Best colleges for Practical Nursing in Arkansas
Ranked by graduate earnings
Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas, Baptist Health College Little Rock and Arkansas Tech University are the top Practical Nursing programs in Arkansas by graduate earnings. Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $62,501, College Scorecard. Arkansas State University - Newport, Baptist Health College Little Rock and Arkansas Tech University award the most Practical Nursing degrees and certificates in Arkansas: 230, 190 and 182 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 27 Arkansas colleges offer Practical Nursing and award 2,159 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Practical Nursing program, also known as Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, prepares students for a career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). This program is designed for individuals who want to provide direct nursing care to…
Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas De Queen Public · Associate degree | $62,501 | 24 | 54% | — | — |
| 2 | Baptist Health College Little Rock Little Rock Private not-for-profit · Certificate | $48,332 | 190 | — | $34,755 | $22,750 |
| 3 | Arkansas Tech University Russellville Public · Associate degree | $47,902 | 182 | 49% | — | $23,983 |
| 4 | Northwest Technical Institute Springdale Public · Certificate | $47,715 | 23 | 74% | — | — |
| 5 | Arkansas State University - Beebe Beebe Public · Certificate | $44,546 | 125 | 42% | — | $15,968 |
| 6 | National Park College Hot Springs Public · Certificate | $42,364 | 25 | 35% | — | $13,898 |
| 7 | Arkansas State University - Newport Newport Public · Certificate | $39,979 | 230 | 46% | — | $11,300 |
| 8 | North Arkansas College Harrison Public · Certificate | $38,783 | 64 | 42% | — | $10,322 |
| 9 | Arkansas State University - Mountain Home Mountain Home Public · Certificate | $37,769 | 35 | 44% | — | $16,500 |
| 10 | University of Arkansas Community College Rich Mountain Mena Public · Certificate | $36,179 | 78 | 55% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Practical Nursing degrees in Arkansas
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arkansas State University - Newport Newport Public | 230 | $39,979 |
| 2 | Baptist Health College Little Rock Little Rock Private not-for-profit | 190 | $48,332 |
| 3 | Arkansas Tech University Russellville Public | 182 | $47,902 |
| 4 | Ozarka College Melbourne Public | 150 | $36,085 |
| 5 | Black River Technical College Pocahontas Public | 133 | $30,491 |
| 6 | Arkansas State University - Beebe Beebe Public | 125 | $44,546 |
| 7 | University of Arkansas at Monticello Monticello Public | 116 | Not reported |
| 8 | University of Arkansas Community College - Morrilton Morrilton Public | 92 | Not reported |
| 9 | University of Arkansas Community College Rich Mountain Mena Public | 78 | $36,179 |
| 10 | University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana Hope Public | 77 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 17 Arkansas colleges offering Practical Nursing
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas State University Three Rivers | Malvern | Public | 194 |
| Southeast Arkansas College | Pine Bluff | Public | 67 |
| North Arkansas College | Harrison | Public | 64 |
| NorthWest Arkansas Community College | Bentonville | Public | 62 |
| South Arkansas College | El Dorado | Public | 57 |
| University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College | North Little Rock | Public | 49 |
| University of Arkansas Community College - Batesville | Batesville | Public | 43 |
| Southern Arkansas University Tech | Camden | Public | 37 |
| Arkansas State University - Mountain Home | Mountain Home | Public | 35 |
| Arkansas Northeastern College | Blytheville | Public | 28 |
| Arkansas State University Mid-South | West Memphis | Public | 26 |
| National Park College | Hot Springs | Public | 25 |
| Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas | De Queen | Public | 24 |
| University of Arkansas-East Arkansas Community College | Forrest City | Public | 23 |
| Northwest Technical Institute | Springdale | Public | 23 |
| University of Arkansas-Fort Smith | Fort Smith | Public | 17 |
| Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas | Helena | Public | 12 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Nursing Assistants (SOC 31-1131).
Top skills
What Nursing Assistants earn in Arkansas
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Practical Nursing programs in Arkansas.
Which Arkansas colleges award the most Practical Nursing degrees?+
Arkansas State University - Newport (230 graduates a year), Baptist Health College Little Rock (190 graduates a year) and Arkansas Tech University (182 graduates a year) award the most Practical Nursing degrees and certificates in Arkansas, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 27 Arkansas colleges offer Practical Nursing.
What is the best college for Practical Nursing in Arkansas?+
By graduate earnings, Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas leads among Practical Nursing programs in Arkansas, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $62,501, College Scorecard. Baptist Health College Little Rock and Arkansas Tech University follow. By degrees awarded, Arkansas State University - Newport is the largest, with 230 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Practical Nursing program in Arkansas has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas tops the list at $62,501. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Nursing Assistants earn in Arkansas?+
The average annual wage for Nursing Assistants in Arkansas is $33,970 (median $34,430), across about 17,260 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Practical Nursing program?+
The Practical Nursing program, also known as Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, prepares students for a career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). This program is designed for individuals who want to provide direct nursing care to…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop active listening, monitoring, reading comprehension, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Nursing Assistants?+
The national job outlook is about +2.3% growth with around 204,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Postsecondary nondegree award is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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