GateWay Community College
GateWay Community College is a public community college in Phoenix and part of the Maricopa County Community College District. Its nursing pathways include Nurse Assisting (CNA), a Fast Track Practical Nursing (LPN) certificate, and an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (ADN) through the districtwide MaricopaNursing model, so some required classes may be taken at more than one Maricopa college. Nursing students are required to attend a virtual information and advising session before they can meet one on one with a nursing advisor and move forward with program steps.
Course delivery is built around multiple schedules. For the ADN, options include a 4 semester traditional day track (starts in fall), an evening option that runs about 24 months with classes three nights per week, and an accelerated option that runs through summer and is designed to finish in about 16 months. Clinicals can include day rotations and, depending on placement, may also include nights and weekends with 12 hour shifts in selected specialties. The LPN curriculum is a separate Fast Track practical nursing program that combines nursing theory with planned patient care experiences and uses lecture, role play, online case studies, and simulation; the college notes that technology is used extensively and recommends students have access to a personal computer. GateWay also offers a Veterans/LPN Bridge option: after a 12 credit bridge, eligible students can sit for the NCLEX-PN and then apply for advanced placement into the associate degree RN program if prerequisites are met.
GateWay’s nursing programs are approved by the Arizona State Board of Nursing, and the associate degree nursing program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
Across recent cohorts, GateWay’s average weighted NCLEX-RN pass rate is 95.7%, compared with the 2024 Arizona average of 93.7%. For practical nursing, the program’s average weighted NCLEX-PN pass rate is 100.0%, compared with the 2024 Arizona average of 93.8%.
In Phoenix, nursing-related locations listed by the college include 555 N. 18th Street (near downtown Phoenix), 108 N. 40th Street and 1245 E. Buckeye Road (near the airport area), and 535 W. Van Buren Street (downtown). Students commuting across the Valley should plan for heavier travel times during weekday rush hours, especially when clinical start times are early.
GateWay Community College, part of the MaricopaNursing consortium, offers a comprehensive Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Nursing program. This program is accredited by the Arizona State Board of Nursing and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), preparing students for a career as a Registered Nurse (RN).
Admission Requirements
To be eligible for the AAS Nursing program, students must complete the following prerequisites with a grade of "C" or better:
- BIO156 or BIO181: Biology courses
- BIO201: Human Anatomy and Physiology I
- CHM130 and CHM130LL or CHM130AA: Chemistry with lab
- ENG101 or ENG107: First-Year Composition
- MAT140, MAT141, or MAT142: College Mathematics
Additionally, students must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.0 in these courses to be placed in the queue for a cohort start date. A valid Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card from the Arizona Department of Public Safety is also required, along with passing the HESI A2 entrance exam.
Concurrent Enrollment Program (CEP)
GateWay Community College also offers a Concurrent Enrollment Program (CEP) for students who wish to earn both their AAS and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) concurrently. This program allows students to take courses at GateWay while simultaneously enrolled in a partner university’s BSN program, potentially completing both degrees in about the same time it would take to complete just the AAS.
Program Locations
GateWay Community College operates across multiple campuses in Phoenix, including the Washington Campus, Central City, and the 18th Street locations, providing accessible options for students throughout the region.
This program is a solid option for those seeking a cost-effective and flexible pathway to a nursing career, with the added benefit of progressing toward a BSN through the CEP.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rates
NCLEX-PN Pass Rates
Accreditations
Nursing Programs Accreditations
- Nursing (ADNUR) - Associate degree programs Accredited by Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. (Formerly: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission)
Institutional Accreditations
- North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
Nearby Nursing Schools
