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

Arkansas Tech's nursing program sits squarely in the middle of the pack among Arkansas schools—ranking at the 40th percentile statewide—which means your graduate will likely earn less than nurses from most competing programs in the state. Starting at $68,794, graduates earn roughly $5,000 less annually than the typical Arkansas nursing grad and about $6,000 less than the national median. More concerning is the earnings trajectory: by year four, median pay drops to $64,390, suggesting many graduates may be shifting to lower-paying positions or reducing hours rather than advancing in their careers.

The relatively manageable debt load of $23,424 offers some consolation—graduates will owe less than the state median and recover this amount in roughly four months of work. Still, when University of Arkansas at Little Rock produces nurses earning $78,898 (a $10,000 difference) for only slightly higher debt, the value gap becomes apparent. Arkansas State and Henderson State also outperform Arkansas Tech by significant margins.

For a family prioritizing nursing education, Arkansas Tech offers an accessible entry point with a 96% admission rate and reasonable debt. But you're essentially paying for the middle tier of Arkansas nursing outcomes when stronger options exist in-state at comparable cost. If your student can gain admission to UALR or Arkansas State, the earnings advantage would compound substantially over a career.