Arizona College of Nursing-Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada · Private For-Profit · 100.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 35/100 · Poor Value
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 sticker price at Arizona College of Nursing-Las Vegas is $23,531/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $30,921/year, or roughly $123,684 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $27,962/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $35,587/year.
The median graduate leaves with $9,500 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $101 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $34,657 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.40 - well within manageable territory.
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
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
The financial data raises serious concerns about Arizona College of Nursing-Las Vegas. With a net cost of $30,921 per year and median graduate earnings of only $34,657 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds >50 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Key strengths include a 81.8% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings. However, the data also shows weak earnings relative to cost and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $9,500 is very manageable against $34,657 in annual earnings - well within the financial advisor rule of thumb that total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
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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.