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

Based on similar nursing programs across Arkansas, this certificate carries an estimated $11,218 in debt—about $3,500 less than the national median—while leading to first-year earnings around $38,276. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29 means graduates would owe roughly three and a half months of gross pay, which is manageable for an entry-level healthcare credential. However, it's worth noting that comparable programs elsewhere in Arkansas produce significantly higher outcomes: Baptist Health College Little Rock grads earn $48,332 their first year, and several other state programs clear $42,000. The nearly $10,000 gap between Arkansas State's estimated earnings and these top performers suggests the program may not be positioning graduates as competitively.

The underlying challenge is that Arkansas itself runs about $6,000 below the national median for practical nursing earnings. While the relatively low debt keeps this program from being a clear financial mistake, peer institutions in the same state are demonstrating that better outcomes are achievable. For families considering this route, the estimated figures here represent the middle-of-the-pack experience in Arkansas—adequate for entering the nursing workforce, but not the strongest launching pad available within a reasonable drive.