Rankings / By State
Best Nursing Colleges in Arkansas
- 14
- Schools
- $48,659
- Avg. Earnings
- 53%
- Avg. Graduation
- $17,129
- Avg. Net Price
- $21,669
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Median graduate earnings across these 14 schools run from $35,550 to $63,496, a 1.8× gap. The category label alone says little about payoff.
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University of Arkansas Grantham delivers the most for the money: roughly $63,496 in median earnings against $8,370 a year in net price, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio on the list.
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The most affordable option, University of Arkansas Grantham ($8,370 net price), still posts $63,496 in earnings, at or above the list average. Paying more does not guarantee a better outcome.
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Hendrix College graduates 71% of its students, versus a 53% average across the list. Completion, more than selectivity, signals whether a degree actually gets finished.
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University of Arkansas Grantham carries the healthiest debt load, with graduates owing just 0.35× their annual earnings.
Surprising Comparisons
- #1 University of Arkansas at Little Rock ($45,265 earnings) outranks the list's highest earner, University of Arkansas Grantham ($63,496), because it does more on mobility and cost.
- University of Arkansas Grantham costs $8,370 a year and Hendrix College costs $24,149. Yet their graduates earn $63,496 and $60,376, nowhere near the $15,779 price gap.
- Graduation rates split the field: Hendrix College finishes 71% of students while University of Arkansas Grantham finishes 32%. Same ranking, very different odds of leaving with a degree.
The Takeaway
The through line among the top-ranked schools is plain. They pair solid graduate earnings with affordable costs and meaningful social mobility. Prestige and selectivity matter far less than whether students end up better off.
What This Means for Students
Your shortlist should start with University of Arkansas Grantham and Hendrix College. For each school, look up the net price your family would actually pay, weigh it against typical graduate earnings, and build the decision around the return instead of the name recognition.
Why this ranking matters
Healthcare is one of the higher-return fields in the economy, but the payoff depends heavily on where you study it. Graduates of these programs earn a median of about $46K within a decade, and registered nurse roles are projected to grow 6%. We rank programs by the outcomes they produce for graduates, not by reputation.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-07-13
Source datasets
Methodology
Schools are scored on the CollegeRanker 4-Pillar Algorithm: Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25–35%), Academic Quality (15–20%), and Value (20–25%). Every weight is published and every figure traces to a public dataset.
See the full methodology and weights →Confidence notes
- Earnings, completion, and debt figures come from federal administrative records — tax data and student-aid filings — not surveys or self-reports, the highest-confidence tier of education data available.
- Social-mobility estimates are drawn from de-identified tax records covering more than 30 million students (Opportunity Insights).
- Where an institution is missing a metric, it is excluded from that metric rather than imputed, so averages are never inflated by guesses.
Limitations
- Federal earnings data primarily cover students who received federal financial aid; outcomes for non-aided students may differ.
- Earnings are measured roughly ten years after enrollment, so they describe how earlier cohorts fared — historical outcomes, not guarantees of future results.
- An institution's field-of-study mix affects raw earnings; scores reflect measured outcomes and are not fully major-adjusted unless explicitly noted.
- Net price is an average; the actual cost a given student pays varies widely by family income.
At a Glance
How the Top Schools Compare
| School | Earnings | Net Price | Graduation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 University of Arkansas at Little Rock #1 overall | $45,265 ▼ -7% vs avg | $17,248 | 42% | 79 |
| 2 Arkansas State University #2 overall | $42,617 ▼ -12% vs avg | $12,366 | 55% | 76 |
| 3 Hendrix College #3 overall | $60,376 ▲ +24% vs avg | $24,149 | 71% | 75 |
| $45,938 ▼ -6% vs avg | $16,511 | 53% | 74 | |
| $43,459 ▼ -11% vs avg | $23,405 | 38% | 73 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best Nursing Colleges in Arkansas
This analysis ranks 14 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $48,659 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 53% and an average net price of $17,129.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: University of Arkansas Grantham — Net Price: $8,370 | Graduation Rate: 32%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: Hendrix College — 71% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: University of Arkansas Grantham — Median alumni earnings: $63,496
Research Note
Private nonprofit colleges cost 110% more in net price than publics, while their graduates earn 21% more.
Healthcare Workforce Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about the U.S. healthcare workforce?
$45,602
Median earnings (10yr)
53%
Median graduation rate
$17,304
Median net price
1.9%
Avg. mobility rate
Health-professions programs sit at the center of one of the country’s most acute labor stories. An aging population and chronic shortages in nursing and allied health mean these programs are, in effect, staffing the health system. The schools that rise here pair classroom training with real clinical placements and strong licensure pass rates. That pairing is the difference between holding a credential and holding a job.
The median graduation rate across these 14 schools is 53%. Median graduate earnings reach $45,602 ten years after enrollment. Average net price, the cost after grants, is $17,304 a year, and median federal debt at graduation is about $21,150. Some 39% of students receive Pell grants, and mobility, the share of low-income students who reach the top quintile, averages 1.9%.
What we’re seeing: demographic pressure keeps demand high, and programs with embedded clinical networks convert that demand into employment fastest. University of Arkansas at Little Rock leads the list, and graduates across these programs earn a median of $45,602 ten years after enrollment. The constraint is not jobs. It is clinical capacity and licensure throughput, and that is where the strongest programs pull away.
The podium
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Tip: Check the box on any 2–4 schools below to compare them side by side.
Full rankings
Little Rock, AR · 59% accepted · $17,248 net
Why it ranks #1
University of Arkansas at Little Rock lands at #1 with a 79/100 composite, led by social mobility (79/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (59/100). Graduates earn a median $45,265 a decade after enrolling, 7% below this list's average, and net price runs $17,248 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #2
Arkansas State University lands at #2 with a 76/100 composite, led by social mobility (79/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (60/100). Graduates earn a median $42,617 a decade after enrolling, 12% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,366 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #3
Hendrix College lands at #3 with a 75/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (51/100). Graduates earn a median $60,376 a decade after enrolling, 24% above this list's average, and net price runs $24,149 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #4
University of Central Arkansas lands at #4 with a 74/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (60/100). Graduates earn a median $45,938 a decade after enrolling, 6% below this list's average, and net price runs $16,511 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #5
Henderson State University lands at #5 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (48/100). Graduates earn a median $43,459 a decade after enrolling, 11% below this list's average, and net price runs $23,405 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #6
University of the Ozarks lands at #6 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (58/100). Graduates earn a median $44,384 a decade after enrolling, 9% below this list's average, and net price runs $17,360 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #7
Ouachita Baptist University lands at #7 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (55/100). Graduates earn a median $51,673 a decade after enrolling, 6% above this list's average, and net price runs $22,409 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #8
Harding University lands at #8 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (53/100). Graduates earn a median $52,876 a decade after enrolling, 9% above this list's average, and net price runs $22,130 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #9
University of Arkansas lands at #9 with a 72/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by academic quality (59/100). Graduates earn a median $58,191 a decade after enrolling, 20% above this list's average, and net price runs $18,209 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #10
John Brown University lands at #10 with a 70/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (57/100). Graduates earn a median $53,907 a decade after enrolling, 11% above this list's average, and net price runs $20,397 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Pine Bluff, AR · 41% accepted · $12,653 net
Why it ranks #11
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff lands at #11 with a 63/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (52/100). Graduates earn a median $35,550 a decade after enrolling, 27% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,653 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #12
University of Arkansas Grantham lands at #12 with a 63/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (69/100) and pulled down by academic quality (39/100). Graduates earn a median $63,496 a decade after enrolling, 30% above this list's average, and net price runs $8,370 a year, well under the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #13
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith lands at #13 with a 61/100 composite, led by value per dollar (72/100) and pulled down by social mobility (53/100). Graduates earn a median $41,102 a decade after enrolling, 16% below this list's average, and net price runs $10,574 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Magnolia, AR · 75% accepted · $14,027 net
Why it ranks #14
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus lands at #14 with a 57/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (61/100) and pulled down by social mobility (56/100). Graduates earn a median $42,386 a decade after enrolling, 13% below this list's average, and net price runs $14,027 a year, well under the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Cut it by what you care about
The same 14 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs — and the jobs are
Where these graduates work
Graduates of these programs most often become Registered Nurses and related roles — a field with $86,070 median pay and 6% projected growth.
See the Registered Nurse career guide →When considering a nursing program in Arkansas, prospective students have a variety of schools to weigh. With nursing careers projected to grow significantly, choosing the right college can set the foundation for a rewarding profession. In this list, we focus on the best nursing colleges in the state, which are distinguished by their strong outcomes and specialized programs.
The schools ranked here stand out due to key factors like earnings after graduation, graduation rates, average debt, and the ability to promote upward mobility. These metrics provide a comprehensive picture of what students can expect from their educational investment. Below, you can see how each program measures up, helping you assess the best fit for your goals.
For instance, NorthWest Arkansas Community College has an impressive graduation rate of 29% with earnings averaging $43,505, while Arkansas State University-Beebe offers a better graduation rate of 40% but lower earnings at $36,603. This contrast highlights the trade-offs to consider as you explore your options.
The story behind the ranking
A ranking gives you an order; these charts give you the shape. They show how this group of schools spreads across the four things that decide whether a degree pays off — what graduates earn, whether they finish, how far they move up, and what it costs. Look for the standouts, the outliers, and the trade-offs the list alone can't show.
Earnings Outcomes
What graduates earn 10 years after enrolling. Data from College Scorecard.
Distribution of Median Earnings
Earnings vs. Net Price
Top-left = best value. Top-ranked schools are highlighted.
Completion & Access
Graduation rates and who gets in. Data from College Scorecard & IPEDS.
Graduation Rates
Pell Grant Rate vs. Graduation Rate
Right = more low-income students. Higher = more graduate.
What the Mobility Data Says
The backbone of this ranking is social-mobility data from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, which draws on more than 30 million tax records. A school's mobility rate is the share of its students who move from the bottom income quintile to the top. Among the 11 schools on this list with available data, that rate averages 1.9%. University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff leads the group at 2.8%, with Henderson State University (2.4%) and Arkansas State University (2.4%) close behind.
Who gets in matters as much as what happens after. Across these schools, an average of 11.9% of students start in the bottom income quintile. University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff leads at 32.3%, which signals an admissions door that is actually open to low-income students. Schools that pair high access with high mobility are the ones driving generational change.
Once low-income students enroll, their odds of reaching the top income quintile average 18% across this list. University of Arkansas posts the highest success rate at 32.6%. Access without completion and career momentum is an incomplete picture, and this is the number that completes it.
Social capital, measured by economic connectedness, captures the degree of cross-class friendship on campus, another dimension Opportunity Insights ties to long-run outcomes. Across these schools it averages 1.41 against a national benchmark of 1.0. Hendrix College reaches 1.70, the highest on the list.
Mobility, access, and social-capital figures from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card & the Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas.
Cost & Debt
What families actually pay and what students owe. Data from College Scorecard.
Median Debt at Graduation
Looking closely at the data, we see a clear pattern that sets schools apart in this ranking. Arkansas Tech University, with a graduation rate of 49%, has average earnings of $41,766, while Arkansas State University at Beebe, with a graduation rate of 40%, lags behind in earnings at $36,603. This suggests that while both schools are viable options, Arkansas Tech University may provide a better return on investment for students who prioritize post-graduation earnings.
As you sift through these rankings, consider your own priorities. Think about factors such as your financial situation, campus culture, and the specific nursing programs offered. Make a list of what matters most to you. For instance, if minimizing debt is crucial, you might want to focus on schools with lower net prices, even if that means a potentially lower graduation rate.
Ultimately, the decision you make about which nursing college to attend can have a lasting impact on your future. These programs can pave the way to stable employment in a high-demand field. Every student’s journey is unique, and the choices we make now shape our lives ahead. A thorough assessment of these schools can lead to a more informed decision that aligns with your personal and professional aspirations.
Data Sources
U.S. Dept of Education College Scorecard
Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card
Social Capital Atlas
Times Higher Education World Rankings
NCES IPEDS
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Nursing Colleges in Arkansas: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best Nursing Colleges in Arkansas ranking? +
University of Arkansas at Little Rock in Little Rock, AR ranks #1 in our 2026 Best Nursing Colleges in Arkansas ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $45,265 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 42% graduation rate. Our score is built entirely from federal data on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt, and social mobility. Reputation surveys play no part.
Which school has the highest graduate earnings? +
University of Arkansas Grantham posts the highest median earnings on this list: $63,496 ten years after enrollment, well above the $48,659 average across the 14 ranked schools with earnings data. Earnings that outpace cost are what separate a degree that pays off from one that does not.
Which school offers the best value? +
On a pure return-on-cost basis, University of Arkansas Grantham leads: graduates earn a median $63,496 against net price of about $8,370 a year, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio in the ranking. Applicants should weigh that payback against sticker price rather than prestige.
Which school has the highest graduation rate? +
Hendrix College has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 71%, compared with a 53% average across the list. Completion matters because the students who finish are the ones who actually capture the earnings and mobility gains a degree promises.
How much does it cost to attend these schools? +
The average net price, meaning what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, is about $17,129 a year across the 14 ranked schools with cost data. University of Arkansas Grantham is among the most affordable at roughly $8,370. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Best Nursing Colleges in Arkansas ranking calculated? +
We score every school on a four-pillar algorithm: economic outcomes (graduate earnings and debt), social mobility (Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built on more than 30 million anonymized tax records), academic quality (graduation and retention), and value (net price and loan burden). Social mobility carries the heaviest weight, so schools that lift low-income students into higher earnings rank above those that simply admit wealthy students. Every input comes from federal data, and schools that withhold their numbers are scored lower for it.
How many schools are ranked and where does the data come from? +
This ranking evaluates 14 institutions using the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, the Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card and Social Capital Atlas, Times Higher Education, and NCES IPEDS. There are no opinion surveys or paid placements. The order is determined by the data alone and refreshed as new federal figures are released.
Sources & Citations
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