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

Arkansas Tech's nursing assistant program falls short of what other Arkansas schools deliver. While graduates earn around $48,000 in their first year—reasonable for a two-year healthcare credential—this trails both the national median ($51,744) and significantly lags behind the state median ($55,202). More concerning, Cossatot Community College's nursing graduates in Arkansas earn $62,500, showing a $14,000 gap that persists year after year. Among just two Arkansas schools offering this program, Arkansas Tech ranks in the 40th percentile.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $24,000, borrowing stays at half of first-year earnings, which is manageable territory for a healthcare role. Earnings also hold steady through year four rather than declining. However, the virtually flat growth from $47,902 to $48,892 suggests limited advancement potential within this credential level. Many nursing assistants use this as a stepping stone to RN programs, but as a terminal degree, the earning ceiling appears fixed.

Given the small sample size here, these numbers may not represent typical outcomes. But if your child is committed to nursing in Arkansas, Cossatot's substantially higher earnings warrant serious consideration. If Arkansas Tech is the only accessible option due to location or other factors, the debt load won't be crushing—just understand this program appears to prepare students for the lower end of nursing assistant compensation rather than positioning them competitively within the state's healthcare job market.