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

South Arkansas College's nursing program produces graduates earning roughly $8,000 less than the typical Arkansas nursing graduate—a significant gap in a state where nursing already pays below the national average. While the program sits at the 40th percentile statewide, that ranking is misleading: compare their $59,370 first-year earnings to top performers like Phillips Community College ($78,213) or even mid-tier programs like Arkansas State ($70,358). That's nearly $11,000 annually your child could be earning elsewhere in Arkansas.

The debt load is reasonable at $17,146, creating a manageable 0.29 debt-to-earnings ratio. Graduates can realistically pay this off within a few years. However, the minimal earnings growth—just $2,500 over four years—suggests limited advancement or that many graduates remain in entry-level positions longer than peers from stronger programs.

The critical caveat: this data reflects fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes may vary considerably. For a parent weighing options, the question is why choose this program when Arkansas offers multiple nursing programs with significantly stronger earning trajectories and similar debt profiles? Unless geographic constraints make South Arkansas College uniquely accessible, your child would likely benefit from targeting one of the state's higher-performing nursing programs that better position graduates for competitive salaries from day one.