Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Arkansas Tech University

Arkansas Tech University's nursing associate degree program sits in the middle of Arkansas's nursing landscape—above the state median but well behind the top performers. Graduates start at $67,063, which places them at the 60th percentile within Arkansas, though notably behind schools like Phillips Community College ($78,213) and Arkansas State-Newport ($74,682). The program does offer one significant advantage: relatively low debt. At $30,000, students here borrow about 50% less than at the typical nursing program nationally, which keeps the debt-to-earnings ratio manageable at 0.45.

The concerning pattern is what happens after that first year—earnings drop to $59,338 by year four, an 11% decline. This could reflect shifting work patterns, scheduling changes, or local market dynamics, but it's something to watch carefully. With fewer than 30 graduates in this data set, individual circumstances can skew the numbers substantially.

The practical calculation: Your child would likely graduate with moderate debt and competitive starting pay for Arkansas, but potentially earn less than peers from other state programs. If Arkansas Tech offers other advantages—location, family proximity, lower cost of attendance—the program remains viable. But purely from an ROI standpoint, several Arkansas community colleges deliver stronger outcomes at potentially lower overall cost.