Where to Begin Your RN Journey in Michigan
Choosing an RN program means weighing a lot at once, from admission requirements and transfer credits to job outlook and financial aid. Our BSN program offers a direct route to becoming an RN in Michigan, and we’ve grouped the answers below by topic so you can decide with confidence.
Have questions about your own situation? Reach out to our Southfield campus directly, and we’ll be glad to help.
Common Nursing Career Questions
How long it takes to become a nurse depends on the role you choose and the education each one requires. Your first step is deciding which type of nurse you want to be, since a licensed practical nurse (LPN), a registered nurse (RN), and a nurse practitioner (NP) each carry their own education and licensing path. An LPN program, sometimes called an LVN program in certain states, can take about one to two years and prepares you for a more limited set of nursing duties than an RN handles.
Becoming an RN takes more time because of the degree and licensing involved, and it opens a wider scope of practice. For the RN route, you complete an accredited nursing program and then pass the NCLEX-RN exam to earn licensure, with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) being one of the most common ways to get there.
A traditional BSN often takes about four years, but at Arizona College of Nursing – Southfield you can earn yours in as few as three years. If you already have college credit or a degree in another field, you may finish even sooner, since qualifying transfer credits can count toward your BSN. To learn what your timeline could look like in Detroit, contact an admissions representative at our Southfield campus.
Registered nurses in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn area of Michigan, which includes Southfield, earn a median nursing salary of $97,280 per year. As someone entering the workforce, you would likely start below that median and see your pay grow as you gain 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.
Updated 07/2026. Source: https://www.onetonline.org/link/localwages/29-1141.00?zip=48033
For a fuller picture of pay and demand, see our Michigan nursing market outlook.
Working as an RN opens the door to a wide range of work environments, which is one of the things that draws people to the profession. Registered nurses held about 3.4 million nursing jobs as of 2024, spread across many different healthcare settings.
The largest employers of registered nurses were as follows:
Hospitals (59%)
Ambulatory healthcare services (19%)
Nursing and residential care facilities (6%)
Government (5%)
Educational services; state, local, and private (3%)
Updated 2026. Source: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm#tab-3
Demand for registered nurses in Michigan is steady. As of 2022, 104,150 RNs were employed across the state, and registered nurse jobs in Michigan are projected to grow 3% between 2022 and 2032.
The national outlook is similar. RN employment in the United States is projected to grow 5% from 2024 to 2034, creating 189,100 projected annual new nursing jobs.
Updated 08/2025: Data Source: https://www.onetonline.org/link/localtrends/29-1141.00?st=MI
Yes. Once you graduate and are licensed, you can practice in other states, though the steps depend on where you’re licensed and where you want to work. Some states belong to the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), which lets registered nurses practice across member states without a separate license. States outside the compact require licensure by endorsement, meaning you submit documentation and fees to that state’s board of nursing.
Good preparation comes first. A CCNE-accredited BSN program like the one at Arizona College of Nursing – Southfield prepares you to apply for the NCLEX-RN, the national licensing exam. You’ll take it in the state where you live, and you still need to pass it before you can practice. Once you do, you can pursue your nursing career wherever you choose. If you plan to relocate, our admissions team can explain how Michigan licensure carries over.
RN Program Questions for AZCN’s Southfield Campus
Qualifying gen ed transfer credits can help you move through our BSN program in three years or less, often graduating in less time and at a lower cost.
Have credits you’d like reviewed, including any tied to college-level credit test scores? Our transfer of credit team will review your transcripts and explain how your transfer credits might apply toward a BSN degree. To get started, visit our Campus Locations page for details on contacting your local campus.
Read more about Arizona College of Nursing’s credit transfer requirements
Financial aid is available to students at Arizona College of Nursing – Southfield who qualify, no matter their age or background. Depending on eligibility, you may have access to a range of aid programs and payment options, including:
- Federal student loans
- Federal PELL and SEOG grants
- Eligible State-based grant programs
- Private educational loans
- Military veteran educational benefits (ex: Post-9/11 G.I. Bill®)
Beyond financial aid, Arizona College of Nursing also offers scholarship opportunities for those who qualify. For more on financial aid and scholarships, visit our financial aid page.
Yes. You’ll begin your studies at Arizona College of Nursing – Southfield with evening general education courses, though your exact schedule depends on your prior academic experience. Some of those gen ed courses also come in a hybrid format that blends on-campus and online learning.
We hold general education in the evening because starting nursing school rarely means you can immediately put life on pause. Scheduling around the life you already lead makes the transition easier.
When you reach your Core Nursing courses, your classes move to daytime hours.
You qualify for our three-year BSN program at Arizona College of Nursing – Southfield by meeting two requirements. You need a cumulative GPA of 2.75 from your high school or college coursework, along with a qualifying score on the HESI A2 entrance exam. Your HESI A2 score may also factor into whether a GPA waiver applies to your application.
Our admissions team can help you with questions about transcripts and entrance testing. For anything tied to paying for school, our finance team can help you understand the aid you may qualify for. You can see all the requirements on our admissions page.
Start dates vary at Arizona College of Nursing – Southfield, so you may be able to begin sooner than you expect. We welcome new students each semester as enrollment capacity allows, which gives you several points throughout the year to step into your studies.
When you apply early, you give yourself the best chance to begin right when you are ready. Our admissions team would love to help you find a start date that fits your life, and you can learn more on our admissions page.
Our three-year BSN program at Arizona College of Nursing – Southfield covers the core areas of nursing practice, including clinical thinking, community health, critical care, gerontology, leadership, surgical care, obstetrics, pediatrics, and psychiatric care. Together these courses prepare you to care for patients across different settings and stages of life.
Arizona College of Nursing – Southfield does not offer an LPN to BSN or LPN to RN bridge program. Even without a bridge track, you can enroll in our program and complete a BSN degree in as few as three years.
Skills you developed as an LPN come with you into the classroom, and they may make your coursework feel more familiar. That same background can prove especially valuable once you reach the clinical training portion of our program.
When you reach out to our admissions team, let them know about your background as an LPN. They can explain how that experience may fit into your studies and support you as you earn your BSN degree.
You do not need nursing assistant experience to begin our three-year BSN program at Arizona College of Nursing – Southfield. Many students start their nursing education without any prior healthcare background and go on to succeed.
Our BSN program gives you the foundational knowledge and clinical training that becoming a registered nurse requires. Some students do choose to work as a nursing assistant before or during their studies, but it is never a prerequisite for admission. What carries the most weight is your commitment to caring for others and your dedication to learning.
Arizona College of Nursing – Southfield blends in-person, online, and blended classes rather than running fully online, so you get flexibility alongside hands-on training. Like most of our campuses, Southfield builds its schedule around both convenience and the clinical practice that nursing calls for.
Many non-clinical courses run asynchronously and online, so you can complete them around your other responsibilities. Courses with a clinical component meet in person, where you practice the skills that patient care depends on.
Our general education courses also use a blended approach, with evening and virtual options that add flexibility. To learn more about course formats at our Southfield campus, reach out to our admissions team, who can explain how you might earn your BSN degree in as few as three years.
Comparing your options can feel like a lot at first, but a few key factors make the decision clearer. Start with program length and format, since a schedule that fits your work and family life keeps you on track to finish.
Look closely at how each school handles admissions, because a clear process or a long waitlist can mean the difference between starting soon and waiting months. Ask about clinical partnerships and hands-on training too, since the experience you gain in real clinical settings shapes your confidence and your readiness for the job.
Support matters just as much, from academic resources to help with financial aid. At Arizona College of Nursing in Southfield, you can earn your BSN degree in three years with flexible scheduling, a streamlined admissions process, and clinical rotations alongside healthcare partners across Michigan. When you are weighing your options in Detroit, our admissions team is glad to answer your questions and help you move forward.
General Nursing and RN FAQs
Choosing between a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) program and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program is an important part of planning your nursing path. An LPN program, also called an LVN program in some states, prepares you to provide basic patient care under the supervision of registered nurses (RNs) and physicians. A BSN program prepares you to become an RN, the role with a wider scope of practice.
Program length is one of the clearest differences. An LPN program usually takes about one to two years and readies you for entry-level nursing roles, while a BSN typically takes three to four years and gives you a comprehensive nursing education you can apply across many settings.
To work as an RN, you need either an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a BSN. RNs carry broader responsibilities than LPNs, including patient care planning and diagnostic testing, and they generally see more room for advancement and higher earning potential over time. If your goal is a career as an RN, a BSN is the more direct route.
At Arizona College of Nursing in Southfield, our three-year BSN program is designed to prepare you for a career as an RN in Michigan. To talk through which path fits your goals, reach out to our admissions team.
For a closer comparison, see our page on the difference between an LPN and a BSN.
Michigan sets two main requirements for RN licensure. You must complete an approved nursing certificate, an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), and you must pass the NCLEX-RN exam. Each of these education routes can qualify you to sit for the exam, though they differ in length and in the career options they open later.
Source: nursejournal.org
Becoming a nurse in Michigan starts with completing a state-approved nursing program, and the cost depends on the route you take. Tuition for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) can range from $40,000 to over $100,000, so it helps to plan for both your education and the licensing steps that follow.
Additional Fees in Michigan:
NCLEX-RN Exam
- $208.80 Application Fee
- $200 Exam Fee
- $62.75 Fingerprinting Fee
Source: https://nursinglicensemap.com/states/michigan-nursing-license/
In Michigan, there is no limit on the amount of times you may sit for the NCLEX-RN. You must pass the NCLEX-RN within 3 years of the date of your graduation or after obtaining 1 of the required evaluations or certifications.
A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is an undergraduate college degree that prepares you for a career in nursing. The coursework combines general education with advanced nursing studies, giving you both the academic foundation and the nursing knowledge the field calls for.
A BSN is also one of the most widely recognized paths toward becoming a registered nurse. Earning one may broaden your options when you look for a position in the state and city where you want to work.
Both an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) can start your nursing career, but they differ in how much education and clinical training you gain along the way. A BSN takes you further on both counts, building a wider academic foundation and more hands-on clinical experience than an ADN provides.
That added depth carries weight after graduation. Many employers favor nurses who hold a BSN, and the degree opens doors to job growth that an ADN may not, including positions at Magnet-designated hospitals.
A Magnet designation comes from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), which recognizes hospitals for excellence in nursing, patient care, and professional development. These hospitals typically hire nurses who hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or higher, a standard tied to their commitment to top-quality care and better patient outcomes.
To learn more about how these nursing degrees compare, visit our page What’s the Difference Between an ADN and a BSN?
A nurse manager is a registered nurse who steps into a leadership role after building clinical experience on the job. The work spans many healthcare settings, from hospitals and outpatient care centers to long-term care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, and home health care services.
Reaching this role in Michigan starts with becoming a licensed registered nurse, which means completing your nursing degree and passing the NCLEX-RN exam. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is the minimum education most nurse manager positions call for, so it is a strong foundation to aim for early.
From there, experience is what moves you toward management. You build it by working as a registered nurse, and many healthcare facilities look for at least five years on the job before considering you for a nurse manager role.
A nursing assistant handles the hands-on basics of patient care under the direction of registered nurses and other healthcare professionals. A typical shift involves supporting patients with daily activities, tracking vital signs, and helping people move safely.
These positions turn up across Michigan in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, and other healthcare settings, which makes the role a common first step for people new to nursing. Many nursing assistants go on to continue their education and become registered nurses by earning a BSN.