Best colleges for nursing in Arkansas
Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in nursing, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for nursing in Arkansas14 schools
14 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in Arkansas.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Offers a bachelor’s program in nursing, from the College Scorecard field-of-study data (credential level 3).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
John Brown University
Siloam Springs, AR · Private nonprofit#2 in Arkansas
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B · Top 45%
- 2
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR · Public#3 in Arkansas
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B+ · Top 31%
- 3
Harding University
Searcy, AR · Private nonprofit#4 in Arkansas
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B-
- 4
Ouachita Baptist University
Arkadelphia, AR · Private nonprofit#5 in Arkansas
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B
- 5
University of Arkansas at Monticello
Monticello, AR · Public#6 in Arkansas
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B-
- 6
Arkansas State University
Jonesboro, AR · PublicTop 23% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B · Top 39%
- 7
University of Central Arkansas
Conway, AR · Public#9 in Arkansas
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B · Top 45%
- 8
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Little Rock, AR · Public#11 in Arkansas
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B
- 9
Arkansas Tech University
Russellville, AR · PublicTop 25% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B · Top 44%
- 10
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
Magnolia, AR · Public#13 in Arkansas
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B · Top 41%
- 11
University of Arkansas Grantham
LIttle Rock, AR · PublicTop 11% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade A · Top 5%
- 12
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Pine Bluff, AR · PublicTop 24% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B-
- 13
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
Fort Smith, AR · PublicTop 17% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B+ · Top 30%
- 14
Henderson State University
Arkadelphia, AR · Public#19 in Arkansas
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B-
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Brown University | $20,397 | $21,250 | $53,907 | 72% |
| University of Arkansas | $18,209 | $21,500 | $58,191 | 71% |
| Harding University | $22,130 | $26,500 | $52,876 | 69% |
| Ouachita Baptist University | $22,409 | $21,050 | $51,673 | 61% |
| University of Arkansas at Monticello | $14,287 | $19,971 | $36,902 | 49% |
| Arkansas State University | $12,366 | $20,500 | $42,617 | 55% |
| University of Central Arkansas | $16,511 | $20,346 | $45,938 | 54% |
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock | $17,248 | $22,000 | $45,265 | 42% |
| Arkansas Tech University | $12,970 | $21,000 | $41,766 | 49% |
| Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | $14,027 | $18,750 | $42,386 | 49% |
| University of Arkansas Grantham | $8,370 | $21,956 | $63,496 | 43% |
| University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff | $12,653 | $24,202 | $35,550 | 40% |
| University of Arkansas-Fort Smith | $10,574 | $18,250 | $41,102 | 38% |
| Henderson State University | $23,405 | $19,500 | $43,459 | 37% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 16
- Arizona 10
- California 53
- Colorado 16
- Connecticut 17
- Delaware 3
- District of Columbia 6
- Florida 35
- Georgia 37
- Hawaii 4
- Idaho 5
- Illinois 33
- Indiana 30
- Iowa 19
- Kansas 18
- Kentucky 20
- Louisiana 17
- Maine 9
- Maryland 12
- Massachusetts 24
- Michigan 28
- Minnesota 25
- Mississippi 8
- Missouri 36
- Montana 7
- Nebraska 10
- Nevada 6
- New Hampshire 9
- New Jersey 23
- New Mexico 7
- New York 58
- North Carolina 33
- North Dakota 7
- Ohio 64
- Oklahoma 17
- Oregon 6
- Pennsylvania 68
- Puerto Rico 33
- Rhode Island 5
- South Carolina 20
- South Dakota 7
- Tennessee 31
- Texas 52
- Utah 14
- Vermont 3
- Virginia 33
- Washington 16
- West Virginia 15
- Wisconsin 24