
Detroit Nursing School
3-Year BSN Program: Earn Your Nursing Degree Faster with No Prerequisite Coursework
Classes begin August 31st
Why Our Nursing School in Michigan Is Right for You
Our nursing school in Detroit, located at our Southfield campus, gives prospective nurses in Michigan real reasons to choose AZCN. Here’s what students consider when making their decision.
- Up to $5,000 scholarships available at our Southfield campus
- Earn your BSN in three years or less with qualified transfer credits!
- Flexible scheduling with gen ed night classes and a mixture of in-person, online, and blended nursing classes
- Your success is our priority: tutoring, open lab time, and academic support
- Small class sizes with personalized attention


The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program at Arizona College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (www.aacnnursing.org). All Arizona College campuses are institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES), a U.S. Department of Education-recognized accrediting agency.

Your Future in Nursing Starts Here
Becoming a registered nurse (RN) takes hands-on practice, not just lectures. At our nursing school in Southfield, you learn through classroom instruction, simulation labs, and supervised clinical training in working healthcare settings. That mix builds the skills and judgment strong nursing care depends on. By graduation, you’ll be ready to pursue licensure and start your career across the Detroit area.
Graduate in Less Time With Eligible Transfer Credits
Get Hands-On Experience in Guided Labs
NCLEX-RN Exam Preparation From Day One
What Our BSN Program Offers You
Bring Your Transfer Credits with You
You’ve put time and effort into your education already, and that work shouldn’t go to waste. Qualifying gen ed credits may transfer into our three-year BSN program, which can shorten the time it takes to earn your nursing degree. Our academic advisors sit down with you to review your transcripts and apply as many eligible transfer credits as possible. For more about our admission requirements and how your credits may apply, please contact our admissions team.

How Our Nursing School Curriculum Prepares You
Our Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program is designed to help you step into nursing with confidence and momentum. Classroom teaching, hands-on labs, clinical experience, and focused NCLEX-RN exam prep work together to support your growth toward a career as a registered nurse (RN).
Sample Classes in Our BSN Curriculum:
- Fundamentals of Biology
- Introduction to Psychology
- Human Anatomy/Physiology I
- College Mathematics
- First Year Composition (Writing) I
- Human Pathophysiology
- Human Nutrition
- Critical Thinking in Clinical Decision-Making
- Pharmacology I
- Evidence-Based Practice I
- Community Health Nursing + Practicum
- Maternal Health Theory and Application + Practicum
- Transition to the Nursing Profession
- Professional Seminar (NCLEX-RN Preparation)
NCLEX-RN Exam Prep in Every Course
At our nursing school in Southfield, preparing for the NCLEX-RN exam begins early and continues throughout the program. Instructors weave NCLEX-RN-style questions and clinical judgment into your courses along the way, so the exam feels familiar by the time you sit for it. To learn more about the testing format and study strategies, read our blog post Mastering the NCLEX: A Comprehensive Guide to Preparation.
Here are just a few of the ways we prepare you for NCLEX-RN:


Our Nursing School in Southfield Opens Clinical Doors
During your final year, most of your time is spent in clinical rotations inside working healthcare settings. Practicing alongside patients and medical professionals is one of the most effective ways to learn, so we make those experiences a priority. Through partnerships with healthcare providers across Michigan, you’ll gain hands-on clinical experience and, alongside nurse leaders, opportunities for nursing research.
Visit our BSN Program Curriculum page for more details.
Arizona College of Nursing – Southfield Campus Events
Our Detroit campus is located by the Lodge Freeway at 26400 Lasher Rd, Suite 400, in Southfield, Michigan. Upcoming events here include:

Next Start Date
Date: August 31st
New classes at AZCN start approximately every 8 weeks. You can begin your BSN degree without waiting for a traditional semester schedule.

Summer Break
Date: August 24th – 30th
Our campus will be closed for Summer Break from August 24th to August 30th.

Fall Commencement
Beginning the week of August 21st
Graduation commencement ceremonies are typically held twice a year; in the spring and fall. Help us celebrate the achievements of our BSN graduates!
Your Nursing School in the Detroit Metro
Choosing where to study nursing matters, and our campus gives students across Michigan a place to pursue the career they’re after. You’ll train through focused coursework and hands-on clinical practice that prepares you for the demands of nursing. We serve the greater Detroit metropolitan area, including St. Clair Shores, Troy, and Westland, just 20 minutes from downtown Detroit.
Additional hours available upon request.
Get to Know Our Southfield Campus
At Arizona College of Nursing, we understand the drive it takes to pursue nursing while life stays full. That’s exactly why we’ve designed our courses to offer greater scheduling flexibility.

Your first four semesters of general education classes meet in the evenings, and each course is completed in just eight weeks. New sessions start six times per year, so you’re not tied to a fall or spring start. Begin whenever the timing works for you.
Our Southfield campus sits just off M-10, about a 20-minute drive from The Motor City and within easy reach of the wider region: an hour from Genesee County and 45 minutes from Washtenaw County.
Stop by to learn more about our three-year BSN degree program. For more on student life in the area, visit our Southfield Campus Life page.
Initial Approval from the Michigan Board of Nursing
Instructors Who Practice What They Teach
Our faculty and campus leaders bring years of hands-on nursing experience to everything they teach, and they’re invested in helping you reach a strong start in your career. Between mentorship, support services, and guided practice in our in-person labs and simulations, classroom learning connects directly to the demands of nursing.
Meet Our Southfield Nursing School Campus Leadership

Twanda Gillespie
Dean of Nursing
Nursing has been a wonderful career that has provided me with diverse and enriching experiences. I find great joy in mentoring new nurses as they enter the profession. I am dedicated to passing on the values of caring, serving others, and embodying the art and science of nursing through compassion and competence.
Arizona College of Nursing offers a wealth of resources to support students in achieving their goals. We provide a personalized educational experience with multiple touch points, guiding our students through every step of their program.
The Learning Resource Center offers a range of resources to support students, from counseling services to tools for managing everyday life. We provide tutoring in various subjects to assist students in their studies. Additionally, faculty members, myself, and many other resources are always available to support our students.

Arizona College of Nursing and Oakland Schools are proud of their Admissions Partnership
Arizona College of Nursing and Oakland Schools have partnered to transition students into Arizona College of Nursing’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program. This unique partnership ensures Oakland School students who wish to begin their BSN degree program experience a seamless transition process. The Arizona College of Nursing admissions team will provide Oakland Schools students who meet its admissions requirements with an efficient admissions process and will assist transferring students through the process from start to finish.
To learn more speak with one of our admissions representatives.
Scholarships at Our Nursing School in Detroit
Cost is an important consideration as you weigh three-year BSN opportunities in Michigan. Qualifying students can receive up to $5,000 in nursing scholarship support.
To learn more about the scholarships available and check your eligibility, use the button below.
- Futures Scholarship
- Advancement Scholarship
- Working Parent Scholarship
- Achievement Scholarship
- Opportunity Scholarship

Common Questions Students Ask Most
If you’ve been looking for nursing schools in Michigan, our campus offers a welcoming community close to home. Browse the questions below to learn more about our program, nursing concepts, and what to expect as a student. To find a nursing school near you, visit our Campus Locations page.
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Arizona College of Nursing – Southfield is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (https://www.aacnnursing.org). All Arizona College of Nursing campuses are also institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).
Knowing how a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) school differs from a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) school can help you plan your nursing career path, since the education requirements for LPNs and RNs vary significantly. An LPN program usually takes about one to two years and prepares students for entry-level roles, providing basic nursing care under the supervision of registered nurses (RNs) and physicians. A BSN program goes further, preparing you to become a registered nurse with a broader scope of practice and more career options. AZCN’s three-year BSN degree program is designed to ready you for the NCLEX-RN exam and a career as an RN.
In Michigan, there is no limit on the number of times you may sit for the NCLEX-RN. You must pass within three years of your graduation date, or after obtaining one of the required evaluations or certifications.
If you do not pass, you must wait 45 days before you can test again. After you pay and re-register with Pearson VUE, you will receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) with a 90-day window, and that window does not begin until the 45th day after your previous test has passed.
If you do not pass, you must wait 45 days before you can test again. After you pay and re-register with Pearson VUE, you will receive an Authorization to Test with a 90-day window, and that window does not begin until the 45th day after your previous test has passed.
If you do not pass within the three-year period described above, you will need to complete a certification of skills competency or submit a written request to the Board of Nursing for an extension.
Registered nurses in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn area of Michigan, which includes Southfield, earn a median nursing salary of $97,280 per year. Because you’ll be entering the workforce for the first time, keep in mind that you would likely start below that median and see your earnings grow with experience.
Looking at the state as a whole, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that RN salaries across Michigan run from a low of $77,260 per year to as much as $116,710 per year at the top end.
Updated 06/2026. Source: https://www.onetonline.org/link/localwages/29-1141.00?zip=48033
To learn more about nursing pay and demand across the state, view our Michigan nursing market outlook.
Arizona College of Nursing – Southfield surrounds you with support throughout the program, so the challenges of nursing school feel more manageable. Student resources include a student success coach, tutoring sessions, peer mentoring, faculty office hours, an NCLEX-RN exam prep class, and more.
To learn more about the support available throughout your education, contact our admissions team. We’re committed to helping you work toward your goal of becoming an RN.
Learn more about why Arizona College of Nursing is right for you.
Our three-year BSN program has two main admission requirements. You’ll need a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher, from either high school or college, along with a qualifying score on the HESI A2 assessment. Depending on your HESI A2 score, a GPA waiver may be available.
Our admissions team helps with transcript submission and entrance testing questions, while our finance team can explain financial aid options for those who qualify. The process moves quickly, so you always know where you stand. Our Admissions page covers these requirements in more detail.
A nursing assistant and a registered nurse (RN) differ mainly in training, scope, and authority. Nursing assistants focus on day-to-day patient support, monitoring vital signs and helping with routine activities, and they carry out that work under an RN’s supervision. Registered nurses train for far more: they create and manage patient care plans, administer medications, and handle complex medical procedures. Coordinating the work of nursing assistants and other staff falls to RNs as well.
A BSN degree is what makes the difference here. Qualifying as an RN through a BSN can lead to more advanced roles across the nursing field, and our BSN program in Michigan pairs comprehensive coursework with clinical experience to support your growth.
No, the nursing program at AZCN Southfield cannot be completed entirely online. What you’ll find instead is a curriculum that mixes in-person, online, and blended classes, with the format matched to what each course requires. At the majority of our campuses, many non-clinical courses are offered asynchronously and delivered fully online, while nursing courses with a clinical component are held in person. That split is deliberate, since the hands-on work of nursing has to happen face to face.
Our general education courses are offered in flexible formats, including night and virtual classes, so you can fit them around your schedule. To learn how the online nursing course formats work at AZCN Southfield, and how a BSN degree can be earned in three years, reach out to our admissions team.
After completing your BSN degree and fulfilling Michigan’s licensing requirements, many nursing career paths may become available to you in the Detroit area.
The following roles represent potential career directions for those who have completed BSN education, passed the NCLEX-RN exam, and obtained proper state licensure. These roles span hospitals, community settings, specialized units, and leadership positions.
Hospital-Based Roles in Michigan
Registered Nurse (RN) – The foundation of nursing practice, working in various healthcare settings.
Emergency Room Nurse – Providing urgent care in fast-paced emergency department settings.
ICU Nurse / Critical Care Nurse – Caring for patients with life-threatening conditions requiring intensive monitoring.
Labor and Delivery Nurse – Supporting mothers and newborns through the childbirth process.
OR Nurse / Perioperative Nurse – Assisting in surgical procedures and providing pre/post-operative care.
Specialized Care Roles in Michigan
Pediatric Nurse – Focusing on the healthcare needs of children and adolescents.
Hospice Nurse/Palliative Care Nurse – Providing compassionate end-of-life and comfort care.
Home Health Nurse – Delivering care to patients in their homes, often following hospital discharge.
Forensic Nurse – Working at the intersection of healthcare and the legal system.
Nurse Manager & Administration Roles in Michigan
Charge Nurse – Overseeing nursing operations for a unit during a specific shift.
Nurse Manager – Supervising nursing staff and handling administrative responsibilities. Learn more about becoming a Nurse Manager.
Utilization Review Nurse – Evaluating the necessity and efficiency of healthcare services.
Community & Public Health Roles in Michigan
Public Health Nurse – Addressing community health needs through education and preventative care.
School Nurse – Providing healthcare services in educational settings.
Occupational Health Nurse – Focusing on workplace health and safety.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025), registered nurses held about 3.3 million jobs in 2023, with the largest percentage (58%) working in hospitals. Other significant employment settings include ambulatory healthcare services (19%), government agencies (6%), nursing and residential care facilities (5%), and educational services (3%). Data last updated April 18, 2025. Source: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm#tab-3
Important Note: A BSN degree itself does not qualify individuals to work as registered nurses. Additional steps including passing the NCLEX-RN examination and obtaining state licensure are required before pursuing these career opportunities.
The NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN lead to two different nursing licenses. You take the NCLEX-RN to become a registered nurse after finishing a BSN or ADN program, and the NCLEX-PN to become a licensed practical or vocational nurse after an LPN or LVN program. Both exams come from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), and both are required for nursing licensure in the United States.
The license you earn shapes the work you’ll do. For RNs in Michigan, licensure brings greater autonomy, higher-level clinical responsibilities, and more room for career advancement than LPN licensure, while licensed practical nurses generally work under the supervision of registered nurses or physicians.
Passing the NCLEX exam is what legally allows you to practice as a registered nurse. It confirms that you’ve met the minimum competency standards for entry-level nursing, and because it’s a standardized test used in every state, it keeps practice standards consistent nationwide. Once you pass, you can apply for your nursing license and begin your professional nursing career in Michigan.
Arizona College of Nursing – Southfield
(313) 284-6729
info@arizonacollege.edu
26400 Lahser Rd, Suite 400
Southfield, MI 48033
Accreditations

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program at Arizona College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (www.aacnnursing.org).

All Arizona College campuses are institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES), a U.S. Department of Education-recognized accrediting agency.
Michigan NCLEX Pass Rate Data: https://www.michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/bpl/health/hp-lic-health-prof/nursing/lic-info/nursing-education-programs
National NCLEX Pass Rates: https://www.ncsbn.org/exams/exam-statistics-and-publications/nclex-pass-rates.page














