2024 - Best Nursing Schools in Arkansas

2024 Best RN Programs in Arkansas

ADN Programs in Arkansas

Arkansas’ college nursing program is a great place for high school graduates to begin their careers in the nursing profession. Successful graduates will be able to take the NCLEX exam, which allows them to license to practice as a registered nurse throughout their home state and in other states through the process of endorsement. Arkansas has more than 15 colleges, universities and college networks like ARNEC established to create quality RNs through Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) programming.

What to Look For in an ADN Program in Arkansas

Nursing programs use a variety of evidence-based methods and standards of professional practice to ensure that students are educated in accordance with best practices in nursing and graduate with the skills that they require to be the first point of contact as a nursing professional. Potential students may consider a number of factors to ensure that they receive a high-quality education, including:

Accreditation

Each institution is responsible for maintaining program requirements and standards of practice that ensure that nursing education remains at the high level that U.S. citizens have come to expect inpatient care. The Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing (ACEN) ensures that programs meet state, national, and world standards in nursing education.

Licensing

The Arkansas State Board of Nursing was established in 1913 at the state level to ensure that the state had an evidence-based and continuing interest in citizen health and well-being. For over 100 years, the board has helped nurses, patients, and institutions in various ways. The board provides nursing guidelines and then enforces them at the regulatory level and the practical level.

Program Outcomes

ADN program outcomes are a good benchmark to measure one school against another or to measure how a college improves over time. There are several outcome benchmarks that are worthy of consideration when applicants are selecting schools to apply to. Among them:

• Graduation statistics
• Employment statistics
• NCLEX data
• Long-term salary information
• Student and graduate satisfaction survey data

East Arkansas Community College offers an Associate of Applied Science Nursing Program. Located in Forest City, the college improves its success criteria year over year and contributes to the strong network of nurses in the region.

ADN Program Admission Requirements in Arkansas

College programs are ethically committed to endorsing the right mix of entrance criteria to ensure they have a successful cohort of graduates that meet the regulatory and licensing requirements. Each institution is unique; however, they do share some admission requirements:

• All application documents and forms completed and submitted ahead of college deadline
• Be admitted to the college in question
• Successfully pass a state and national criminal background check
• Successfully pass a drug screening
• Have an overall GPA of 2.5 – 3.2, depending on yearly program requirements and demand
• Successfully passed math and language prerequisite courses
• Successfully complete the Nursing School Aptitude Examination with a minimum combined score of 40
• Submit a Nursing Application to the Nursing Department
• Submit all official transcripts
• Complete any pre-work required for entrance to the program

Tuition and Costs of ADN Programs in Arkansas

Determining the appropriate tuition costs on a yearly basis is a complex equation. Deciding how much value each school provides for tuition is another matter entirely, and determining this equation is a matter of personal preferences and goals. Some schools break down tuition costs separately from other attendance costs and fees; others provide a per-credit-hour cost. North Arkansas College currently has per-credit-hour tuition and associated costs that range from $85 – $115 for in-county students who are taking pursuing a nursing diploma.

Advantages of ADN Programs

There are a number of advantages to pursuing an ADN program as the first step in your nursing career. Whether to attend an ADN program or pursue RN qualifications through a 4-year degree is a hotly contended issue across the country. When polled, ADN grads report that convenience is a major factor in why they choose to complete the first leg of their professional pathway at a community college. With local locations and courses offered during the daytime and evening, ADN programs allow students to work around the other commitments in their lives while receiving a high-quality education.

LPN to RN Programs in Arkansas

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) in Arkansas looking to continue their training to enter registered nursing can do so via an LPN to RN bridge program. These programs build on the knowledge and skills already acquired through the nurse’s LPN education and experience.

LPN to ADN/BSN Programs

LPNs in Arkansas can choose between earning their ADN degree through an LPN to ADN program, or they can opt to earn a baccalaureate degree in nursing through the LPN to BSN pathway. For example, those interested in the LPN to ADN may enroll in a program such as North Arkansas College’s 63-credit option, which is designed to be completed in 3 semesters and includes courses in Anatomy & Physiology and Pharmacology. Those looking for an LPN to BSN program can expect to study for closer to 2 years depending on how many courses they are able to transfer. Arkansas State University offers an LPN to AASN that boasts limited class sizes.

BSN Programs in Arkansas

Across the nation, there is a movement to ensure that all nurses continue their education to complete the Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program – either through online courses, continuing education, bridge programs, or as freshmen in a 4-year program option. While it mostly depends on the individual’s path and goals, often as a person matures, they seek extra responsibilities – these are easier to attain on the job with a more advanced degree like a BSN. Nurses who are interested in moving beyond bedside care, or even having the flexibility to do so if they want to, means that a BSN is worth the time and financial commitment.

What To Look For in a BSN Program in Arkansas

BSN programs are offered in more than 10 state universities throughout Arkansas. With programs ranging from 2.5 to 4 years, depending on prerequisites and course/clinical load, there are a number of factors that potential students should look for when choosing a BSN program. To find the school that is the best fit for you, it’s important to look beyond cost to factors such as what class sizing looks like between freshman and senior year, and also while you’re on clinical rotation. There is no substitute for smaller class sizing – smaller classes mean greater individual attention from professors and proctors, and results in higher rates of learning.

The University of Central Arkansas has offered exemplary nursing programming to meet the needs of patients, clinics, and doctors since 1967. With several specialty tracks and a number of flexible timelines, the program is accredited by the Commission on College Nursing Education and has maintained continuous approval by the Arkansas Board of Nursing. The program’s core mandate is to provide a dedicated, renowned nursing faculty, and strive for continual gains in mentor partnerships, student metrics, scholarly acclaim and service to the immediate and statewide communities that they serve as an institution and as licensed nurses.”

BSN Program Length in Arkansas

BSN programs are about 4 years long, however, depending on the flexibility of the institution and program in question, programs may be shortened or tailored to individual student needs. Often, students who are upgrading from ADN qualifications to a BSN degree can take advantage of the school's RN-to-BSN track if the school has one available. Bridge programs like the one described here generally take about half as much time as a traditional format program, or about 2 years.

BSN Program Admission Requirements in Arkansas

Admission requirements for admission do vary throughout the state’s more than 10 BSN programs depending on the demand for nurses; however, no program’s requirements are so unique that they cannot be generally discussed as below. Please consult your school of choice to see how specific program admissions may vary:

• Create an online account
• Request that official copies of all transcripts be sent to your school choices
• Request ACT and/or SAT test scores be sent to your school choices
• Pay all applicable admission fees
• Meet the university’s admission standards
• Meet the nursing program’s admission standards (minimum
• Minimum 2.75 cumulative high school GPA and minimum 21 ACT composite/1450 SAT combined scores

Tuition and Costs of BSN Programs in Arkansas

BSN tuition costs are subject to different pressures each year – understanding this concept helps attendees understand why tuition and associated costs can vary so greatly. BSN programs themselves are roughly 4 times the amount of a college ADN program. At Harding University, tuition and on-campus fees are approximately $9,200 per semester – costs for clinical items and equipment are not included in these totals.

Advantages of BSN Programs

There are several distinct advantages to pursuing a BSN, either as a freshman or returning student using an institution’s RN-to-BSN pathway. Throughout the United States, state boards of nursing are raising the bar to ensure that nursing degrees at the BSN level help nurses attain the right amount of skills and knowledge for care and due diligence in today’s bourgeoning health care field.

MSN Programs in Arkansas

As the health care field continues to expand in terms of medical advances as well as what we know about the human body and disease, it’s important that nurses continue to develop their skillsets to meet the needs of the profession today. To this end, there is a growing need for nurses to achieve their Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and several pathways have been created for nurses to pursue this track at various times in their career. The University of Arkansas is one such program that allows students pursuing a post-baccalaureate degree in nursing to specialize in one of several concentrations in order to be of best use to patient populations. Graduate students may pursue such tracks as Nurse Educator and Nurse Executive Leader, depending on their interest in practice versus policy.

MSN Program Length in Arkansas

The path to achieving your MSN degree can last about 3 years depending on your choice of school and prior nursing qualifications. Online and part-time MSN degree programs can provide some flexibility to working nurses with professional and personal commitments.

MSN Admission Requirements in Arkansas

Nurses who successfully pass the BSN coursework may be eligible to continue on to the graduate level, depending on their interests and experience. MSN requirements do vary between universities and entrance admissions are often quite competitive as classroom ratios are small. Most universities have the following or similar criteria for students who wish to apply:

• BSN diploma from an NLNAC- or CCNE-accredited program with a grade of ‘C’ or better in all courses
• Have successfully passed the NCLEX and licensed to practice as an RN in Arkansas
• Have completed some continuing professional development as part of their ongoing licensure requirements
• Record of all official transcripts submitted to the MSN Admissions office in question
• Professional endorsements addressed to the Admissions departments in question

Tuition and Costs of MSN Programs in Arkansas

Given the quality of instruction in each MSN program, tuition fees and costs for these professional degrees are notably higher than for undergraduate and college-level courses. Ranging in length from 2 – 4 years of study depending on course load, courses are approximately $800 per credit hour for in-state residents and do not include campus housing or additional student costs. Depending on the institution in question, there may or may not be graduate fees that are rolled into the per-credit-hour costs.

For NP programs visit:

• Arkansas DNP Programs
• Arkansas FNP Programs
• Arkansas Nurse Practitioner Programs
• Arkansas Post-Graduate Certificate Nursing Programs

Getting an Arkansas Nursing License

Arkansas regulations for nursing licensure are as follows for candidates by application and those from another state by endorsement:

Along with a completed application, and successful completion of a board approved nursing program the applicant must have ready:

• Criminal background documentation, including fingerprints
• Verification of graduation from a nurse from the nursing school attended
• Valid U.S. Social Security Number
• Passing score on the NCLEX-RN
• Valid physical/mailing and email addresses
• Official transcripts

Nurses from other states may apply for endorsement to practice in Arkansas. They should be prepared to submit the following information:

• License verification from NURSYS
• Fingerprint documentation
• Proof of citizenship or immigration status
• Valid U.S. Social Security Number
• Valid physical/mailing and email addresses

Accelerated Nursing Programs in Arkansas

Once you have made the decision to become a nurse you might consider looking at an accelerated program. Taking an accelerated BSN program at one of the state colleges can have you earning your degree at a faster rate. Most courses can be completed in 13 months, but are a full-time on campus commitment. These courses have varying prerequisites that need to be meet before being accepted into the accelerated program. The cost for these programs is dependent upon having to take any prerequisite courses, although the estimated program cost for just the accelerated BSN portion is over $10,000 though exact costs depend on a variety of factors.

• Arkansas Accelerated BSN Programs
• Arkansas Accelerated MSN Programs

Latest Arkansas NCLEX-RN Pass Rates and Statistics

• Total Number of State Approved Schools: 30
• Total Number of Test Takers in 2022: 1,892
• 2022 Average Statewide Arkansas NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 79.2%

Continued List of All RN Programs in Arkansas

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