Nursing Schools in Arkansas (2026)

44 accredited nursing programs found

Nursing Schools

35 / 9

Public / Private

$5,350

Avg Public Tuition

47.7%

Avg Grad Rate

Arkansas has 44 nursing-relevant schools in this directory, with a heavily public-tilted split of 35 public and 9 private institutions. Average in-state tuition is $8,926, with public schools averaging $5,350 and private schools averaging $26,296 — among the lowest state-average tuitions in the country. The 25th-to-75th-percentile tuition band runs from $3,504 to $9,019. The cheapest tracked program is Arkansas Northeastern College at $2,570 per year, and the largest by undergraduate enrollment is the University of Arkansas at approximately 27,312.

Across Arkansas programs the average graduation rate is 47.7 percent and the average retention rate is 67.2 percent. Median post-graduation earnings average $37,374 and median federal debt at graduation averages $15,099. The state's healthcare employer base is dominated by Baptist Health, CHI St. Vincent, Mercy, and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), with most major employment around Little Rock, Northwest Arkansas, and Jonesboro.

Registered Nurse Market in Arkansas

BLS wage and employment data for registered nurses

+5% projected growth

10th Percentile

$50,990

Median

$67,300

90th Percentile

$88,050

Employment

27,620

Openings

193,100

Registered Nurse Salary in Arkansas

Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024

Median Salary

$67,300

Mean Salary

$68,630

Entry Level (10th %)

$50,990

Experienced (90th %)

$88,050

RNs Employed: 27,620

vs National Median: -28% (below $93,600)

Job Growth (2023-2033): +5%

Average Tuition

$8,926

Matches the Arkansas average of $8,926.

Graduation Rate

47.7%

0.0%

Matches the Arkansas average of 47.7%.

Median Earnings

$37,374

Matches the Arkansas median of $37,374.

Tuition Overview

Avg Public Tuition	$5,350
Lowest Tuition	$2,570
Highest Tuition	$36,650
Avg Private Tuition	$26,296

Student Outcomes

Avg Graduation Rate	47.7%
Avg Earnings After Grad	$42,130
Avg Student Debt	$15,099
Total Enrollment	106,124

Most Affordable Nursing Schools in Arkansas

#1 Lowest

Arkansas Northeastern College

$2,570

#2 Lowest

Arkansas State University-Newport

$2,856

#3 Lowest

NorthWest Arkansas Community College

$2,982

#4 Lowest

Arkansas State University Mid-South

$3,048

#5 Lowest

North Arkansas College

$3,168

Highest Graduation Rates in Arkansas

#1 Grad Rate

River Valley School of Massage

100.0%

#2 Grad Rate

Northwest Technical Institute

Ouachita Baptist University

70.3%

#5 Grad Rate

University of Arkansas

70.0%

All Nursing Schools in Arkansas

Institution	City	Type	Tuition (In-State)	Grad Rate	Earnings After	Enrollment
University of Arkansas	Fayetteville	Public	$9,748	70.0%	$58,191	27,312
Arkansas State University	Jonesboro	Public	$7,754	55.1%	$42,617	7,994
University of Central Arkansas	Conway	Public	$10,118	53.3%	$45,938	7,426
Arkansas Tech University	Russellville	Public	$8,508	48.7%	$41,766	5,993
University of Arkansas at Little Rock	Little Rock	Public	$8,455	41.4%	$45,265	4,740
NorthWest Arkansas Community College	Bentonville	Public	$2,982	27.3%	$43,505	4,632
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith	Fort Smith	Public	$6,906	37.0%	$41,102	4,133
University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College	North Little Rock	Public	$4,848	32.6%	$34,722	3,791
Harding University	Searcy	Private	$24,888	70.9%	$52,876	3,323
University of Arkansas Grantham	LIttle Rock	Public	$8,280	24.3%	$63,496	3,202
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus	Magnolia	Public	$9,820	46.5%	$42,386	2,865
Arkansas State University-Beebe	Beebe	Public	$3,216	38.2%	$36,603	1,902
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff	Pine Bluff	Public	$9,019	39.7%	$35,550	1,899
University of Arkansas at Monticello	Monticello	Public	$8,868	43.3%	$36,902	1,868
National Park College	Hot Springs	Public	$5,600	36.0%	$32,444	1,706
Ouachita Baptist University	Arkadelphia	Private	$32,480	70.3%	$51,673	1,612
University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton	Morrilton	Public	$3,504	46.9%	$34,924	1,538
Henderson State University	Arkadelphia	Public	$7,885	38.0%	$43,459	1,491
John Brown University	Siloam Springs	Private	$30,832	66.8%	$53,907	1,415
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences	Little Rock	Public	N/A	N/A	$73,827	1,361
Arkansas State University-Newport	Newport	Public	$2,856	42.4%	$41,524	1,262
North Arkansas College	Harrison	Public	$3,168	29.1%	$34,653	1,184
Hendrix College	Conway	Private	$36,650	69.2%	$60,376	1,094
Black River Technical College	Pocahontas	Public	$4,584	33.6%	$34,818	938
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home	Mountain Home	Public	$3,168	50.0%	$34,238	920
South Arkansas College	El Dorado	Public	$3,204	24.8%	$34,521	879
Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas	De Queen	Public	$3,906	48.0%	$33,775	835
University of Arkansas Community College-Batesville	Batesville	Public	$3,558	56.1%	$33,706	788
Arkansas Northeastern College	Blytheville	Public	$2,570	20.7%	$33,169	787
University of the Ozarks	Clarksville	Private	$25,950	51.8%	$44,384	753
Southeast Arkansas College	Pine Bluff	Public	$4,960	18.2%	$33,603	748
University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana	Hope	Public	$3,400	49.3%	$34,162	697
Southern Arkansas University Tech	Camden	Public	$4,685	61.2%	$36,376	663
Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas	Helena	Public	$3,230	51.6%	$29,552	595
Ozarka College	Melbourne	Public	$3,820	43.6%	$29,314	564
Arkansas State University Three Rivers	Malvern	Public	$3,568	34.6%	$37,374	514
Baptist Health College Little Rock	Little Rock	Private	$13,593	66.7%	$62,244	512
East Arkansas Community College	Forrest City	Public	$3,960	47.1%	$28,471	492
Central Baptist College	Conway	Private	$19,680	35.3%	$46,789	477
University of Arkansas Community College Rich Mountain	Mena	Public	$3,528	60.3%	$30,037	475
Arkansas State University Mid-South	West Memphis	Public	$3,048	50.0%	$31,857	435
Northwest Technical Institute	Springdale	Public	$5,184	73.3%	$41,513	217
Jefferson Regional School of Nursing	Pine Bluff	Private	N/A	N/A	$73,975	80
River Valley School of Massage	Russellville	For-Profit	N/A	100.0%	N/A	12

Nursing Schools by City in Arkansas

Conway 3 Little Rock 3 Pine Bluff 3 Arkadelphia 2 Russellville 2

Nursing Guides & Resources

How to Become an RN RN Salary by State Most Affordable Programs Financial Aid & Scholarships BSN vs ADN Comparison Types of Nursing Degrees NCLEX Pass Rates Guide Compare Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

How many nursing schools are in Arkansas?

There are 44 nursing schools in Arkansas, including 35 public and 9 private institutions.

What is the average nursing school tuition in Arkansas?

Average in-state tuition across nursing schools in Arkansas is $8,926. Tuition ranges from $2,570 to $36,650 where data is available.

What is the average graduation rate for nursing schools in Arkansas?

The average graduation rate is 47.7%, with River Valley School of Massage reporting the highest rate at 100.0%.

What is the average retention rate in Arkansas?

The average retention rate across nursing schools in Arkansas is 67.2%.

What do graduates from nursing schools in Arkansas earn?

The median schoolwide earnings figure among these institutions is $37,374 10 years after entry. This is institution-level outcomes data rather than nursing-only wage data.

What is the average student debt at nursing schools in Arkansas?

Average median debt among nursing schools in Arkansas is $15,099.

How much do registered nurses earn in Arkansas?

Registered nurses earn a median annual salary of $67,300, with the 10th percentile at $50,990 and the 90th percentile at $88,050.

What is the RN job outlook for Arkansas?

The RN occupation shows projected growth of 5% in this state, with 27,620 registered nurses employed in the latest BLS wage data.

Arkansas Nursing Market Context

BLS data for Arkansas shows an RN median annual wage of $67,300 and a mean of $68,630. The 10th to 90th percentile range runs from $50,990 to $88,050. Statewide RN employment is approximately 27,620 and the projected growth rate is 5 percent.

Median program debt of $15,099 against a $67,300 RN median wage produces a workable payback profile, helped by one of the lowest tuition averages in the country. The 90th-percentile figure of $88,050 sits below the national RN median, indicating a fairly compressed RN-tier wage ceiling. Cost of living is meaningfully below the national average, particularly outside the Little Rock and Northwest Arkansas metros, which substantially offsets the modest wage figure for graduates intending to remain in-state. Career mobility for experienced nurses commonly involves advanced-practice routes or moving to higher-wage Texas, Tennessee, or Missouri markets.

Nursing Programs in Other States

California 286 New York 193 Florida 184 Pennsylvania 159 Texas 159 Ohio 145 Illinois 119 North Carolina 101 Missouri 79 Georgia 78