2024 Best Nursing Master's Degree Schools in Arkansas
Nursing is of the hottest master's degree programs in the United States, coming in as the #2 most popular major in the country. This means there are lots of options to choose from when you decide to get your degree.
College Factual reviewed 7 schools in Arkansas to determine which ones were the best for master's degree seekers in the field of nursing. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 229 master's degrees in nursing during the 2020-2021 academic year.
Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology
Choosing a Great Nursing School for Your Master's Degree
The nursing master's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. Important measures of a quality nursing program can vary widely even among the top schools. To make it into this list, a school must excel in the following areas.
A Great Overall School
A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges for a Master's Degree ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
Early-Career Earnings
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of master's graduates during the early years of their career. That is, everyone wants their master's degree to be worth something, and salaries are one measure of determining that.
Other Factors We Consider
In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:
- Major Focus - How much a school focuses on nursing students vs. other majors.
- Major Demand - The number of nursing students who choose to seek a master's degree at the school.
- Educational Resources - The amount of money and other resources allocated to students while they are pursuing their degree. These resources include such things as number of students per instructor and education expenditures per student.
- Student Debt - How easy is it for nursing to pay back their student loans after receiving their master's degree.
- Accreditation - Whether a school is regionally accredited and/or accredited by a recognized nursing related body.
Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for nursing students working on their master's degree.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we've developed the Best Nursing Master's Degree Schools in Arkansas ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
Best Schools for Master’s Students to Study Nursing in Arkansas
The following list ranks the best colleges and universities for pursuing a master's degree in nursing.
Top Arkansas Schools for a Master's in Nursing
It's difficult to beat University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences if you want to pursue a master's degree in nursing. Located in the midsize city of Little Rock, UAMS is a public university with a small student population.
Soon after graduating, nursing master's recipients typically make around $92,222 in the first five years of their career.
More information about a master’s in nursing from University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Every student who is interested in a master's degree in nursing has to take a look at Arkansas State University - Main Campus. A-State is a large public university located in the small city of Jonesboro.
Those nursing students who get their master's degree from Arkansas State University - Main Campus receive $20,747 more than the standard nursing graduate.
More information about a master’s in nursing from Arkansas State University - Main Campus
It is hard to beat Harding University if you want to pursue a master's degree in nursing. Located in the town of Searcy, Harding is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population.
Master's students who receive their degree from the nursing program earn about $88,618 in their early career salary.
More information about a master’s in nursing from Harding University
It's hard to beat University of Central Arkansas if you wish to pursue a master's degree in nursing. UCA is a medium-sized public university located in the small city of Conway.
Master's graduates who receive their degree from the nursing program make an average of $92,284 in their early career salary.
More information about a master’s in nursing from University of Central Arkansas
Located in the distant town of Arkadelphia, Henderson State University is a public university with a small student population.More information about a master’s in nursing from Henderson State University