Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at National Park College

National Park College's nursing program starts strong with first-year earnings above $67,000, but graduates see their pay drop by roughly $8,000 within four years—an unusual pattern for a field known for steady compensation. While that first-year figure lands in the 60th percentile among Arkansas nursing programs, it trails considerably behind top performers in the state like Phillips Community College ($78,213) and ASU-Newport ($74,682). The debt load of $16,250 is manageable in absolute terms, making for a low 0.24 debt-to-earnings ratio initially, though it's worth noting this sits higher than both the state and national median debt for associate nursing programs.

The earnings decline is the real concern here. Most nurses see income stability or growth as they gain experience, making this backwards trajectory a red flag that warrants investigation. It could reflect local market conditions in Hot Springs, graduates leaving clinical nursing roles, or something specific about employment patterns for this program's alumni. The moderate sample size means the data is reasonably reliable, not based on just a handful of graduates.

For families considering this program, the math works if your child plans to work in the Hot Springs area and the lower cost of living makes that $59,000+ viable long-term. But if stronger earning potential matters, other Arkansas programs offer $10,000+ more annually without significantly higher debt—a difference of over $40,000 across just four years.