2023 Best Value Nursing Schools in Arkansas
Identifying High-Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
Today's nursing students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools and bootcamps that offer fast-track entry to many fields.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Nursing Degree Search has created its Best Value Nursing Schools in Arkansas ranking. This report analyzed 23 schools in Arkansas to see which ones offered the best value programs for nursing students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
When determining this ranking, we place a high emphasis on the school's quality as well as its sticker price. Even though a college may be affordable, it may not offer value. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.
Our calculations use out-of-state tuition and fees in our nationwide and regional rankings. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
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Top Value Nursing Schools in Arkansas
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Arkansas State University - Newport to be the best value school for nursing students in Arkansas. Arkansas State University - Newport is a small public school located in Newport, Arkansas that handed out 327 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at ASUN are $4,320 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,164 in student loans.After graduating from ASUN, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $32,182 during the early years of their career.
ASUN also took the #4 spot in our Best Nursing Schools in Arkansas rankings.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Arkansas Community College - Batesville. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Nursing Schools in Arkansas list. Located in Batesville, Arkansas, the small public school handed out 156 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at UACCB are $3,438 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,320 in student loans.After graduating from UACCB, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $53,794 during the early years of their career.
Full University of Arkansas Community College - Batesville Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of Arkansas Community College - Morrilton. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in Arkansas list. Located in Morrilton, Arkansas, the small public school awarded 195 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UACCM are $4,128 per year. On average, students take out $19,183 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from UACCM, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $31,453 during the early years of their career.
Full University of Arkansas Community College - Morrilton Report
Out of the 23 schools in Arkansas that were part of this year’s ranking, Arkansas State University Three Rivers landed the # 4 spot on the list. Arkansas State University Three Rivers is a small public school located in Malvern, Arkansas that handed out 308 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at ASU Three Rivers are $5,882 a year. On average, students take out $30,774 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from ASU Three Rivers, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $52,762 during the early years of their career.
The excellent programs at South Arkansas Community College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best value nursing schools in Arkansas. SouthArk is a small public school situated in El Dorado, Arkansas. It awarded 96 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at SouthArk are $4,812 per year. On average, students take out $18,041 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, SouthArk graduates make an average of $27,687 annually.
Arkansas Northeastern College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. Blytheville, Arkansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 62 students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Arkansas Northeastern College are $4,138 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $14,140 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Arkansas Northeastern College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $34,999 during the early year of their career.
Arkansas State University - Mountain Home ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in Arkansas list. ASUMH is a public institution located in Mountain Home, Arkansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 134 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at ASUMH are $4,524 a year. On average, students take out $20,703 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from ASUMH, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $31,319 during the early years of their career.
Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #8 on the list. Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas is a small public school located in Helena, Arkansas that handed out 27 degrees in 2020-2021.
Phillips County Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,910 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,310 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Phillips County Community College graduates make an average of $33,405 annually.
Full Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas Report
NorthWest Arkansas Community College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in Arkansas list. Bentonville, Arkansas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 117 students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at NWACC are $4,456 per year. On average, students take out $16,393 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, NWACC graduates make an average of $40,836 annually.
University of Arkansas Rich Mountain ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in Arkansas list. UA Rich Mountain is located in Mena, Arkansas and has a very small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 57 degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UA Rich Mountain are $3,816 per year. On average, students take out $7,469 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, UA Rich Mountain graduates make an average of $19,613 annually.
Black River Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #11 on the list. Pocahontas, Arkansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 170 students in 2020-2021.
Black River Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,350 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $16,463 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Black River Technical College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $33,301 during the early years of their career.
North Arkansas College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in Arkansas list. Located in Harrison, Arkansas, the small public school handed out 115 degrees in 2020-2021.
Northark undergraduate students pay an average of $5,940 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $15,421 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Northark graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $32,765 during the early year of their career.
Arkansas State University - Beebe did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #13 on the list. Located in Beebe, Arkansas, the small public school handed out 78 degrees in 2020-2021.
ASU-Beebe undergraduate students pay an average of $4,656 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,422 in student loans. During the early years of their career, ASU-Beebe graduates make an average of $26,859 annually.
Henderson State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #14 on the list. Located in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, the small public school awarded 76 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Henderson State University undergraduate students pay an average of $9,768 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,312 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Henderson State University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,312 during the early year of their career.
In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, Henderson State University is ranked #3 for overall quality in Arkansas.
National Park College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in Arkansas list. National Park College is a small public school situated in Hot Springs, Arkansas. It awarded 76 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at National Park College are $6,230 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $17,080 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from National Park College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,255 during the early years of their career.
Arkansas State University - Main Campus landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. Located in Jonesboro, Arkansas, the fairly large public school handed out 356 degrees in 2020-2021.
A-State undergraduate students pay an average of $12,698 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,258 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $141 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, A-State graduates make an average of $42,182 annually.
University of Arkansas ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in Arkansas list. UARK is located in Fayetteville, Arkansas and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 315 degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at UARK are $26,390 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $22,930 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $332.After graduating from UARK, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $47,670 during the early years of their career.
UARK also made our Best Nursing Schools in Arkansas list, coming in at #1.
University of Arkansas - Fort Smith did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #18 on the list. UAFS is located in Fort Smith, Arkansas and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 123 degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at UAFS are $13,026 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $20,349 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, UAFS graduates make an average of $34,344 annually.
University of Central Arkansas came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in Arkansas ranking. Conway, Arkansas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 193 students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UCA are $16,433 per year. On average, students take out $23,394 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $168. Once they receive their degree, UCA graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,734 during the early year of their career.
University of Arkansas at Little Rock came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in Arkansas ranking. Little Rock, Arkansas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 383 students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at UA Little Rock are $21,767 a year. On average, students take out $29,964 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, UA Little Rock graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $39,997 during the early year of their career.
In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, UA Little Rock is ranked #5 for overall quality in Arkansas.
Arkansas Tech University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #21 on the list. This medium-sized public school is located in Russellville, Arkansas, and it awarded 255 degrees in 2020-2021.
ATU undergraduate students pay an average of $13,636 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,314 in student loans. During the early years of their career, ATU graduates make an average of $35,775 annually.
Harding University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #22 on the list. Searcy, Arkansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 70 students in 2020-2021.
Harding undergraduate students pay an average of $22,230 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $24,606 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $401 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Harding, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $49,585 during the early years of their career.
In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, Harding is ranked #2 for overall quality in Arkansas.
University of Arkansas at Monticello did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #23 on the list. Monticello, Arkansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 112 students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UAM are $13,879 per year. On average, students take out $17,078 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from UAM, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $34,171 during the early years of their career.
Best Value Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 23 schools only.
References
- 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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