Best RN Programs in Arkansas for 2026

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing at the University of Arkansas offers three distinct degree paths under one program: a full-time, on-campus Pre-Licensure Traditional BSN for students entering nursing from scratch, an LPN-to-BSN online completion track for licensed practical nurses, and an RN-to-BSN online track for associate-degree RNs. Applications open twice yearly, with windows running November through January and May through July. The program is grounded in a ten-outcome curriculum covering population health, evidence-based practice, interprofessional collaboration, and the ANA Code of Ethics.

With a Hakia Score of 86.3, the University of Arkansas ranks first among Arkansas BSN programs in this index. The admit rate sits at 74%, making it moderately selective for a flagship public institution. Graduation rate is 71%. In-state tuition is $7,896 per year; out-of-state students pay $27,758, a gap that makes residency the single biggest cost variable here. The combination of affordable in-state tuition, a large university ecosystem of 33,610 students, and three flexible entry points makes this the broadest-access BSN option in the state for Arkansas residents. BLS OEWS data puts the national median wage for registered nurses at $97,550 per year.

Harding University's Carr College of Nursing, founded in 1975, offers a traditional BSN track built on 50 credit hours of upper-division nursing coursework, plus an individualized RN/LPN-to-BSN completion track and an accelerated hybrid track at its Rogers, Arkansas learning site. Clinical hours are completed at area hospitals and in Harding's on-campus simulation facilities. The program integrates Christian principles throughout classroom and clinical instruction, and its mission is explicitly framed around developing nurses as Christian servants.

The outcomes Harding publishes on its program page are striking. First-time NCLEX pass rates from 2021 through 2024 were 97.9%, 93.48%, 98.36%, and 100%, respectively (2025 came in at 86.36%). BSN completion rates across those same years ranged from 85% to 98%, and the school reports a 100% job placement rate at nine months for every cohort listed. Harding's Hakia Score is 82.6, ranking it second in Arkansas. Its 69% graduation rate and 71% admit rate reflect a private institution that graduates the large majority of the students it admits. Tuition is $25,290 regardless of residency, so the relevant comparison for Arkansas residents is the gap between Harding's outcomes and the roughly $17,000 annual premium over in-state public tuition. For students who prioritize documented NCLEX performance and employment outcomes, that tradeoff has clear numbers behind it.

John Brown University offers a traditional four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing that is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The program centers on patient-centered care within a Christian liberal arts context. Students train in JBU's Health Education Building, which houses high-fidelity simulation mannequins, patient-room simulation labs, and a dedicated student lounge. The senior capstone course requires 240 clinical shadow hours with a nurse preceptor, a component the program specifically positions as NCLEX preparation and practice-readiness.

The program page states a 100% NCLEX pass rate with 96% of graduates passing on the first attempt. JBU's Hakia Score is 81.1, placing it third in Arkansas. Graduation rate is 72%, the highest of the four programs ranked here, and the admit rate is 76%. The enrollment of 2,350 makes this a significantly smaller campus than the flagship at Fayetteville, which translates to smaller cohorts and closer faculty contact. Tuition is $30,374 per year with no in-state/out-of-state distinction, putting JBU at the highest price point in this group. National BLS data pegs registered nurse median pay at $97,550 annually. The case for JBU rests on its 72% graduation rate, its reported first-attempt NCLEX outcomes, and the structured preceptorship, weighed against a tuition that is $22,000 per year above UAMS's in-state rate.

The UAMS College of Nursing runs two distinct BSN programs out of its statewide campus system. The Traditional BSN is based on the Little Rock campus and requires applicants to have completed 58 semester hours of prerequisite general education coursework before entering the upper-division nursing sequence. The Accelerated BSN is located on the UAMS Northwest Arkansas campus in Fayetteville and is designed exclusively for students who already hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Both tracks lead to licensure as a registered nurse.

UAMS carries a Hakia Score of 79.4, ranking it fourth in Arkansas in this index. In-state tuition is $7,362 per year, the lowest among the four programs listed here. Out-of-state tuition rises to $12,990, but the gap is narrower than at the flagship in Fayetteville, making UAMS a competitive option even for students near the state line. The enrollment of 3,485 reflects a specialized health sciences university, not a comprehensive campus, meaning the program environment is focused and clinically oriented by design. The ABSN pathway at the Northwest Arkansas site provides a meaningful option for career-changers with existing degrees who want to enter nursing without relocating to Little Rock. No admit rate data was available for this program cycle.

UA Little Rock's nursing department runs three separate credential paths from one program: a traditional BSN for pre-licensure students, an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) for those aiming for RN licensure at the two-year level, and an online RN-to-BSN completion track for working nurses or recent AAS/diploma graduates. A fourth pathway, the LPN/Paramedic to RN option, adds flexibility for students already in allied health. The program positions itself for employment with area employers including Arkansas Heart Hospital, Baptist Health, CHI St. Vincent, Saline Memorial Hospital, and UAMS.

UA Little Rock's Hakia Score of 77.1 reflects a combination of cost, access, and outcomes. In-state tuition runs $6,810 per year versus $19,620 out-of-state, so Arkansas residents get the clearest financial case. The 59% admit rate means most applicants who meet requirements gain university entry, though nursing programs typically apply separate selective admissions on top of that. The 42% graduation rate is below the state average for this list and is the key tradeoff to weigh. Students who enter with a clear plan, particularly those using the LPN/Paramedic track or the online RN-to-BSN option, tend to be better positioned than first-time freshmen navigating a multi-step nursing application process.

The online RN-to-BSN path is the clearest differentiator here. Working nurses who already hold an AAS or diploma and want BSN-level credentials without stopping work have a direct, accredited route at one of the lowest in-state price points in the state. For traditional BSN seekers, the program's metro Little Rock location and named hospital partnerships give clinical placement options that smaller campuses cannot match.

Arkansas State University's BSN is a 122-credit-hour pre-licensure program housed in the College of Nursing and Health Professions in Jonesboro. The program page reports ACEN accreditation and states that A-State has maintained a 90% or higher NCLEX pass rate for several years. Admission to the university and admission to the nursing program are separate steps: applicants need a 3.0 cumulative and prerequisite GPA, completed prerequisite coursework, official transcripts, an immunization record, and a background check. A-State also carries online program options at the university level, and its 15,726-student enrollment makes it the largest campus on this list.

With a 55% graduation rate, A-State ranks second on this list for retention and completion outcomes. The 82% admit rate at the university level is the most open in this group, which lowers the barrier to initial enrollment, but the nursing-specific GPA floor of 3.0 creates a real filter at the program level. In-state tuition of $7,488 per year (versus $13,920 out-of-state) is competitive, and the program notes that some courses carry differential tuition beyond base fees. The Hakia Score of 77.1 ties it with UA Little Rock, with A-State's edge coming from the higher graduation rate and the stated NCLEX performance history.

This program fits students who want a clearly structured, ACEN-accredited path with documented licensure outcomes and faculty mentorship, and who are comfortable at a larger university with the more competitive nursing-specific admission layer. Graduates are described as placing into ICU, medical-surgical, emergency, and travel nursing roles. The ACEN accreditation provides portability for licensure applications across states.

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is a historically Black university with a Department of Nursing offering a pre-licensure BSN and an RN-to-BSN completion program. Two critical program-status facts appear on the department's own page and must be understood before applying: the BSN pre-licensure program holds conditional approval status from the Arkansas State Board of Nursing (ASBN) through May 2027, and the pre-licensure program is closed to new admissions effective May 1, 2026. The RN-to-BSN program continues. Effective April 22, 2025, the nursing program became a candidate for initial ACEN accreditation, with that candidacy expiring April 22, 2027. No accreditation has been granted yet.

Despite its conditional program status, UAPB's Hakia Score of 71.4 reflects real value for the right student. At $6,330 in-state, it is the lowest tuition in this group by a meaningful margin. The 41% admit rate is the most selective figure here at the university level, which reflects UAPB's selective undergraduate admissions rather than open enrollment. The 40% graduation rate is the lowest on this list and, combined with the pre-licensure program's current closure to new students, makes the RN-to-BSN path the practical option for new enrollees right now. Students interested in a future pre-licensure cohort should confirm program status directly with the department before applying.

UAPB's nursing department emphasizes clinically experienced faculty and HBCU mission-driven support. The department's transparency packet (updated April 2026) contains accreditation, approval, and outcome data prospective students should read in full. Registered nurses with an AAS or diploma considering the online or on-campus RN-to-BSN route will find UAPB's tuition among the most affordable entry points in Arkansas. Learn more about ACEN accreditation candidacy and what it means for program portability.

Southern Arkansas University's BSN is a 120-credit-hour, on-campus pre-licensure program in Magnolia, delivered through the Department of Nursing in the College of Science and Engineering. The department's mission aligns explicitly with AACN Essentials competencies, covering person-centered care, quality improvement, safety, clinical judgment, and informatics. Admission to the nursing program is competitive within SAU: students are ranked by GPA in Nursing Science Core Courses (NSCCs) and HESI A2 scores, with additional weight given to how many NSCC hours were completed at SAU. There is a 2.85 minimum GPA in NSCCs to apply. The Wharton Simulation Lab provides high-fidelity clinical simulation on campus, complemented by off-campus clinical placements through area medical facility partnerships.

SAU's Hakia Score of 71.3 and 49% graduation rate put it in the middle of this group on completion outcomes, though its 75% university-level admit rate and regional location in southwest Arkansas mean it draws a specific applicant pool. In-state tuition of $7,380 per year versus $13,110 out-of-state gives Arkansas residents a meaningful cost advantage. Transfer nursing students face additional scrutiny: a letter from the prior program confirming eligibility to re-enter is required, and students who have failed more than one nursing course elsewhere are not eligible. The structured waitlist process for students not initially selected is a real feature of how admissions operates here.

This program fits students who are prepared to compete on academic metrics within a smaller campus environment, prefer on-campus simulation and structured clinical partnerships over an online format, and want a program explicitly structured around AACN core competencies. The 10 defined program outcomes give prospective students a clear picture of what the curriculum is designed to produce. Registered nurses nationally earn a median of $97,550 per year according to BLS, providing the income context for evaluating tuition cost against long-term return.

The Carolyn McKelvey Moore School of Nursing at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith offers a 120-credit BSN with two delivery formats: a traditional daytime schedule and a Weekend and Evening Scheduling Option that covers all required coursework, labs, and clinical rotations between 4-9 p.m. weekdays and 3:30-11:30 p.m. on weekends. Both formats follow the same curriculum and lead to the same degree. Students who already hold a bachelor's degree in another field can pursue a separate BSN Accelerated track, completing the credential in as little as 15 months through immersive clinical and simulation training. The two-step admission process requires first gaining admission to UAFS, then submitting a separate School of Nursing application with supporting documents.

UAFS carries a Hakia Score of 71, placing it 9th among Arkansas BSN programs in this ranking. In-state tuition is $4,752 and out-of-state tuition is $9,600. The program reports a 38% graduation rate and an 80% admit rate, which means access is broad but completion is the real hurdle. Students should plan for the full demands of clinical study even when using the evening-weekend format alongside work or family obligations. Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX and enter a field where BLS data puts the national median wage for registered nurses at $97,550 per year.

The University of Arkansas at Monticello offers three distinct nursing pathways on its campus. The traditional BSN follows a 9-semester prelicensure plan. Working nurses can pursue the RN-to-BSN Fast Track (Advanced Placement Program), which includes a National Park College RN-to-BSN Program of Study option and an 8-semester plan. Licensed practical nurses have a direct route through the LPN-to-RN AAS in Nursing (5-semester plan), which functions as an LPN-to-RN fast track. All tracks share a strict progression policy: students must earn a C or better in every prerequisite and nursing course, and any grade of D, F, or W requires the course to be repeated before advancing in the nursing sequence.

UA Monticello holds a Hakia Score of 70.4, ranking 10th in Arkansas in this index. In-state tuition is $5,685 and out-of-state tuition is $11,250. The program reports a 49% graduation rate, higher than UAFS and a signal that students who clear the C-or-better threshold tend to finish. No admit rate data was available for this program. Total enrollment at the university is 2,856, reflecting a smaller campus where individual advising is more accessible. Graduates from the prelicensure BSN are eligible to sit for the NCLEX, while RN-to-BSN completers build toward roles in leadership and advanced study. The national median wage for registered nurses is $97,550 per year according to BLS wage data.