-campus formats to accommodate different lifestyles.
MSN — Nurse Educator
GCU’s College of Nursing and Health Care Professions offers nursing programs in online, hybrid, and on-campus formats to accommodate different lifestyles.
MSN — Nursing Informatics
GCU’s College of Nursing and Health Care Professions offers nursing programs in online, hybrid, and on-campus formats to accommodate different lifestyles.
RN to BSN
GCU’s College of Nursing and Health Care Professions offers nursing programs in online, hybrid, and on-campus formats to accommodate different lifestyles.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Grand Canyon University
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN); CCNE; ACEN.