Nursing Degrees

Help Improve Patient Experiences and Outcomes

If you’re passionate about advancing healthcare systems, improving patient outcomes and providing patients with the best practices and service, GCU has several options of nursing degrees available for you.

With online, 1 on-campus and hybrid options, our College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a program that can fit your lifestyle, help you pursue your passions and achieve your career goals in the nursing profession.

$81,220

Median annual wage for registered nurses as of May 2022 2

177,400

Number of new jobs estimated to open for registered nurses from 2022 to 2032 3

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Female nurse taking heartbeat of male patient laying in hospital bed

Registered nurses have a median annual wage of $81,220 as of May 2022. 4

Earn your nursing degree to prepare for a rewarding career helping others in this dynamic industry.

Help Improve Healthcare Systems and Provide Care for Diverse Populations

As a nursing student at GCU, you can position yourself to be successful in your field, whether that is taking your first — or next — step in your career. Nursing programs at GCU can provide you with quality learning that can help you make a difference in healthcare systems across your community. You’ll be taught how to best care for various patient populations as you experience learning alongside a supportive learning community and take advantage of opportunities for networking, accessible support and resources.

Nursing degree programs at GCU can prepare you to take on the healthcare field and obtain licensure as a registered nurse (RN). If you are new to college and looking at getting into nursing for the first time, a traditional pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program is the best option to start you on your nursing path and pursue your RN license

GCU offers various pathways for those looking to earn their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). 1 For example, the RN to BSN program for current registered nurses (RN) allows you to build on your previous nursing experiences while obtaining your BSN.

For those with no prior nursing experience, GCU also offers a pre-licensure accelerated BSN (ABSN) program with an online component to offer you convenience while earning your BSN degree. 1

If you’re looking to position yourself to potentially pursue high-level positions in the healthcare field, GCU offers Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs to help you reach your goals. These MSN options come with various emphases to choose from, such as an emphasis in health informatics and in public health nursing .

Different nurse practitioner (NP) degree options are also available, including adult-gerontological acute nurse practitioner and family nurse practitioner . These are offered as online nursing programs. 1

A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a nursing education emphasis , offered as an on-campus or online nursing program, 1 can help prepare you to educate other nursing professionals in various healthcare settings to help address the need for highly qualified nurses.

A post-master’s certificate in nursing education is also offered for MSN-graduated nurses who seek to advance into educating other nurses at a high level.

A degree in nursing leadership, such as an MSN with an Emphasis in Leadership in Health Care Systems , is ideal for current nurses who seek to make an impact by leading and influencing others in the ever-changing healthcare field.

GCU also offers a unique MSN-MBA dual degree in nursing leadership and healthcare systems, an online nursing program option that also allows you to earn your MSN and MBA while you gain business and management skills. 1

Practice Nursing Techniques Through Hands-On Simulations

To be successful as a nurse, you need access to resources , including simulation and lab environments where you can practice your skills and implement your new knowledge. During your nursing degree program, you will have access to hands-on skills labs and immersive simulations, helping you develop direct care skills that you will later use with your patients.

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Accredited and Respected Nursing Degrees From GCU

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GCU’s nursing degree programs are designed to prepare you to graduate as a confident, job-ready nurse with an all-encompassing curriculum from an accredited university.

Explore Evening, Campus and Online Nursing Degrees 1

If you’re looking to complete your degree online or in the evening, GCU has BSN programs that can fit your schedule. Online nursing programs including the post-licensure RN to BSN program and the pre-licensure accelerated BSN program are two options that include an online component for convenience and flexibility. 1

GCU’s Commitment to Affordable Education

Female financial advisor meeting with GCU nursing student in office lounge

GCU offers financial aid, scholarships and tuition calculation resources to help you create a financial plan for your education. Discover how affordable it can be to earn your nursing degree at a private, Christian university.

Levels of Nursing Degrees Offered at GCU

GCU offers a variety of nursing degrees for you to choose from, whether you’re just beginning your nursing career or looking to position yourself to potentially advance your career to the highest level. View our nursing degree options to find the one that’s best for you.

Bachelor’s Degrees in Nursing

An undergraduate nursing degree can provide you with a comprehensive nursing education that can help you jumpstart your nursing career. GCU has various BSN degree pathways so you can find the one that’s right for you.

Male and female BSN degree students smiling in hospital on GCU's campus

Master’s Nursing Degrees

By completing your nursing master’s degree, you can provide yourself with the opportunity to potentially gain higher-level nursing positions in your field. Work to gain the next level of competency as you are taught advanced nursing practice.

Male MSN degree student smiling with Lopes Up hand sign in hospital at GCU

Doctoral Programs for Nursing

Position yourself to potentially become a nursing leader in your organization with a doctoral nursing degree.

Female DNP degree student at GCU smiling in white lab coat in hospital hallway

Nursing Bridge Pathways

Bridge pathways provide you with a specific set of courses that can allow you to build your nursing knowledge and prepare you to transition into master’s-level studies in your nursing specialty.

Portrait of female MSN degree graduate wearing blue scrubs in hospital hallway

Certificate Programs for Nursing

GCU offers an assortment of nursing post-master’s certificate programs catering to various nursing specialties. Enhance your learning further by earning a certificate in your area of interest.

Female nursing degree student smiling in front of stained-glass window at GCU

Career Possibilities for Nursing Program Graduates

No matter what level of nursing you’re currently at or wish to achieve, GCU offers a degree program that can help you reach your potential and pursue your nursing goals. Graduates of these nursing programs may go on to pursue nursing careers.

$121,610

Median annual wage of nurse practitioners as of May 2022 4

FAQs for Nursing Degree Programs

Read through our frequently asked questions and get some of your top nursing-related questions answered.

GCU offers various online nursing programs for those who are seeking to either become a nurse or are an existing nurse looking to advance their education. 1 The pre-licensure ABSN program offers online coursework as well, 1 but you will need to attend clinical, practicum and immersion hours in person locally. Post-licensure programs such as the RN to BSN online program, as well as numerous MSN bridge pathways are offered online, allowing you to earn your degree in a way that best fits your lifestyle. 1

How difficult you may find nursing school to be may depend on a variety of factors. Like many medical and science degrees , nursing programs are generally very science-intensive, as these professionals must be well-versed in various medical practices, terminology and treatments. This is also a very hands-on profession; as you’re studying nursing coursework in the classroom, you must also be prepared to put that knowledge into practice in various labs and clinical settings. It can also be time-consuming and academically rigorous. However, nursing is a profession with further degree offerings down the line, and one that you may find to be rewarding.

If you are looking to become a nurse but do not have a nursing degree, you will need to obtain one from an accredited institution to be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN Ò exam and become a nurse. Options such as the accelerated BSN program can help you get your BSN faster and begin your nursing career sooner. This can be a great opportunity for students with or without a previous college education.

The first level of nursing degree is the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) degree. Moving up, the next highest degree is a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) , followed by Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) . Lastly, the highest level of nursing degree you can earn is a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree .

Combining nursing with other industries can help expand your career possibilities beyond practicing as a bedside nurse. For example, an MSN-MBA in Nursing Leadership and Health Care Systems is a dual degree that combines nursing practice with business management and leadership skills. With this knowledge, you may be able to position yourself to potentially take on executive-level positions in the healthcare field or shift your focus toward the business management side of healthcare.

1 While all courses are completed online, you will need to attend clinical, practicum and immersion hours in person locally.

2 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”), Registered Nurses as of May 2022, retrieved on Feb. 16, 2024. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2022 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as registered nurses, nor does it reflect earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc., against a pool of candidates.

3 COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2022 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2023, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Registered Nurses , retrieved on Feb. 16, 2024.

4 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”), Nurse Practitioners as of May 2022, retrieved on Feb. 16, 2024. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2022 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as nurse practitioners, nor does it reflect earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc., against a pool of candidates.

5 Snively, E., & Vaughn, N. (2023, Dec. 18). Exploring the Benefits and Drawbacks of Nurse Residency Programs . Relias. Retrieved Feb. 20, 2024.

Grand Canyon University's nursing degrees can offer the flexibility you need, while also providing a quality education that can help you thrive.