Compare ranked BSN, ADN, and RN programs across Arkansas by cost, outcomes, and format.
Arkansas’s demand for registered nurses is projected to grow 9.2% from 2022 to 2032, fueling a strong job market for new graduates. The state’s nursing education landscape spans two-year ADN programs at community colleges, traditional four-year BSNs, and accelerated or direct-entry MSN tracks for career changers. Formats range from campus-based to hybrid and online options, and some schools, like John Brown University, report a 100% first-time NCLEX pass rate. Public universities and community colleges keep in-state tuition low: BSN programs often cost under $11,000 per year, and ADN tuition can be below $5,000. Cost remains a defining factor for many students.
Arkansas offers a diverse range of nursing education pathways, from affordable associate degrees at community colleges to comprehensive bachelor's and even direct-entry master's programs. This ranking highlights the top nursing schools in the state, balancing quality, outcomes, and value for aspiring registered nurses.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | ~$18,000/yr (est.) | Arkansas residents seeking flexible degree options | |
The University of Arkansas in Fayetteville stands out for its multiple nursing pathways, including a traditional campus BSN, an online RN-to-BSN, and an online LPN-to-BSN. With an institution-wide graduation rate of 70.5% and a net price of $18,209, it delivers strong value. Its clinical network in thriving northwest Arkansas and an innovative policy offering in-state tuition to all online nursing students make it especially attractive for Arkansas residents and nurses across the state seeking career advancement.
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| #2 | Ouachita Baptist University | Arkadelphia, AR | $20,000 – $25,000/yr | Faith-oriented students pursuing rural nursing | |
Ouachita Baptist University's BSN program blends comprehensive nursing education with a Christian worldview, offering state-of-the-art facilities and a 92% NCLEX pass rate. With a net price of $22,409 and an institution-wide graduation rate of 61.4%, it provides a strong return on investment. Its focus on rural and underserved Arkansas communities, along with clinical partnerships in the Arkadelphia-Hot Springs corridor, makes it a distinctive choice for students called to serve locally.
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| #3 | John Brown University | Siloam Springs, AR | $20,000 – $25,000/yr | NWA students wanting small Christian BSN | |
John Brown University offers a faith-based BSN program with a remarkable 100% NCLEX pass rate and 240 clinical hours. With a net price of $20,397 and an institution-wide graduation rate of 71.8%, it combines rigorous academics with hands-on simulation lab experience. Located in Siloam Springs, it serves the northwest Arkansas region and emphasizes patient-centered care and clinical reasoning within a Christian framework.
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| #4 | Baptist Health College Little Rock | Little Rock, AR | $25,000 – $30,000/yr | ||
Baptist Health College Little Rock offers an Associate Degree in Nursing track directly integrated with the statewide Baptist Health hospital system. With a net price of $25,454 and a low student-faculty ratio of 8:1, it provides intensive, hands-on training. While its institution-wide graduation rate is not reported, graduates benefit from strong employment pipelines and a median graduate debt of just $10,000.
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| #5 | Black River Technical College | Pocahontas, AR | $5,000 – $7,000/yr | ||
Black River Technical College provides an affordable Associate Degree in Nursing with a net price of just $5,095 and a median graduate debt of $9,500. Serving northeast Arkansas and southeast Missouri, its 1-2 year program includes clinical experiences in both states. With an institution-wide graduation rate of 54.5%, it emphasizes accessibility and prepares graduates for the NCLEX-RN exam.
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| #6 | Harding University | Searcy, AR | ~$22,000/yr (est.) | ||
Harding University's Master's Entry into Professional Nursing is a hybrid MSN program for non-nursing graduates. With an institution-wide graduation rate of 68.8% and a net price of $22,130, it offers a direct path to RN licensure and a master's degree in five semesters. Clinical placements in Searcy and Little Rock connect students to central Arkansas healthcare systems, making it a unique prelicensure graduate option in the state.
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| #7 | Arkansas State University | Jonesboro, AR | $8,000 – $15,000/yr | ||
Arkansas State University's traditional campus BSN program in Jonesboro prepares students for multifaceted nursing careers with a curriculum emphasizing professional values and core competencies. With an institution-wide graduation rate of 55.4% and a net price of $12,366, it offers an affordable public option. ACEN-accredited and approved by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing, it provides strong pathways into northeast Arkansas healthcare settings.
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| #8 | Ozarka College | Melbourne, AR | $0 – $5,000/yr | ||
Ozarka College offers a 30-month Associate of Applied Science in Registered Nursing with a net price of $4,543, one of the lowest in the state. Located in Melbourne, it serves rural north-central Arkansas and emphasizes evidence-based practice and patient advocacy. The institution-wide graduation rate is 47.2%, and graduates typically carry a median debt of $9,818, making it a high-value option for local students.
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| #9 | Arkansas State University-Newport | Newport, AR | $8,000/yr | ||
Arkansas State University-Newport provides an 18-month Associate of Applied Science in Nursing with a net price of $8,444 and a median graduate debt of just $8,002. The institution-wide graduation rate is 45.8%, but the program maintains a strong focus on ethical decision-making and patient-centered care. With financial aid available, it offers an accessible fast track to RN licensure for students in the Newport area.
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| #10 | Arkansas State University-Mountain Home | Mountain Home, AR | ~$9,000/yr (est.) | ||
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home's Associate of Applied Science in Registered Nursing targets students in north-central Arkansas with a 63-credit-hour program. With a net price of $8,847 and an institution-wide graduation rate of 44.1%, it provides a local option for RN education. The program includes clinical experiences but notes potential COVID-19 vaccination requirements for clinical sites, which may affect some applicants.
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Choosing a nursing program means weighing cost, location, and reputation, but one factor overshadows the rest: will you pass the NCLEX and earn your license? First-time pass rates are the clearest public measure of how well a school prepares students for that pivotal exam. Yet rates can swing from year to year, vary between program types, and differ across reporting sources, so relying on a single number without context can mislead.
Start with the Arkansas State Board of Nursing (ASBN) annual reports. These break down program-specific first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates by year and by degree level, updated when new data is released. Visit asbn.arkansas.gov and look for the latest NCLEX performance summaries, often listed under the education or reports section. The ASBN provides the most authoritative picture for Arkansas, because schools report results directly to the board.
For a national benchmark, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) publishes aggregated first-time pass rates for every state and for the U.S. as a whole. Their website includes downloadable summaries that cover years like 2023 and 2024, with 2025 data typically added after fall testing cycles conclude. Comparing a specific Arkansas program’s rate against the national average for the same year tells you whether that school is keeping pace with peers across the country.
First-time pass rate means the percentage of graduates who passed the NCLEX on their first attempt. This matters because retakes are allowed only after a waiting period, and repeated failures can delay licensure. A rate consistently above 90% is a strong signal, but don’t dismiss a program for one lower year without checking context: small cohort sizes can make percentages erratic. Also note that pass rates can differ markedly between associate-degree (ADN) and bachelor’s-degree (BSN) programs, so compare within the same degree type whenever possible.
Many nursing schools post their most recent NCLEX results directly on their program pages. Look under sections like 'Admissions,' 'Outcomes,' or 'Accreditation.' Some departments publish multi-year trends, which can show whether improvement is sustained or a one-time spike. If rates aren't visible, contact the program coordinator. Transparency here often reflects a program’s confidence in its curriculum.
Pass rates gauge test readiness, not long-term career success. For job outlook and salary benchmarks, consult the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov) or professional organizations such as the American Nurses Association. Just remember: NCLEX performance data comes from state boards and the NCSBN, not from labor market reports. Keep those sources separate, and you will build a clearer picture of where a program stands.
Nursing education in Arkansas is predominantly offered through public institutions, which helps keep tuition lower than at private schools. The net price listed here represents the average cost after grants and scholarships, though individual circumstances vary. Community colleges often provide the most affordable pathways, with several associate-degree programs costing under $5,000 per year net of aid.
| School | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Net Price (After Aid) | Median Federal Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas | $4,740 | $5,190 | $4,385 | N/A |
| Ozarka College | $3,820 | $6,820 | $4,543 | $9,818 |
| Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas | $3,800 | $4,550 | $4,848 | N/A |
| Black River Technical College | $4,776 | $7,488 | $5,095 | $9,500 |
| NorthWest Arkansas Community College | $4,926 | $5,238 | $7,196 | $9,506 |
| Arkansas State University-Newport | $3,312 | $4,752 | $8,444 | $8,002 |
| Arkansas State University-Mountain Home | $3,312 | $4,776 | $8,847 | $10,500 |
| North Arkansas College | $3,864 | $5,592 | $10,180 | $9,000 |
| University of Arkansas-Fort Smith | $7,334 | $12,182 | $10,574 | $18,250 |
| Arkansas State University | $8,090 | $14,522 | $12,366 | $20,500 |
| University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff | $9,375 | $17,955 | $12,653 | $24,202 |
| National Park College | $6,050 | $7,280 | $12,720 | $10,500 |
| Arkansas Tech University | $8,674 | $14,668 | $12,970 | $21,000 |
| Southern Arkansas University | $9,960 | $15,690 | $14,027 | $18,750 |
| University of Arkansas at Monticello | $9,292 | $14,857 | $14,287 | $19,971 |
What do nursing graduates in Arkansas actually earn after school? The answer depends heavily on the program, but data from the College Scorecard shows that completers of several Arkansas programs achieve median earnings well above statewide averages. While program-level early-career figures (one or four years out) are not yet reported for these schools, the long-term median earnings at 10 years after entry offer a reliable snapshot of earning power. Figures below reflect the latest available data, typically from 2023.
Among the top-ranked programs, Jefferson Regional School of Nursing leads with a median earnings figure of $73,975. Graduates of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences BSN earn nearly as much, at $73,827. Baptist Health College Little Rock’s ADN completers see $62,244, while University of Arkansas Fayetteville BSN graduates earn $58,191. Even programs with lower median earnings, such as NorthWest Arkansas Community College at $43,505, still position graduates above many other fields.
These outcomes underscore a clear pattern: hospital-based diploma programs and well-established university BSN tracks tend to deliver higher long-term earnings than some smaller private schools. However, earnings are just one piece of the puzzle.
A program’s return on investment (ROI) combines earnings with student debt. The ROI ratio, median earnings divided by median debt, gives a quick gauge of value. For example: - Jefferson Regional: Median debt of $12,000 and earnings of $73,975 yield an ROI of 6.2, meaning each dollar of debt maps to over $6 in earnings. - Baptist Health College (ADN): $10,000 median debt and similar earnings produce an ROI of 6.2. - UAMS BSN: $14,000 median debt and ROI of 5.3. - NorthWest Arkansas CC: With only $9,506 in median debt, its ROI reaches 4.6. - University of Arkansas Fayetteville: Higher debt of $21,500 still yields a solid ROI of 2.7. - Private options like Harding University and Ouachita Baptist carry median debts above $20,000 and ROIs around 2.0 to 2.5.
While monthly payment estimates aren’t available, the ROI ratios suggest that graduates of ADN and public BSN programs in particular face very manageable debt loads relative to income. Even the lowest ROI in the top 10, about 2.0, still indicates earnings are roughly double the debt.
It is important to distinguish these College Scorecard outcomes from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) occupational wages. The BLS reports a statewide median annual wage for all registered nurses in Arkansas that is often lower than the median earnings of graduates from the programs above. This gap reflects the premium associated with completing a reputable nursing program and the fact that the Scorecard data tracks actual completers, not all RNs regardless of education path. Not all graduates will earn at the median, but the data suggests that choosing a strong program can push earnings well above the typical Arkansas RN salary.
Since the figures come from federal financial aid recipients, they may not reflect every student’s experience. Moreover, specific quality signals like the share of completers earning above 150% of the poverty line are not yet available for these programs. Still, the available metrics paint an encouraging picture: for most programs in the top 10, the long-term earnings justify the educational investment and point to a solid financial future in nursing.
Finding a program’s clinical partnerships often comes down to two routes: browsing a school’s website or picking up the phone. The former gives you a polished snapshot, but the latter reveals the real story of where you’ll practice and who might hire you after graduation.
Most top BSN programs in Arkansas, such as the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), the University of Arkansas, and Harding University, publish information about clinical placements or affiliations on their official pages. Look for sections labeled “Clinical Experiences,” “Partnerships,” or “Affiliated Hospitals” within the nursing school or college of health. You may find references to major names like UAMS Medical Center, Baptist Health, CHI St. Vincent, or Arkansas Children’s Hospital. These pages often outline general placement regions and the types of units you might rotate through. However, remember that website listings can be broad or outdated, and they rarely describe the exact hospitals assigned to each cohort.
The most reliable way to get current clinical partnership details is to contact the nursing department directly. Admissions staff and program coordinators can provide a list of active hospital affiliates for the upcoming year. When you reach out, explicitly ask which hospitals in Arkansas host students for core rotations. Listen for mentions of UAMS Medical Center, Baptist Health facilities in Little Rock or Fort Smith, CHI St. Vincent, or Arkansas Children’s Hospital, as these often serve as anchor sites. Clarify whether students rotate through all of them or are placed at a subset, and whether location preferences are considered. Because partnerships can shift with hospital staffing and faculty availability, information from a phone call or email is always more current than a catalog description.
The Arkansas Nursing Association and the Arkansas Board of Nursing don’t publish real‑time clinical partnership lists, but they offer valuable resources. The board maintains a directory of approved nursing programs in the state, including accreditation status and NCLEX pass rates. While that directory won’t name hospital affiliates, board staff can often direct you to program coordinators who handle clinical placements. The nursing association may further provide guidance on what constitutes a robust clinical experience, helping you evaluate whether a school’s partnerships align with your career goals. These organizations can also clarify any regulatory minimums for clinical hours, giving you a benchmark when comparing programs.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS.gov) supplies employment figures and wage estimates for registered nurses in Arkansas. This data helps you gauge long‑term return on investment, but it does not reflect the quality or depth of a program’s clinical training. Use BLS numbers to confirm regional demand, then circle back to your direct inquiry list. A school that places students in renowned systems like Arkansas Children’s Hospital or CHI St. Vincent may offer stronger hands‑on learning and better networking. Ultimately, clinical partnerships shape your competency and your first job prospects, so verify them through the channels that give you the most current, cohort‑specific information: a conversation with the people who coordinate those placements every semester.
Employment of registered nurses in Arkansas is projected to grow 9.2% from 2022 to 2032, adding hundreds of new positions statewide, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Becoming a registered nurse in Arkansas follows a clear, step-by-step process. From program completion to multistate practice, here is what to expect.
Choosing a nursing program in Arkansas raises many questions. Below we answer the most common inquiries about schools, costs, licensure, and career outcomes to help you make an informed decision.
Beyond the top-ranked programs, Arkansas is home to many other quality nursing schools offering a range of degree pathways. The following directory lists additional programs across the state, from associate degrees in rural community colleges to bachelor's programs at regional universities.
