Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Arkansas State University-Beebe

Similar nursing programs across Arkansas produce first-year earnings around $67,000, which tracks closely with the national median for associate-level RN programs. With estimated debt of $17,146, this translates to a manageable 0.26 debt-to-earnings ratio—meaning graduates would owe roughly three months of their first-year salary. That's a solid foundation for a career with clear advancement potential.

What's less certain is where exactly ASU-Beebe falls within Arkansas's competitive nursing landscape. The state's top-performing programs—like Phillips Community College and ASU-Newport—report first-year earnings in the mid-to-upper $70,000s, suggesting meaningful variation even among comparable programs. Without specific outcome data for Beebe, it's harder to know whether this program positions graduates closer to that $78,000 mark or the $67,000 state median. Factors like clinical placement partnerships, NCLEX pass rates, and relationships with major regional employers could make a substantial difference.

The fundamental calculus still looks reasonable: nursing offers steady demand and relatively low debt compared to earnings potential. But given the $10,000+ spread between top-performing programs and the median in Arkansas, it's worth investigating ASU-Beebe's specific track record—including where their graduates actually get hired and whether the program has strong ties to higher-paying hospital systems in the region.