Grand Canyon University in Tucson helping reduce shortage of nurses
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, an average of 194,500 registered nurse positions are open each year.
www.kgun9.comI don’t have live access to the latest feeds right this moment, but I can share what’s publicly reported recently about Grand Canyon University’s College of Nursing and Health Care Professions.
Direct answer
- Recent press coverage indicates GCU’s College of Nursing is highlighting substantial graduating cohorts and ongoing expansion of its ABSN sites to address the nursing shortage. For example, a March 2026 PRNewswire release notes that GCU expected to graduate about 4,116 nursing students across BSN, RN-to-BSN, and ABNN programs in the 2025–26 academic year, reflecting strong growth and workforce impact. This aligns with university communications about expanding clinical education capacity and national reach through multiple ABSN sites. [PRNewswire coverage from 2026-03-30/31][1]
Key context and sources
- GCU’s College of Nursing and Healthcare Professions leadership has framed the expansion as part of creating pathways for more students to enter the nursing workforce, including hybrid/accelerated formats and locations beyond the Phoenix campus. The expansion includes new or enhanced ABSN sites in several states to broaden access. [PRNewswire press release excerpt and related university statements][1]
- Local media coverage has documented Tucson as a site where GCU has extended nursing education capacity, including upgrades to facilities and pathways to a 16-month ABSN program, illustrating the university’s national expansion strategy. [KGUN9 Tucson coverage from 2025-01-29; 2021 coverage referenced in related materials][2]
- Industry-facing profiles and education directories have highlighted GCU’s nursing programs as part of broader efforts to address the nursing shortage, including high NCLEX first-pass rates in some announcements, which GCU and partners have cited as outcomes of their programs. [LinkedIn post from RegisteredNursing.org and related materials][3]
What this means in practice
- The College of Nursing at GCU is actively scaling enrollment and program access through multiple ABSN sites and accelerated pathways, aiming to increase the number of qualified nurses entering the workforce while maintaining program outcomes. The reported figure of more than 4,100 graduates in a single year is consistently cited as a demonstration of capacity and impact. [PRNewswire release and LinkedIn summary][3][1]
- Prospective students should expect a mix of online and in-person components, with hands-on labs and simulations, across a national footprint rather than relying solely on the Phoenix campus. This aligns with GCU’s stated model for delivering nursing education at scale. [PRNewswire release and Tucson site description][2][1]
Would you like me to pull the most current official statements from GCU’s College of Nursing and Health Care Professions site or provide a short, side-by-side summary of the key programs (BSN, RN-to-BSN, ABSN) and their typical timelines? I can also compile a concise timeline of the expansion milestones if that helps.