Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Arkansas State University-Beebe

Arkansas State University-Beebe's practical nursing program places graduates significantly ahead of most in-state alternatives, with first-year earnings of $44,546—ranking in the 60th percentile among Arkansas programs and $6,000+ above the state median. For families comparing in-state options, only two Arkansas programs show meaningfully higher earnings, making this a competitive choice within the state. The debt load of $15,968, while above Arkansas's typical $11,259, translates to a reasonable 0.36 debt-to-earnings ratio that graduates should be able to manage on an LPN salary.

However, the small graduate sample (under 30) means these figures could shift significantly year to year, and the program doesn't quite match the top performers in the state. Baptist Health College Little Rock and Northwest Technical Institute graduates earn roughly $3,000-$4,000 more annually, which compounds over a career. Still, for students prioritizing accessibility—a third of the campus receives Pell grants—this program delivers solid, middle-of-the-pack results both nationally and statewide.

The practical takeaway: This program gets Arkansas students reliably into LPN positions with manageable debt, but families should compare total costs carefully against Baptist Health or Northwest Technical if those are accessible options. For students already in the Beebe area or seeking a community college pathway, the earnings-to-debt balance works.