2026 Best Nursing Schools in Arkansas
Looking for the best Nursing degree programs in Arkansas? This list ranks 80 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
So you can compare your options, Nursing Degree Search reviewed 66 schools to produce this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Nursing Degree Schools in Arkansas
Here are the top-ranked schools:
University Of Arkansas earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking in Arkansas. Set in Fayetteville, AR, University Of Arkansas is a public institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,104, with out-of-state students paying around $29,966. Students borrow a median of $24,019 to complete their Nursing program here. Read the full report on University Of Arkansas
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A rank of #2 makes Harding University one of the top choices in Arkansas. Harding University is a private not-for-profit school based in Searcy, AR. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $25,962 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $26,715 in student loans. Get the full Harding University report
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You'll be in good company at Henderson State University, which ranked #3 this year. Based in Arkadelphia, AR, Henderson State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 37%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,244, with out-of-state students paying around $10,620. Typical Nursing student debt is $23,234. See the full Henderson State University profile
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Arkansas State University Newport came in at #4 on this year's Nursing ranking in Arkansas. Based in Newport, AR, Arkansas State University Newport is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,312, while out-of-state students pay about $4,752. Typical Nursing student debt is $10,925. More on Arkansas State University Newport
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A rank of #5 makes University Of Arkansas At Little Rock one of the top choices in Arkansas. University Of Arkansas At Little Rock is a public school based in Little Rock, AR. The six-year graduation rate is 37%. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,911, while out-of-state students pay about $22,721. The median Nursing program debt is $27,093. More on University Of Arkansas At Little Rock
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Arkansas State University Main Campus placed #6 among Nursing schools in Arkansas. Located in Jonesboro, AR, Arkansas State University Main Campus is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,090, while out-of-state students pay about $14,522. Arkansas State University Main Campus Nursing students take on a median of $23,399 in debt. Get the full Arkansas State University Main Campus report
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University Of Central Arkansas did well this year, earning the #7 position. Set in Conway, AR, University Of Central Arkansas is a public institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,523, while out-of-state students pay about $18,023. Students borrow a median of $22,920 to complete their Nursing program here. More on University Of Central Arkansas
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University Of Arkansas Community College Morrilton ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. University Of Arkansas Community College Morrilton is a public school based in Morrilton, AR. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,648, while out-of-state students pay about $4,728. University Of Arkansas Community College Morrilton Nursing students take on a median of $13,758 in debt. Read the full report on University Of Arkansas Community College Morrilton
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Northwest Arkansas Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Based in Bentonville, AR, Northwest Arkansas Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,342 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,238 for out-of-state students. Northwest Arkansas Community College Nursing students take on a median of $12,479 in debt. Read more about Northwest Arkansas Community College
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College Of The Ouachitas did well this year, earning the #10 position. Based in Malvern, AR, College Of The Ouachitas is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,788, compared with $4,388 for out-of-state students. See the full College Of The Ouachitas profile
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Arkansas Tech University came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Located in Russellville, AR, Arkansas Tech University is a public institution. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $8,674 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,668 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,257 to complete their Nursing program here. Read the full report on Arkansas Tech University
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University Of Arkansas Fort Smith ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. University Of Arkansas Fort Smith is a public school based in Fort Smith, AR. Roughly 38% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $7,334, compared with $12,182 for out-of-state students. The median Nursing program debt is $20,333. Read the full report on University Of Arkansas Fort Smith
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Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas is a public school based in Helena, AR. Students from in state pay about $3,380 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,550. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete their Nursing program here. Read the full report on Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas
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University Of Arkansas Community College Batesville placed #14 among Nursing schools in Arkansas. Based in Batesville, AR, University Of Arkansas Community College Batesville is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,630, compared with $4,662 for out-of-state students. The median Nursing program debt is $9,265. More on University Of Arkansas Community College Batesville
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National Park Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. National Park Community College is a public school based in Hot Springs, AR. Students from in state pay about $5,600 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,280 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,162 to complete their Nursing program here. See the full National Park Community College profile
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Black River Technical College placed #16 among Nursing schools in Arkansas. Located in Pocahontas, AR, Black River Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,776, compared with $7,488 for out-of-state students. The median Nursing program debt is $12,420. See the full Black River Technical College profile
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Rich Mountain Community College came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Located in Mena, AR, Rich Mountain Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,696, with out-of-state students paying around $4,272. Read more about Rich Mountain Community College
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South Arkansas Community College landed the #18 spot in Arkansas this year. Set in El Dorado, AR, South Arkansas Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,324, with out-of-state students paying around $5,532. Typical Nursing student debt is $15,386. Get the full South Arkansas Community College report
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Arkansas State University Mountain Home came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Set in Mountain Home, AR, Arkansas State University Mountain Home is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,312, while out-of-state students pay about $4,776. Arkansas State University Mountain Home Nursing students take on a median of $18,097 in debt. See the full Arkansas State University Mountain Home profile
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North Arkansas College placed #20 among Nursing schools in Arkansas. Based in Harrison, AR, North Arkansas College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,504, with out-of-state students paying around $5,592. Graduates carry a median of $10,645 in student loans. Get the full North Arkansas College report
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Arkansas Northeastern College came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Set in Blytheville, AR, Arkansas Northeastern College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,570, with out-of-state students paying around $4,250. The median Nursing program debt is $7,944. See the full Arkansas Northeastern College profile
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University Of Arkansas At Monticello did well this year, earning the #22 position. Located in Monticello, AR, University Of Arkansas At Monticello is a public institution. University Of Arkansas At Monticello graduates 38% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $9,292, while out-of-state students pay about $14,857. Typical Nursing student debt is $15,611. See the full University Of Arkansas At Monticello profile
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Arkansas State University Beebe ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Set in Beebe, AR, Arkansas State University Beebe is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,336, with out-of-state students paying around $5,232. The median Nursing program debt is $9,350. Read the full report on Arkansas State University Beebe
Request InformationSouthern Arkansas University Main Campus landed the #24 spot in Arkansas this year. Read the full report on Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
Request InformationJefferson Regional Medical Center School Of Nursing ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Read the full report on Jefferson Regional Medical Center School Of Nursing
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Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
Arkansas Beauty School Little Rock placed #26 among Nursing schools in Arkansas. Read the full report on Arkansas Beauty School Little Rock
Request InformationStrayer University Arkansas did well this year, earning the #27 position. More on Strayer University Arkansas
Request InformationArkansas Baptist College ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. More on Arkansas Baptist College
Request InformationCareer Academy Of Hair Design landed the #29 spot in Arkansas this year. More on Career Academy Of Hair Design
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Lyon College
Lyon College came in at #30 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Lyon College
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Hendrix College
Hendrix College did well this year, earning the #31 position. Read the full report on Hendrix College
Request InformationVelvatex College Of Beauty Culture ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. See the full Velvatex College Of Beauty Culture profile
Request InformationArthurs Beauty College Jonesboro did well this year, earning the #33 position. Read more about Arthurs Beauty College Jonesboro
Request InformationEast Arkansas Community College placed #34 among Nursing schools in Arkansas. Read the full report on East Arkansas Community College
Request InformationCentral Baptist College placed #35 among Nursing schools in Arkansas. Read more about Central Baptist College
Request InformationGrantham University placed #36 among Nursing schools in Arkansas. Read more about Grantham University
Request InformationThe Salon Professional Academy North Little Rock ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Read the full report on The Salon Professional Academy North Little Rock
Request InformationPhilander Smith College did well this year, earning the #38 position. Read more about Philander Smith College
Request InformationUniversity Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences came in at #39 in this year's ranking. Get the full University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences report
Request InformationArkansas Beauty College came in at #40 in this year's ranking. Read more about Arkansas Beauty College
Request InformationSearcy Beauty College landed the #41 spot in Arkansas this year. See the full Searcy Beauty College profile
Request InformationNorthwest Technical Institute placed #42 among Nursing schools in Arkansas. See the full Northwest Technical Institute profile
Request InformationArkansas Colleges Of Health Education ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Read more about Arkansas Colleges Of Health Education
Request InformationWilliams Baptist College did well this year, earning the #44 position. Read more about Williams Baptist College
Request InformationAcademy Of Salon And Spa ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. See the full Academy Of Salon And Spa profile
Request InformationUniversity Of The Ozarks ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. See the full University Of The Ozarks profile
Request InformationArkansas Welding Academy landed the #47 spot in Arkansas this year. Read the full report on Arkansas Welding Academy
Request InformationNew Tyler Barber College Inc landed the #48 spot in Arkansas this year. Read the full report on New Tyler Barber College Inc
Request InformationPulaski Technical College placed #49 among Nursing schools in Arkansas. See the full Pulaski Technical College profile
Request InformationBaptist Health College Little Rock placed #50 among Nursing schools in Arkansas. Read more about Baptist Health College Little Rock
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Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Nursing Degree Search (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: State · 66 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 80 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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