Best colleges for Registered Nursing in Arkansas
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Arkansas State University and Henderson State University are the top bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Arkansas by graduate earnings. University of Arkansas at Little Rock leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $78,898, College Scorecard. Arkansas State University, University of Arkansas and University of Arkansas at Little Rock award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Arkansas: 761, 368 and 280 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 36 Arkansas colleges offer Registered Nursing and award 3,229 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, 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 | University of Arkansas at Little Rock Little Rock Public · Bachelor's degree | $78,898 | 280 | 42% | — | $28,978 |
| 2 | Arkansas State University Jonesboro Public · Bachelor's degree | $73,423 | 761 | 55% | — | $26,355 |
| 3 | Henderson State University Arkadelphia Public · Bachelor's degree | $72,326 | 74 | 37% | — | $21,500 |
| 4 | University of Arkansas Fayetteville Public · Bachelor's degree | $72,043 | 368 | 71% | — | $24,327 |
| 5 | University of Central Arkansas Conway Public · Bachelor's degree | $70,636 | 156 | 54% | — | $25,000 |
| 6 | Harding University Searcy Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $69,743 | 105 | 69% | $19,423 | $30,000 |
| 7 | University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Fort Smith Public · Bachelor's degree | $69,618 | 76 | 38% | — | $24,250 |
| 8 | Arkansas Tech University Russellville Public · Bachelor's degree | $68,794 | 110 | 49% | — | $23,424 |
| 9 | John Brown University Siloam Springs Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $67,343 | 21 | 72% | $20,325 | $29,291 |
| 10 | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Little Rock Public · Bachelor's degree | $67,337 | 172 | — | — | $25,000 |
Top 10 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arkansas State University - Newport Newport Public · Associate degree | $74,682 | 85 | 46% | — | $18,375 |
| 2 | Arkansas Northeastern College Blytheville Public · Associate degree | $70,131 | 30 | 49% | — | $9,447 |
| 3 | Baptist Health College Little Rock Little Rock Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $68,834 | 169 | — | $34,755 | $23,358 |
| 4 | National Park College Hot Springs Public · Associate degree | $67,783 | 48 | 35% | — | $16,250 |
| 5 | University of Arkansas Community College - Morrilton Morrilton Public · Associate degree | $67,748 | 29 | 42% | — | $18,565 |
| 6 | NorthWest Arkansas Community College Bentonville Public · Associate degree | $67,192 | 113 | 31% | — | $16,602 |
| 7 | Jefferson Regional School of Nursing Pine Bluff Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $67,010 | 38 | — | — | $20,000 |
| 8 | Black River Technical College Pocahontas Public · Associate degree | $65,660 | 62 | 55% | — | $18,885 |
| 9 | University of Arkansas Community College - Batesville Batesville Public · Associate degree | $64,187 | 66 | 66% | — | $12,654 |
| 10 | Arkansas State University - Mountain Home Mountain Home Public · Associate degree | $62,518 | 36 | 44% | — | $24,042 |
Colleges awarding the most Registered Nursing degrees in Arkansas
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, 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 Jonesboro Public | 761 | $73,423 |
| 2 | University of Arkansas Fayetteville Public | 368 | $72,043 |
| 3 | University of Arkansas at Little Rock Little Rock Public | 280 | $78,898 |
| 4 | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Little Rock Public | 172 | $67,337 |
| 5 | University of Central Arkansas Conway Public | 156 | $70,636 |
| 6 | Arkansas Tech University Russellville Public | 110 | $68,794 |
| 7 | Harding University Searcy Private not-for-profit | 105 | $69,743 |
| 8 | University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Fort Smith Public | 76 | $69,618 |
| 9 | Henderson State University Arkadelphia Public | 74 | $72,326 |
| 10 | University of Arkansas at Monticello Monticello Public | 39 | $63,323 |
ShowHide the other 26 Arkansas colleges offering Registered Nursing
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Top skills
What Registered Nurses earn in Arkansas
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Registered Nursing programs in Arkansas.
Which Arkansas colleges award the most Registered Nursing degrees?+
Arkansas State University (761 graduates a year), University of Arkansas (368 graduates a year) and University of Arkansas at Little Rock (280 graduates a year) award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Arkansas, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 36 Arkansas colleges offer Registered Nursing.
What is the best college for Registered Nursing in Arkansas?+
By graduate earnings, University of Arkansas at Little Rock leads among bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Arkansas, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $78,898, College Scorecard. Arkansas State University and Henderson State University follow. By degrees awarded, Arkansas State University is the largest, with 761 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Registered Nursing program in Arkansas has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Arkansas at Little Rock tops the list at $78,898. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Registered Nurses earn in Arkansas?+
The average annual wage for Registered Nurses in Arkansas is $81,520 (median $78,940), across about 29,400 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Registered Nursing program?+
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Registered Nurses?+
The national job outlook is about +4.9% growth with around 189,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree 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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