Cochise College has signed a transfer agreement with Grand Canyon University (GCU) that will provide nursing graduates with improved access to a bachelor’s degree.

GCU will accept up to 84 Cochise College credits, requiring nursing graduates to complete an additional 36 credits to earn a bachelor’s degree. Based in Phoenix, GCU also will provide upper-level nursing classes at Cochise College’s Sierra Vista Campus. Cochise nursing graduates who take their classes in Sierra Vista will receive a 20 percent discount on tuition for the applicable GCU courses.

 “The Cochise College nursing program, now located in a wonderful new facility, provides a solid foundation for the workplace and advanced degrees,” said Dr. Verlyn Fick, Cochise College vice president for instruction/provost. “This agreement helps students to plan to further their education beyond Cochise College, and it means better access and enhanced quality of life for our graduates.”

Cochise College enrolls approximately 80 new students in the nursing program each year. After one year, students are eligible to take the certification exam to become licensed practical nurses. At the end of the second year, they are eligible to become registered nurses.

GCU is a regionally accredited, private, non-denominational Christian university offering online and campus-based bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in business, education, nursing and health sciences, and liberal arts. It ranks as one of the top online education programs by OEDb (Online Education Database) and as one of the top five online colleges for entrepreneurs by Fortune magazine. With a total enrollment of approximately 25,000 students, GCU emphasizes individual attention for both traditional undergraduate students as well as the working professional.