Question 1

How many accredited nursing programs are in Arkansas?

Accepted Answer

Arkansas has dozens of accredited nursing programs across community colleges and four-year universities, listed in full on this page. Every school on this page is verified in the federal IPEDS database and carries either CCNE or ACEN accreditation. The map above plots each program's location and the sortable table below shows in-state tuition, program length, and completion rate for direct comparison.

Question 2

Which Arkansas nursing program has the highest NCLEX-RN pass rate?

Accepted Answer

The Arkansas State Board of Nursing publishes annual first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates for every approved program in the state. Rates fluctuate year to year. Our NCLEX pass rates guide compiles the most recent state-level and top-program data for Arkansas and every other state, updated after each board release. Check the current annual report from Arkansas State Board of Nursing before your final enrollment decision.

Question 3

What is the average cost of nursing school in Arkansas?

Accepted Answer

Public community college ADN programs in Arkansas typically cost between $3,000 and $8,000 per year for state residents. Public university BSN programs run $8,000 to $15,000 per year in-state and $22,000 to $35,000 per year out-of-state. Private university BSN programs charge $28,000 to $45,000 per year regardless of residency. Institutional aid, state grants, and federal Pell grants substantially reduce out-of-pocket cost for most students.

Question 4

Do Arkansas hospitals hire ADN-prepared nurses or require a BSN?

Accepted Answer

Most Arkansas hospitals hire ADN registered nurses for medical-surgical, long-term care, and outpatient settings. Larger urban systems and magnet-status facilities increasingly prefer or require a BSN for hospital positions, especially in specialty units like ICU, ER, and OR. If you start at ADN level, plan for an online RN-to-BSN completion within three years of your first job. Most hospitals offer tuition reimbursement for this bridge.

Question 5

How does Arkansas RN licensure work?

Accepted Answer

After graduating from a Arkansas State Board of Nursing approved program, apply for RN licensure through Arkansas State Board of Nursing, complete a criminal background check, and register for the NCLEX-RN through Pearson VUE. Once approved to test, you have 90 days to schedule your exam. See the how-to-become-a-nurse guide for the complete step-by-step process, including timing, fees, and endorsement rules for nurses moving to Arkansas from other states.

Question 6

Is Arkansas part of the Nurse Licensure Compact?

Accepted Answer

Compact membership varies by state and changes as legislatures act. Once you hold a compact-state RN license, you can practice in any of the 41 other compact states without additional licensure. Check the current status of Arkansas in the Nurse Licensure Compact through Arkansas State Board of Nursing before assuming multi-state privileges. Non-compact states require endorsement application and fees for each additional state you plan to practice in.

Question 7

What is the RN salary in Arkansas?

Accepted Answer

Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows RN median wages in Arkansas vary significantly by metro area, hospital type, and specialty. Statewide medians typically fall between $65,000 and $90,000 per year. Urban acute care and specialty units pay above the state median. Rural and long-term care settings pay below. Travel nursing contracts in Arkansas commonly pay $2,000 to $2,800 per week. Full salary breakdown by specialty and years of experience is on the nurse salary guide.

Question 8

Are there online nursing programs available to Arkansas residents?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Arkansas residents can enroll in any CCNE-accredited online BSN, RN-to-BSN, or MSN program that accepts out-of-state students. Six commonly-available accredited online programs are compared on the online nursing programs page, including options that place students at local Arkansas hospitals for clinical rotations. Online programs are particularly popular for working nurses in Arkansas who need scheduling flexibility around 12-hour shift work.

Question 9

What prerequisite classes do I need before applying to a Arkansas nursing program?

Accepted Answer

Nursing programs in Arkansas typically require the same core prerequisites: Anatomy and Physiology I and II with lab, Microbiology with lab, General Chemistry, Nutrition, English Composition, College Algebra or Statistics, Introduction to Psychology, Developmental Psychology, and Sociology. Community colleges in Arkansas offer these prerequisites at low cost and credits transfer directly to state university BSN programs. Plan for two full semesters to complete prerequisites before applying to your first-choice program.

Question 10

How long does nursing school take in Arkansas?

Accepted Answer

Timing depends on the program type. Practical nurse (LPN) diploma programs run 12 to 18 months. Associate degree (ADN) programs at community colleges run two years. Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs at four-year universities take four years. Accelerated BSN options for students who already hold a bachelor's degree in another field can finish in 12 to 16 months. RN-to-BSN and RN-to-MSN bridge programs for working nurses typically take 12 to 24 months of part-time study.


Arkansas Northeastern College	Blytheville, AR	$2,570	Public	49%
Arkansas State University	Jonesboro, AR	$8,090	Public	55%
Arkansas State University Three Rivers	Malvern, AR	$3,788	Public	26%
Arkansas State University-Beebe	Beebe, AR	$3,336	Public	42%
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home	Mountain Home, AR	$3,312	Public	44%
Arkansas State University-Newport	Newport, AR	$3,312	Public	46%
Arkansas Tech University	Russellville, AR	$8,674	Public	49%
Baptist Health College Little Rock	Little Rock, AR	$13,987	Private non-profit	Not reported
Black River Technical College	Pocahontas, AR	$4,776	Public	55%
Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas	De Queen, AR	$4,200	Public	54%
Harding University	Searcy, AR	$26,262	Private non-profit	69%
Henderson State University	Arkadelphia, AR	$8,244	Public	37%
Jefferson Regional School of Nursing	Pine Bluff, AR	Not reported	Private non-profit	Not reported
John Brown University	Siloam Springs, AR	$31,756	Private non-profit	72%
National Park College	Hot Springs, AR	$5,600	Public	35%
North Arkansas College	Harrison, AR	$3,504	Public	42%
NorthWest Arkansas Community College	Bentonville, AR	$3,342	Public	31%
Ouachita Baptist University	Arkadelphia, AR	$34,500	Private non-profit	61%
Ozarka College	Melbourne, AR	$3,820	Public	47%
Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas	Helena, AR	$3,380	Public	55%
South Arkansas College	El Dorado, AR	$3,324	Public	30%
Southeast Arkansas College	Pine Bluff, AR	$5,200	Public	28%
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus	Magnolia, AR	$9,960	Public	49%
Southern Arkansas University Tech	Camden, AR	$5,040	Public	62%
University of Arkansas	Fayetteville, AR	$10,104	Public	71%
University of Arkansas at Little Rock	Little Rock, AR	$9,748	Public	42%
University of Arkansas at Monticello	Monticello, AR	$9,292	Public	49%
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff	Pine Bluff, AR	$9,412	Public	40%
University of Arkansas Community College Rich Mountain	Mena, AR	$3,696	Public	55%
University of Arkansas Community College-Batesville	Batesville, AR	$3,630	Public	66%
University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton	Morrilton, AR	$3,648	Public	42%
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences	Little Rock, AR	Not reported	Public	Not reported
University of Arkansas Grantham	LIttle Rock, AR	$8,520	Public	43%
University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana	Hope, AR	$3,880	Public	57%
University of Arkansas-East Arkansas Community College	Forrest City, AR	$3,300	Public	51%
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith	Fort Smith, AR	$7,334	Public	38%
University of Central Arkansas	Conway, AR	$10,523	Public	54%

Nursing Programs in Arkansas

All accredited programs in Arkansas

Top-completion nursing programs in Arkansas

John Brown University

University of Arkansas

Harding University

University of Arkansas Community College-Batesville

Southern Arkansas University Tech

Becoming an RN in Arkansas

Paying for nursing school in Arkansas

Prefer to start online this month? Arkansas residents qualify for these programs.

Questions about nursing school in Arkansas

Compare programs in nearby states

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