Room temperature fatigue crack growth characteristics under cyclic compressive loads were investigated in pure and 3 wt % yttria doped hot pressed aluminum nitride ceramics. A single edge-notch specimen geometry was used to induce a stable Mode I fatigue crack under cyclic compressive loads. The fatigue crack growth occurred in three stages, where the first stage is dominated by microcrack nucleation, coalescence and slow growth within the notch root. During the second stage, the crack growth is accelerated and finally, the crack growth deceleration and arrest occurred in third stage. The fatigue crack growth occurred predominantly by intergranular fracture. Insights gained from the experimental results and microscopic observations are discussed.