University of Arizona BSN program ranks among the nation’s top 6%
The University of Arizona (U of A) College of Nursing’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program ranks No. 27 among public universities and No. 37 nationally in the 2027 U.S. News & World Report Best Bachelor of Science in Nursing Programs, placing it in the top 6% of BSN programs nationwide.
Yet a nursing education is about more than a ranking.
“Our goal is to prepare nurses who understand that caring for patients means caring for the communities where patients live, work, and raise their families,”said Cindy J. Rishel, PhD, RN, OCN, NEA-BC, interim dean of the College of Nursing.“We provide our students with opportunities to apply their knowledge, advocate for better health, and serve others throughout their nursing education, experiences that shape the nurses they become.”
At the U of A, BSN students learn to care for individuals while also understanding the health of the communities they serve. Through hands-on clinical education and community-based experiences, students apply their knowledge to address real-world health challenges, advocate for change, and serve people where they live. The college offers its BSN programs in Tucson and Gilbert, providing students in both communities with opportunities to learn, gain clinical experience, and engage with the communities they serve.
One example is the college’s partnership with the American Red Cross (ARC) of Arizona and New Mexico, through which BSN students annually participate in extreme-heat safety canvassing and smoke-alarm installations, provide health and safety information, and connect residents with resources. These experiences offer students practical experience in population health, health communication, and community assessment. The students’ work supports community-led initiatives, partnerships, and grassroots efforts that benefit everyone involved.
For BSN graduate Dominique Zuniga (’25), that community-focused education led to action. During her final semester, Zuniga and her classmates collaborated with residents of Summit, Arizona, to identify community health concerns. After determining that deteriorating roads were contributing to respiratory health issues, transportation barriers, and other challenges, Zuniga helped bring the community’s concerns to local and state leaders. Her advocacy contributed to Pima County’s commitment to grade the roads three times a year and to seek funding to pave the main arterial road. Zuniga later received national recognition for her work in community and public health nursing.
The impact of a U of A nursing education extends beyond the U.S. BSN alumna Chloe Zimmerman (’26) applied her clinical training during a medical mission to rural Belize, where she helped provide care through mobile clinics by conducting assessments, screening for health conditions, providing education, and participating in home visits for patients unable to travel for care.
These experiences are complemented by strong student outcomes. Among students who enter the college’s core BSN nursing curriculum, 97% graduate. In 2025, 93% of University of Arizona BSN graduates passed the NCLEX on their first attempt, an important milestone as they enter the nursing profession.
From partnering with communities in Tucson and Gilbert to advocating for change in rural Arizona and providing care in rural Belize, our BSN students learn that nursing extends beyond the bedside. That commitment to community, service, and impact is part of what distinguishes the University of Arizona's nursing education, and it is why the program is recognized among the top 6% of BSN programs nationwide.