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2026 Best Nursing Schools in Arkansas

32 Colleges in the United States
2,981 Nursing Degrees Awarded
$63,646 Avg Early-Career Salary

Nursing programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their nursing programs.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 38 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

1
University Of Arkansas crest
University Of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR

University Of Arkansas tops our 2026 ranking of the best nursing schools. University Of Arkansas is a very large public school located in the city of Fayetteville. University Of Arkansas graduates 70% of students within six years. About 361 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Arkansas in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $93,839 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,327 to complete this degree. See the full nursing program report for University Of Arkansas

2

A rank of #2 makes University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences one of the top schools for nursing. University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Little Rock. There were roughly 175 nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $87,136 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. Get the full nursing details for University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences

3

Students looking for a strong nursing program will find one at Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas, which ranked #3. This small public university is located in the town of Helena. There were roughly 20 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas earn a median of $78,213 early in their careers. Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. More information about a degree in nursing from Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas

4

Ouachita Baptist University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in nursing, landing the #4 spot this year. Ouachita Baptist University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Arkadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. There were roughly 38 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Ouachita Baptist University 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. Students borrow a median of $23,520 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in nursing from Ouachita Baptist University

5

Students looking for a strong nursing program will find one at Arkansas State University Main Campus, which ranked #5. 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 492 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Arkansas State University Main Campus generally make around $87,237. Typical student debt for the program is $26,053. More information about a degree in nursing from Arkansas State University Main Campus

6

College Of The Ouachitas landed the #6 spot for nursing this year. Set in the town of Malvern, College Of The Ouachitas is a mid-sized public institution. About 76 nursing degrees were awarded at College Of The Ouachitas in the most recent year. Get the full nursing details for College Of The Ouachitas

7

Southern Arkansas University Tech landed the #7 spot for nursing this year. Southern Arkansas University Tech is a small public school located in the rural area of Camden. There were roughly 26 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Southern Arkansas University Tech in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $34,302 in their early career. Southern Arkansas University Tech graduates carry a median of $8,488 in student loans. See the full nursing program report for Southern Arkansas University Tech

8

University Of Arkansas At Little Rock placed #8 among the best nursing schools. Set in the city of Little Rock, University Of Arkansas At Little Rock is a large public institution. University Of Arkansas At Little Rock graduates 37% of students within six years. There were roughly 299 nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of Arkansas At Little Rock in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of University Of Arkansas At Little Rock earn a median of $72,659 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $30,699 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in nursing from University Of Arkansas At Little Rock

9

University Of Arkansas Community College Batesville placed #9 among the best nursing schools. Located in the town of Batesville, University Of Arkansas Community College Batesville is a small public university. University Of Arkansas Community College Batesville awarded about 86 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $64,187 in their early career. 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

10

University Of Arkansas Fort Smith placed #10 among the best nursing schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Fort Smith. University Of Arkansas Fort Smith graduates 38% of students within six years. About 67 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Arkansas Fort Smith in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $69,618 in their early career. University Of Arkansas Fort Smith graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. See the full nursing program report for University Of Arkansas Fort Smith

11
Arkansas Tech University crest
Arkansas Tech University
Russellville, AR

Arkansas Tech University earned the #11 position for nursing this year. Arkansas Tech University is a large public school located in the town of Russellville. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. Arkansas Tech University awarded about 116 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $67,929 in their early career. Arkansas Tech University graduates carry a median of $26,710 in student loans. Get the full nursing details for Arkansas Tech University

12

University Of Central Arkansas placed #12 among the best nursing schools. Set in the city of Conway, University Of Central Arkansas is a large public institution. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 140 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Central Arkansas in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $84,982 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. More information about a degree in nursing from University Of Central Arkansas

13

East Arkansas Community College came in at #13 for nursing this year. East Arkansas Community College is a small public school located in the town of Forrest City. East Arkansas Community College awarded about 23 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from East Arkansas Community College generally make around $64,932. Students borrow a median of $8,550 to complete this degree. Get the full nursing details for East Arkansas Community College

14

Harding University landed the #14 spot for nursing this year. Set in the town of Searcy, Harding University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 65 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Harding University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $84,049 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $30,000. Get the full nursing details for Harding University

15

Black River Technical College landed the #15 spot for nursing this year. Set in the town of Pocahontas, Black River Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 40 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Black River Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $65,660 in their early career. 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

16

Northwest Arkansas Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. Northwest Arkansas Community College is a large public school located in the city of Bentonville. About 109 nursing degrees were awarded at Northwest Arkansas Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Northwest Arkansas Community College generally make around $67,192. Northwest Arkansas Community College graduates carry a median of $16,602 in student loans. More information about a degree in nursing from Northwest Arkansas Community College

17

Arkansas State University Newport placed #17 among the best nursing schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the rural area of Newport. There were roughly 78 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Arkansas State University Newport in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Arkansas State University Newport generally make around $74,682. Students borrow a median of $18,375 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in nursing from Arkansas State University Newport

18

South Arkansas Community College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. South Arkansas Community College is a small public school located in the town of El Dorado. South Arkansas Community College awarded about 48 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from South Arkansas Community College generally make around $59,370. Students borrow a median of $17,146 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in nursing from South Arkansas Community College

19

Arkansas Northeastern College earned the #19 position for nursing this year. Set in the town of Blytheville, Arkansas Northeastern College is a small public institution. Arkansas Northeastern College awarded about 27 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $70,131 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,447 to complete this degree. Get the full nursing details for Arkansas Northeastern College

20
Ozarka College crest
Ozarka College
Melbourne, AR

Ozarka College earned the #20 position for nursing this year. Set in the rural area of Melbourne, Ozarka College is a small public institution. About 18 nursing degrees were awarded at Ozarka College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Ozarka College generally make around $60,148. Typical student debt for the program is $12,339. More information about a degree in nursing from Ozarka College

21

Henderson State University landed the #21 spot for nursing this year. Set in the town of Arkadelphia, Henderson State University is a mid-sized public institution. Henderson State University graduates 37% of students within six years. There were roughly 71 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Henderson State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $72,326 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree. Get the full nursing details for Henderson State University

22
John Brown University crest
John Brown University
Siloam Springs, AR

John Brown University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. Set in the town of Siloam Springs, John Brown University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. John Brown University awarded about 26 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of John Brown University earn a median of $67,343 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $29,291. See the full nursing program report for John Brown University

23

National Park Community College earned the #23 position for nursing this year. National Park Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Hot Springs. About 47 nursing degrees were awarded at National Park Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $67,783 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,250. See the full nursing program report for National Park Community College

24

Arkansas State University Beebe ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. Arkansas State University Beebe is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Beebe. About 23 nursing degrees were awarded at Arkansas State University Beebe in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $30,293 in their early career. Arkansas State University Beebe graduates carry a median of $9,350 in student loans. See the full nursing program report for Arkansas State University Beebe

25

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus landed the #25 spot for nursing this year. Set in the town of Magnolia, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is a moderately-sized public institution. About 44% of students finish within six years. Southern Arkansas University Main Campus awarded about 31 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Southern Arkansas University Main Campus generally make around $67,213. Southern Arkansas University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $24,750 in student loans. See the full nursing program report for Southern Arkansas University Main Campus

Rest of the Top 37 Nursing Schools

These schools also placed among the best for nursing this year:

26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
Grantham University crest
Grantham University
LIttle Rock, AR

View All Nursing Rankings >

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 38 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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