GCU announces new pre-nursing associate of science degree

Grand Canyon University is expanding its healthcare pipeline with the launch of its first-ever associate degree program, aimed at helping aspiring nurses fast-track their education amid a persistent nationwide staffing shortage.

The Phoenix-based university announced this week a new, fully online Associate of Science in Pre-Nursing degree. The 60-credit program is designed to fulfill foundational coursework requirements and prepare students for a seamless transition into GCU’s accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program.

While the associate degree does not lead directly to a registered nurse licensure, university officials say it builds the academic groundwork necessary to tackle a rigorous nursing curriculum.

“The future of healthcare depends on building stronger pathways into nursing,” Dr. Lisa Smith, dean of GCU’s College of Nursing and Healthcare Professions, said in a release. “Students come to nursing from many different backgrounds and stages of life, so it’s important to offer pathways that support those varied journeys.”

By structuring the pre-nursing program as an associate degree, the university opens the door for federal financial aid eligibility, reducing the upfront out-of-pocket costs for prospective students.
The move comes as hospitals and healthcare facilities across Arizona and the country continue to grapple with a critical shortage of nursing professionals.

GCU has aggressively expanded its nursing footprint in recent years to meet that demand, opening 12 hybrid ABSN sites across eight states, including Arizona, Colorado, Nevada and Utah. The hybrid model pairs online classes with in-person simulation labs and clinical rotations, allowing students with prior college experience to finish their BSN in as little as 16 months.

According to the university, 4,116 students graduated from GCU’s various BSN pathways during the 2025-2026 academic year. The university also reported a 94.67% first-time pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) across all its sites in 2025, outperforming the national average of 86.71%.

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