Arizona College of Nursing-Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada · Private For-Profit · 100.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 35/100 · Poor Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Arizona College of Nursing-Las Vegas presents an unusual ROI profile: a 35 score in Poor Value tier, but with starkly divergent sub-scores that don't add up to a coherent picture. Tuition is $23,531, but net price after aid is $30,921 - meaning students pay more than tuition once room/board and indirect costs factor in. Four-year total cost runs $123,684. Median earnings ten years out are just $34,657 - strikingly low for an institution where the headline program is nursing - producing an earnings premium of -0.003 (essentially zero) and a 999-year payback period. Median debt is just $9,500, but the program-level data shows nursing students borrowing $51,854 in median debt. The discrepancy suggests Scorecard's institution-wide debt median is being dragged down by non-completers or accelerated-program students. Completion is strikingly high at 81.8% (scoring 91/100), but repayment is just 36.7% (scoring 3/100). The numbers are internally inconsistent in ways that warrant skepticism; this is a focused private-for-profit nursing school and its outcomes deserve careful scrutiny.
The data raises concerns about Arizona College of Nursing-Las Vegas
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score35/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Payback period>50 years - Graduates earn at or near the level of high school completers - the cost may not recoup within a working career.
Arizona College of Nursing-Las Vegas
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $23,531/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $23,531/yr |
| Average net price | $30,921/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $123,684 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $34,657 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $23,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $9,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $101 |
| Estimated payback period | >50 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 81.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,222 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $23,531/year. Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $30,921/year, or roughly $123,684 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $27,962/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $35,587/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $9,500 in federal loans, which works out to about $101 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $34,657 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.40, comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $27,962 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $28,803 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $29,794 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $35,051 |
| $110,001+ | $35,587 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $27,962 per year - extraordinarily high for a low-income student, reflecting limited institutional aid. Even with Pell coverage, the four-year total exceeds $110,000. This is the income bracket where the financial mismatch is most severe; UNLV and CSN nursing offer comparable credentialing at a fraction of the cost.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $28,803 and the $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $29,794 - nearly flat across two middle-income tiers, which is typical of for-profit pricing models where aid scales minimally. Four-year totals around $115K-$120K against a $34,657 ten-year earnings median is a structurally broken financial profile.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $75,000 pay $35,051-$35,587 - essentially full price across the top two brackets. At nearly $36K/year for a vocational nursing credential, this institution makes no financial sense at high-income levels when UNLV BSN is available. The merit of the school is purely scheduling/access-driven.
Earnings by Major
Top 1 most popular majors at Arizona College of Nursing-Las Vegas with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $87,378 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is the sole program, accounting for all 196 graduates. First-year median earnings of $85,169 climbing to $87,378 are genuinely strong, reflecting the Nevada nursing labor market rather than the institution itself. But program-level median debt of $51,854 is among the highest in the dataset - producing a 0.609 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C grade. The institution-wide $34,657 ten-year earnings median is inconsistent with the program-level $85,169 first-year number; the discrepancy likely reflects a mix of dropouts and Scorecard methodology issues. Worth noting: UNLV's BSN program offers the same RN credential at roughly one-third the debt load. The credential travels; the price tag is the warning flag.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 33.7% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 36.7% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 29.0% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 30.2% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Arizona College of Nursing-Las Vegas’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2016-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 100.0% |
| Enrollment | 1,222 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 53.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,004 |
Arizona College of Nursing reports a 100% admission rate - open admissions. SAT/ACT data is not reported; this is a vocational-credential institution that selects students through application essays, prerequisite-course requirements, and assessment exams rather than standardized scores. The very high 81.8% completion rate combined with open admissions is unusual; it likely reflects intensive student-support models common in for-profit health-credential programs designed to maximize completion.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Peers include Chamberlain University-Nevada (a direct competitor in the Las Vegas nursing-credential market), Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe (the sister campus), LIM College (NYC fashion), Strayer University-Florida, and University of Advancing Technology. Chamberlain and Arizona College-Tempe are the natural direct comparisons. Within the for-profit nursing-credential cohort, this institution's 81.8% completion rate stands out as genuinely strong; the weak earnings and repayment metrics are more typical of the sector.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona College of Nursing-Las Vegas (this school) | 35 | $30,921 | $34,657 |
| Galen College of Nursing-Louisville | 64 | $18,540 | $61,480 |
| AdventHealth University | 63 | $30,135 | $72,282 |
| Cleveland University-Kansas City | 50 | $35,764 | $52,304 |
| Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe | 36 | $31,681 | $34,657 |
| Nightingale College | 18 | $30,852 | $27,126 |
Who Thrives Here
With 1,222 students and a 53.4% Pell rate, Arizona College-Las Vegas serves working-class Nevada residents - many non-traditional age, often balancing school with employment and family responsibilities - pursuing a BSN credential as a career pivot. Strong fit: students who need the structured, accelerated program format and can't fit the College of Southern Nevada or UNLV nursing prerequisites into their schedule. Caveat: program-level nursing debt of $51,854 is dramatically higher than UNLV's BSN; students should compare carefully.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
We'll be straight with you: the numbers at Arizona College of Nursing-Las Vegas are a real concern. With a net cost of $30,921 per year and the typical graduate earning only $34,657 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds >50 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost - go in with your eyes open.
What it has going for it: its 81.8% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings. What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, concerning loan repayment rates, a long payback period.
On debt, you can breathe a little easier here. A median $9,500 owed against $34,657 in annual earnings is very manageable - comfortably inside the advisor rule of thumb that total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
Arizona College of Nursing-Las Vegas: Common Questions
Is Arizona College of Nursing-Las Vegas worth it?
In our view, the numbers are a real concern - for most students the financial return does not justify the cost. Arizona College of Nursing-Las Vegas scores 35/100 on our ROI scale. At $30,921 a year after aid against $34,657 in typical earnings ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds >50 years.
How much does Arizona College of Nursing-Las Vegas cost after financial aid?
The average net price - what students actually pay after grants and scholarships - is about $30,921 a year, or roughly $123,684 over four years. That is the number to plan around, not the sticker price. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Arizona College of Nursing-Las Vegas graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $34,657 ten years after enrolling, near the $41,800 median for high-school graduates (NCES, 2022). With little earnings gap to cover the cost, the financial return is hard to make.
How long does it take to pay off Arizona College of Nursing-Las Vegas?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about >50 years for Arizona College of Nursing-Las Vegas. Most four-year schools we track land between 4 and 10 years.
How much debt do Arizona College of Nursing-Las Vegas graduates take on?
Median debt at graduation is about $9,500, against $34,657 in typical earnings a decade out. That is very manageable - comfortably inside the advisor rule of thumb that total debt should stay under a year of salary.
What is the graduation rate at Arizona College of Nursing-Las Vegas?
The six-year graduation rate is 81.8%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.