Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at North Arkansas College

Nursing credentials consistently deliver strong returns, and the estimated figures for North Arkansas College's program suggest this holds true here. Based on peer programs nationally, graduates can expect around $66,000 in first-year earnings—solid middle-ground compensation for registered nurses entering the workforce. The estimated debt load of $19,250 is notably lower than the national median of $23,562 for similar nursing programs, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.29. That means roughly three months of gross income could theoretically cover the entire debt burden.

The challenge for parents evaluating this specific program is that both the earnings and debt figures come from comparable programs elsewhere, not from North Arkansas College's own graduates. With only four nursing programs of this type operating in Arkansas and none reporting public data, it's impossible to know whether this school performs better or worse than state peers. The national benchmarks suggest the credential itself has value—248 schools nationwide offer it with consistent outcomes—but local factors like clinical placement networks, instructor quality, and NCLEX pass rates matter enormously in nursing.

For families prioritizing affordability and entering healthcare quickly, the estimated debt level here is manageable if the earnings materialize as expected. But before committing, verify North Arkansas College's recent NCLEX pass rates and job placement outcomes directly with the nursing department—these concrete metrics matter more than estimated medians when your child's career is on the line.