2027 Best Nursing Schools in Arkansas
Nursing programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 36 schools to find the best for nursing students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Nursing in Arkansas
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall nursing education in Arkansas.
Top Schools in Nursing
University Of Arkansas is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in nursing. Set in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a very large public institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 368 nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of Arkansas in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of University Of Arkansas earn a median of $93,839 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,327 to complete this degree.
See the full nursing program report for University Of Arkansas
University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Little Rock. About 172 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences generally make around $87,136. University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
Read more about the nursing program at University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences
Arkansas State University Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Set in the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. Arkansas State University Main Campus awarded about 761 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Arkansas State University Main Campus earn a median of $87,237 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,053.
More information about a degree in nursing from Arkansas State University Main Campus
Ouachita Baptist University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Arkadelphia. Ouachita Baptist University graduates 64% of students within six years. Ouachita Baptist University awarded about 21 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Ouachita Baptist University earn around $35,820 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,520.
See the full nursing program report for Ouachita Baptist University
A rank of #5 makes Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas one of the top schools for nursing. Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas is a small public school located in the town of Helena. Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas awarded about 10 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas earn around $78,213 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete this degree.
Get the full nursing details for Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas
University Of Arkansas At Little Rock came in at #6 for nursing this year. University Of Arkansas At Little Rock is a large public school located in the city of Little Rock. About 37% of students finish within six years. About 280 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Arkansas At Little Rock in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $72,659 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $30,699.
More information about a degree in nursing from University Of Arkansas At Little Rock
Arkansas Tech University placed #7 among the best nursing schools. This large public university is located in the town of Russellville. Arkansas Tech University graduates 44% of students within six years. Arkansas Tech University awarded about 110 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Arkansas Tech University earn a median of $67,929 early in their careers. Arkansas Tech University graduates carry a median of $26,710 in student loans.
See the full nursing program report for Arkansas Tech University
Arkansas State University Newport placed #8 among the best nursing schools. Set in the rural area of Newport, Arkansas State University Newport is a mid-sized public institution. Arkansas State University Newport awarded about 85 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Arkansas State University Newport earn a median of $74,682 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,375 to complete this degree.
Get the full nursing details for Arkansas State University Newport
University Of Arkansas Fort Smith landed the #9 spot for nursing this year. Set in the city of Fort Smith, University Of Arkansas Fort Smith is a moderately-sized public institution. University Of Arkansas Fort Smith graduates 38% of students within six years. There were roughly 76 nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of Arkansas Fort Smith in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from University Of Arkansas Fort Smith earn around $69,618 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Arkansas Fort Smith graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans.
Read more about the nursing program at University Of Arkansas Fort Smith
College Of The Ouachitas placed #10 among the best nursing schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Malvern. There were roughly 40 nursing students who graduated with this degree at College Of The Ouachitas in the most recent data year.
Get the full nursing details for College Of The Ouachitas
University Of Central Arkansas came in at #11 for nursing this year. Set in the city of Conway, University Of Central Arkansas is a large public institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. About 156 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Central Arkansas in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from University Of Central Arkansas earn around $84,982 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Central Arkansas graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
Get the full nursing details for University Of Central Arkansas
Southern Arkansas University Tech landed the #12 spot for nursing this year. Southern Arkansas University Tech is a small public school located in the rural area of Camden. There were roughly 21 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Southern Arkansas University Tech in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Southern Arkansas University Tech earn a median of $34,302 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $8,488.
See the full nursing program report for Southern Arkansas University Tech
Harding University came in at #13 for nursing this year. Harding University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Searcy. Harding University graduates 69% of students within six years. Harding University awarded about 105 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Harding University earn around $84,049 in the first couple years of their career. Harding University graduates carry a median of $30,000 in student loans.
See the full nursing program report for Harding University
Black River Technical College placed #14 among the best nursing schools. Set in the town of Pocahontas, Black River Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 62 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Black River Technical College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Black River Technical College generally make around $65,660. Black River Technical College graduates carry a median of $18,885 in student loans.
Read more about the nursing program at Black River Technical College
Northwest Arkansas Community College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Northwest Arkansas Community College is a large public school located in the city of Bentonville. There were roughly 113 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Northwest Arkansas Community College in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Northwest Arkansas Community College earn a median of $67,192 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,602.
Read more about the nursing program at Northwest Arkansas Community College
University Of Arkansas Community College Batesville earned the #16 position for nursing this year. Located in the town of Batesville, University Of Arkansas Community College Batesville is a small public university. About 66 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Arkansas Community College Batesville in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of University Of Arkansas Community College Batesville earn a median of $64,187 early in their careers. University Of Arkansas Community College Batesville graduates carry a median of $12,654 in student loans.
See the full nursing program report for University Of Arkansas Community College Batesville
Arkansas Northeastern College earned the #17 position for nursing this year. This small public university is located in the town of Blytheville. Arkansas Northeastern College awarded about 30 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Arkansas Northeastern College earn a median of $70,131 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,447 to complete this degree.
See the full nursing program report for Arkansas Northeastern College
Arkansas State University Beebe earned the #18 position for nursing this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Beebe. About 25 nursing degrees were awarded at Arkansas State University Beebe in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Arkansas State University Beebe earn around $30,293 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,350 to complete this degree.
See the full nursing program report for Arkansas State University Beebe
East Arkansas Community College placed #19 among the best nursing schools. East Arkansas Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Forrest City. About 19 nursing degrees were awarded at East Arkansas Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from East Arkansas Community College earn around $64,932 in the first couple years of their career. East Arkansas Community College graduates carry a median of $8,550 in student loans.
Get the full nursing details for East Arkansas Community College
Henderson State University came in at #20 for nursing this year. Located in the town of Arkadelphia, Henderson State University is a mid-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 37%. About 74 nursing degrees were awarded at Henderson State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $72,326 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
More information about a degree in nursing from Henderson State University
University Of Arkansas At Monticello ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Monticello. University Of Arkansas At Monticello graduates 38% of students within six years. There were roughly 39 nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of Arkansas At Monticello in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of University Of Arkansas At Monticello earn a median of $63,323 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,611.
More information about a degree in nursing from University Of Arkansas At Monticello
Ozarka College landed the #22 spot for nursing this year. Ozarka College is a small public school located in the rural area of Melbourne. Ozarka College awarded about 32 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Ozarka College earn a median of $60,148 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,339.
See the full nursing program report for Ozarka College
National Park Community College earned the #23 position for nursing this year. Located in the suburb of Hot Springs, National Park Community College is a mid-sized public university. About 48 nursing degrees were awarded at National Park Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from National Park Community College earn around $67,783 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,250.
See the full nursing program report for National Park Community College
John Brown University landed the #24 spot for nursing this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Siloam Springs. John Brown University graduates 72% of students within six years. There were roughly 21 nursing students who graduated with this degree at John Brown University in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of John Brown University earn a median of $67,343 early in their careers. John Brown University graduates carry a median of $29,291 in student loans.
See the full nursing program report for John Brown University
South Arkansas Community College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Set in the town of El Dorado, South Arkansas Community College is a small public institution. About 45 nursing degrees were awarded at South Arkansas Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from South Arkansas Community College earn around $59,370 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,146.
See the full nursing program report for South Arkansas Community College
Rest of the Top 36 Nursing Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s nursing ranking:
View All Nursing Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 36 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
