Key Takeaways
- RN employment is projected to grow 6 percent through 2033 nationally, and the East Valley's population surge is creating healthcare demand that supports strong nursing hiring.
- Mesa and Tempe are served by major healthcare providers including Banner Desert Medical Center, Dignity Health Chandler Regional, Honor Health, and Valleywise Health.
- Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC) and Mesa Community College (MCC) offer highly regarded ADN programs with strong East Valley employer relationships.
- ASU's main campus in Tempe houses the Edson College of Nursing, providing access to one of the largest nursing programs in the nation.
- East Valley nursing graduates benefit from proximity to a dense cluster of hospitals, specialty care facilities, and outpatient centers offering diverse clinical training.
- RN salaries in the Tempe-Mesa market are competitive with Phoenix metro averages, with experienced nurses in specialty units earning $90,000 to $115,000 or more annually.
The East Valley: A Rapidly Growing Nursing Market
The communities of the Phoenix East Valley -- Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Scottsdale, and surrounding areas -- represent one of the fastest-growing population corridors in the United States. What was suburban sprawl a generation ago has evolved into a dense metropolitan region with its own healthcare infrastructure, corporate campuses, universities, and distinct community identity.
For nursing students and aspiring healthcare professionals, the East Valley offers a compelling combination: accessible and well-regarded nursing education programs, a rich clinical training environment anchored by multiple hospital systems, and a post-graduation job market that consistently needs more nurses than the current supply provides. This guide focuses on nursing education and career opportunities specifically in the Tempe-Mesa corridor and the broader East Valley.
Healthcare in the East Valley: Your Future Employers
Banner Desert Medical Center and Cardon Children's
Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa is one of the largest hospitals in Arizona and a key facility in Banner Health's Southeast Valley operations. The adjacent Cardon Children's Medical Center is the largest children's hospital in the East Valley. Together, these facilities provide nursing students and graduates with access to a full-service adult acute care hospital and a comprehensive pediatric center -- an unusual combination that is particularly valuable for students interested in labor and delivery, pediatrics, or neonatal care.
Banner Desert operates a Level II trauma center, a comprehensive cardiac program, a cancer center, and extensive surgical services. The sheer volume and diversity of patients at Banner Desert provides clinical rotations with exceptional case exposure, and the hospital is one of the largest employers of East Valley nursing graduates.
Dignity Health Chandler Regional and Mercy Gilbert
Dignity Health (CommonSpirit Health) operates Chandler Regional Medical Center and Mercy Gilbert Medical Center in the Southeast Valley. Chandler Regional is a full-service acute care hospital with a Level I trauma center and comprehensive cardiac, cancer, and surgical programs. Mercy Gilbert is a community-level hospital serving the fast-growing Gilbert area. These facilities offer nursing students and graduates stable employment with a faith-based mission-driven culture.
Honor Health Scottsdale
Honor Health's Scottsdale facilities -- particularly Scottsdale Shea Medical Center -- serve the northern Scottsdale and northeast Valley communities. Honor Health is known for its cardiovascular and orthopedic programs and its commitment to innovation in care delivery. For East Valley nursing students with interest in specialty nursing, Honor Health Scottsdale offers excellent clinical exposure.
Valleywise Health
Valleywise Health (the Maricopa County public health system) operates the only Level I trauma center in the East Valley area and serves as the primary safety net hospital for the region. For nursing students who want to work in high-acuity emergency and trauma settings with diverse patient populations, Valleywise offers clinical experiences that are genuinely different from those available at private hospitals.
Outpatient and Specialty Care
Beyond the major hospitals, the East Valley has a dense network of outpatient surgery centers, urgent care clinics, specialty physician offices, dialysis centers, and rehabilitation facilities that collectively employ a large number of nurses in non-hospital settings. For graduates who prefer working in outpatient or ambulatory care, the East Valley's thick fabric of non-hospital healthcare provides excellent options.
Nursing Schools in Tempe and Mesa
Arizona State University -- Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation
ASU's main campus is in Tempe, making the Edson College of Nursing directly accessible to Tempe residents and to East Valley students who prefer a campus-based experience. Edson is the largest nursing school in the western United States, offering BSN, MSN, DNP, and PhD programs. The BSN program combines classroom instruction, nursing laboratory simulation, and clinical rotations at partner healthcare facilities throughout the Phoenix metro.
ASU's size is both a strength and a challenge. The program's scale means substantial resources, extensive clinical partnerships, and an alumni network that permeates every corner of the Arizona healthcare system. It also means that students who thrive in large university environments will feel at home, while those who prefer more intimate class sizes and personalized attention may find the community college ADN programs more suitable.
ASU Edson has been recognized for innovation in nursing education, including investment in high-fidelity simulation centers, standardized patient programs, and technology-integrated learning environments that prepare students for the realities of contemporary clinical practice.
Mesa Community College
Mesa Community College offers one of the most respected ADN programs in the East Valley. MCC's nursing program is highly competitive for admission and produces graduates who consistently demonstrate strong NCLEX-RN performance and successful entry into the East Valley nursing workforce. The program's long-standing relationships with area hospitals -- particularly Banner Desert and Dignity Health facilities -- facilitate clinical placements and job placement for graduates.
MCC's ADN is a two-year program for students who have completed the required prerequisites, though most students spend 1 to 2 additional semesters completing prerequisites before beginning the nursing sequence. Total time to RN licensure from initial enrollment at MCC is typically 3 to 4 years. The cost is substantially lower than four-year university programs, making MCC an excellent value for students who need to manage education costs.
Chandler-Gilbert Community College
CGCC's nursing program serves the southern East Valley (Chandler, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Apache Junction) with an ADN that feeds directly into the region's growing healthcare sector. CGCC has developed strong clinical relationships with Dignity Health Chandler Regional, Mercy Gilbert, and Banner East Valley facilities. The program is competitive for admission and is well-regarded by regional employers.
For students living in the southern East Valley, CGCC's location and clinical partnerships make it the most geographically convenient nursing education option, and the community college cost structure provides strong financial value compared to private institutions.
University of Phoenix -- Phoenix Campus
The University of Phoenix, headquartered in Tempe, offers RN-to-BSN and MSN programs that are primarily online and designed for working nurses seeking to advance their credentials. For East Valley nurses who are already licensed as RNs and want to complete a BSN or pursue graduate education without interrupting their careers, UoPX provides an accessible if sometimes challenged-reputation option. Students considering UoPX should carefully research employer perceptions in their target specialty before enrolling.
Chamberlain University -- Phoenix Campus
Chamberlain University operates a campus in the Phoenix area (with East Valley clinical partnerships) offering BSN, MSN, and DNP programs with accelerated formats designed for career changers and working professionals. Chamberlain's national accreditation, consistent NCLEX pass rates, and career-focused curriculum make it a recognized option in the East Valley market.
Choosing Between ADN and BSN in the East Valley
The ADN-versus-BSN decision in the East Valley follows the same general pattern as the broader Phoenix market. Major East Valley employers -- Banner, Dignity Health, Honor Health -- prefer BSN-prepared nurses for initial hiring and expect BSN completion within 2 to 3 years for ADN nurses they do hire. The practical guidance:
- If you can complete a BSN program at ASU or another four-year institution, you will have the broadest initial access to positions and the clearest path to advancement.
- If cost or schedule constraints make a four-year program difficult, MCC's or CGCC's ADN programs are excellent values with strong employer relationships -- just plan your BSN completion pathway from day one.
- Many East Valley hospitals offer tuition assistance programs that help employed ADN nurses complete a BSN while working. Build this into your career plan.
- For nurses already licensed elsewhere who want to build a career in the East Valley, online RN-to-BSN programs from ASU, Western Governors University, or Grand Canyon University are efficient pathways.
Nursing Salaries in Tempe and Mesa
The BLS reports the national median for registered nurses at $81,220 annually. East Valley RN wages are generally consistent with Phoenix metro averages. Starting wages for new BSN graduates at major East Valley hospitals typically range from $62,000 to $72,000. Experienced staff nurses in general acute care units typically earn $75,000 to $90,000, while specialty nursing roles in ICU, NICU, OR, emergency, and cardiac units often pay $90,000 to $115,000 or more. Shift differentials for evenings, nights, and weekends add meaningfully to total annual compensation.
Getting Into a Nursing Program in the East Valley
Admission to East Valley nursing programs is competitive. Common requirements across programs include:
- Strong grades in science prerequisite courses (Anatomy and Physiology I and II, Microbiology, Chemistry) -- typically B or higher required, A preferred
- TEAS or HESI entrance exam scores meeting program minimums
- Documented healthcare work or volunteer experience (CNA, EMT, medical assistant, etc.) is valued
- Overall GPA above 3.0 for most programs; competitive applicants often have 3.5 or higher
- Personal statement demonstrating genuine motivation for nursing
- Letters of recommendation from academic or professional references
The most competitive applicants combine strong science GPAs with solid entrance exam scores and meaningful hands-on healthcare experience. Starting prerequisite coursework at a community college, earning the best possible grades, and obtaining a CNA certification to work as a nursing assistant while completing prerequisites is a proven strategy for building a competitive application.
Frequently Asked Questions
What nursing schools are in Tempe and Mesa? ASU's Edson College of Nursing (Tempe campus) is the largest program and offers BSN through PhD. Mesa Community College offers a highly regarded ADN program. Chandler-Gilbert Community College serves the southern East Valley with an ADN program. Chamberlain University has a Phoenix-area campus serving East Valley students.
Is Banner Desert Medical Center a good place to work as a nurse? Yes, Banner Desert is one of the largest and most comprehensive hospitals in the East Valley and offers a full range of nursing specialties and career advancement opportunities. Banner Health is known for competitive compensation, strong professional development programs, and Magnet designation at select facilities. It is one of the most common destinations for East Valley nursing graduates.
How much do nurses earn in Mesa and Tempe? Starting wages for new RN graduates at East Valley hospitals typically range from $62,000 to $72,000. Experienced nurses in general units earn $75,000 to $90,000. ICU, NICU, OR, and ED nurses often earn $90,000 to $115,000 or more. The national median RN salary is $81,220 per the BLS. Shift differentials add meaningfully to total compensation for non-day shift workers.
Conclusion
The Tempe-Mesa corridor and the broader East Valley offer aspiring nurses an excellent combination of accessible, quality education programs and a growing healthcare market with genuine employment demand. Whether you choose ASU's nationally recognized BSN program, the affordable and respected ADN pathway at Mesa Community College or CGCC, or a graduate-level program for advancing your credentials, the East Valley provides the academic infrastructure and clinical resources to build a strong nursing career.
Start by exploring admission requirements at your target programs and connecting with nursing departments at East Valley hospitals to understand what they look for in candidates. The path to becoming a nurse in the East Valley is clear, achievable, and leads to a career that offers both personal fulfillment and financial stability.
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