Best Colleges for Nursing in Arkansas
The best colleges for a Nursing degree in Arkansas, led by University of Arkansas, University of Central Arkansas and Ouachita Baptist University. Each school is shown with its acceptance rate, tuition, and average SAT so you can weigh Nursing programs side by side.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best college for Nursing in Arkansas?
Based on our rankings, University of Arkansas is the top-ranked college for Nursing in Arkansas. Other top choices include University of Central Arkansas, Ouachita Baptist University, University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
What are the best Nursing schools?
The best Nursing schools, based on program-specific federal data including median earnings and graduate counts, are University of Arkansas, University of Central Arkansas, Ouachita Baptist University. Our rankings use College Scorecard field-of-study data rather than editorial opinion.
How much does it cost to study Nursing?
The average out-of-state tuition among top Nursing programs is approximately $22,192 per year. However, costs vary significantly — many schools offer generous financial aid packages that can reduce the effective cost.
How long does it take to get a Nursing degree?
A bachelor's degree in Nursing typically takes four years of full-time study. Some programs offer accelerated tracks or combined bachelor's-to-master's options that can extend or shorten the timeline.
How are these Nursing rankings determined?
Our major rankings are independently calculated from U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study (CIP) data — primarily median earnings 4 years after graduation and program scale (graduate count), with a 10+ annual graduates minimum per program. They are not derived from US News or any other publication.
Career outcomes for Nursing graduates
Among the top 10 ranked Nursing programs, the average early-career salary is approximately $48,008 per year. Below are the highest-paying Nursing programs based on federal College Scorecard earnings data reported by graduates four years after completion.
- University of Arkansas — Fayetteville, AR · $58,191/yr (rank #1)
- John Brown University — Siloam Springs, AR · $53,907/yr (rank #2)
- Harding University — Searcy, AR · $52,876/yr (rank #3)
- Ouachita Baptist University — Arkadelphia, AR · $51,673/yr (rank #4)
- University of Central Arkansas — Conway, AR · $45,938/yr (rank #5)
- 1. University of Arkansas — Fayetteville, AR · 74.3% acceptance · SAT 1,169 · $29,966 tuition · 71% grad rate
- 2. University of Central Arkansas — Conway, AR · 89.5% acceptance · SAT 1,118 · $18,023 tuition · 54% grad rate
- 3. Ouachita Baptist University — Arkadelphia, AR · 67.5% acceptance · SAT 1,211 · $34,500 tuition · 61% grad rate
- 4. University of Arkansas at Little Rock — Little Rock, AR · 58.8% acceptance · SAT 1,049 · $22,158 tuition · 42% grad rate
- 5. University of the Ozarks — Clarksville, AR · 59.5% acceptance · SAT 1,105 · $25,950 tuition · 51% grad rate
- 6. John Brown University — Siloam Springs, AR · 76.1% acceptance · SAT 1,195 · $31,756 tuition · 72% grad rate
- 7. Harding University — Searcy, AR · 70.5% acceptance · SAT 1,182 · $26,262 tuition · 69% grad rate
- 8. Arkansas State University — Jonesboro, AR · 82.3% acceptance · SAT 1,090 · $14,522 tuition · 55% grad rate
- 9. Arkansas Tech University — Russellville, AR · 95.9% acceptance · SAT 1,049 · $14,668 tuition · 49% grad rate
- 10. Henderson State University — Arkadelphia, AR · $10,620 tuition · 37% grad rate
- 11. Southern Arkansas University Main Campus — Magnolia, AR · 75.3% acceptance · SAT 1,047 · $15,690 tuition · 49% grad rate
Best Colleges for Nursing in Arkansas on PickACampus
