Best Nursing Colleges in Arkansas2026 Rankings
Arkansas is home to 15 accredited institutions offering Nursing programs — from large public research universities to small private liberal arts colleges. This ranking evaluates each school on admission selectivity, four-year graduation rate, net price, and graduate earnings to surface the programs that deliver the strongest outcomes.
Among the schools listed here, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is the most selective, admitting 58% of applicants. Average in-state tuition across this group sits at $13,112, while out-of-state students can expect to pay around $18,632. Median early-career earnings for Nursing graduates in this state average $40,123 per year, and the average four-year graduation rate among ranked programs is 50%.
Not sure if your profile matches these schools?
Looking at schools in Arkansas is a great start — but knowing whether your GPA, test scores, and activities match what these programs actually admit takes a deeper look.
Drop your application data into our Free Application Review. Our AI will analyze your admission chances and stats in 2 minutes. Get practical next steps for improvements where it matters most.
Get My Free Application Review →2026 Rankings: Nursing Programs in Arkansas
| # | College | Value Score | Admit Rate | Grad Rate | Net Price | Median Earnings | Student:Faculty | Majors Offered | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ouachita Baptist UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 69% | 70% | $20,813 | $32,385 | 12:1 | 52 | 1,612 |
| 2 | University of Arkansas at Pine BluffPublic | Strong· 36 | 58% | 40% | $14,740 | $67,231 | 13:1 | 33 | 1,899 |
| 3 | University of Arkansas at Little RockPublic | Strong· 35 | 58% | 41% | $18,216 | $78,898 | 11:1 | 57 | 4,740 |
| 4 | Arkansas State UniversityPublic | Strong· 34 | 70% | 55% | $14,092 | $73,423 | 15:1 | 59 | 7,994 |
| 5 | Southern Arkansas University Main CampusPublic | Good· 33 | 67% | 47% | $15,686 | $67,213 | 16:1 | 33 | 2,865 |
| 6 | John Brown UniversityPrivate | Good· 33 | 68% | 67% | $19,073 | $67,343 | 16:1 | 42 | 1,415 |
| 7 | University of ArkansasPublic | Good· 32 | 72% | 70% | $17,379 | $72,043 | 20:1 | 75 | 27,312 |
| 8 | Harding UniversityPrivate | Good· 32 | 100% | 71% | $18,528 | $69,743 | 16:1 | 70 | 3,323 |
| 9 | University of Arkansas-Fort SmithPublic | Good· 32 | 81% | 37% | $11,856 | $69,618 | 20:1 | 33 | 4,133 |
| 10 | Henderson State UniversityPublic | Good· 31 | 82% | 38% | $19,426 | $72,326 | 17:1 | 38 | 1,491 |
| 11 | Arkansas Tech UniversityPublic | Good· 30 | 96% | 49% | $12,549 | $68,794 | 18:1 | 50 | 5,993 |
| 12 | University of Central ArkansasPublic | Average· 29 | 90% | 53% | $17,233 | $70,636 | 14:1 | 58 | 7,426 |
| 13 | University of Arkansas at MonticelloPublic | Average· 26 | — | 43% | $14,976 | $63,323 | 12:1 | 30 | 1,868 |
| 14 | University of Arkansas GranthamPublic | Weak· 21 | — | 24% | $10,971 | $56,353 | 20:1 | 17 | 3,202 |
| 15 | University of Arkansas for Medical SciencesPublic | Very Poor· 10 | — | — | — | $67,337 | 15:1 | 6 | 1,361 |