Brookline College-Tucson
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Online programs--
Best Online Nursing Programs in Tucson, AZ (2026)
Tucson, Arizona has 5 accredited schools offering nursing programs. Tucson has a population of about 543,348. Median household income is $54,546 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 30.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Arizona, the top-earning nursing-related role is Nurse Anesthetist at a median $248,660 annually (BLS, May 2025).
Closest Nursing Schools to Tucson
The 5 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 5 schools in our directory that offer nursing programs near Tucson. Distances are calculated from Tucson city center.
How We Rank Schools
Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:
- Graduation rate 30%
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
- Average net price (lower is better) 20%
- Retention rate 15%
- Fully online availability 10%
Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Tucson. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
University of Arizona
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Online programsYes
Pima Community College
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Online programsYes
Cochise County Community College District
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Online programsYes
Central Arizona College
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Online programsYes
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Arizona schools on the Arizona nursing page.
Nursing Wages Near Tucson
Tucson is part of the Tucson, AZ metro area (BLS area code 46060). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Arizona statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $94,110 | Tucson, AZ | $97,121 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $75,940 | Tucson, AZ | $78,369 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | $248,660 | AZ statewide | $256,615 |
| Nurse Midwife | $140,960 | AZ statewide | $145,470 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $129,340 | Tucson, AZ | $133,478 |
| Nursing Assistant | $42,560 | Tucson, AZ | $43,922 |
Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
Tucson at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 543,348 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $54,546 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 30.2% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 96.9 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Nursing-related employment in Pima County | 29,609 workers, 340 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Tucson-Area Cities With Nursing Programs
- Sahuarita, AZ – 16.2 mi away (46,385 pop)
- Oro Valley, AZ – 19.3 mi away (43,781 pop)
- Marana, AZ – 25.2 mi away (43,474 pop)
- Sierra Vista, AZ – 52.6 mi away (51,927 pop)
- Nogales, AZ – 54.9 mi away (30,771 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited nursing schools are near Tucson, AZ?
Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering nursing programs near Tucson. The closest is Brookline College-Tucson in Tucson, AZ (4.0 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Central Arizona College (71.5 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying nursing roles near Tucson?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying nursing-related roles near Tucson are: Nurse Anesthetist ($248,660), Nurse Midwife ($140,960), Nurse Practitioner ($129,340). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Arizona statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Sahuarita instead of Tucson?
Sahuarita, AZ is 16.2 miles from Tucson and has its own set of local nursing programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Tucson an affordable place to study nursing?
Tucson’s median household income of $54,546 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Tucson while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Arizona public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Learn More About Nursing Programs
- Nursing accreditation: what to look for
- Nursing concentrations and specializations
- Is a Nursing degree worth it?
- Main Nursing degree guide
- Online Nursing programs in Arizona
- Nursing programs by state
Other Programs Available in Tucson
Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Tucson:
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Data verified: June 11, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.