Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at University of Arkansas at Monticello

The reported four-year earnings of $22,917 for this program create immediate concern—this figure sits well below both the estimated first-year earnings of $38,276 and what typical Arkansas nursing programs produce. While data limitations mean we're comparing estimated first-year outcomes against actual four-year results, this backward trajectory suggests something unusual is happening, whether it's graduates leaving the field, working part-time, or facing regional employment challenges. For context, top LPN programs across Arkansas routinely produce first-year earnings between $40,000-$48,000, with Baptist Health College Little Rock graduates earning $48,332 and Northwest Technical Institute hitting $47,715.

The $10,750 debt load sits slightly below Arkansas's $11,259 median for nursing programs, which offers some relief given the earnings uncertainty. At roughly 28% of estimated first-year earnings, this debt burden appears manageable if graduates actually achieve the state's typical $38,276 starting salary. However, that four-year earnings figure of $22,917 fundamentally undermines the value proposition—if it reflects the actual trajectory for UAM graduates, you're looking at debt equivalent to nearly half of annual income by year four.

Before committing, demand answers about that four-year earnings drop. Contact the school's nursing program directly and ask about job placement rates, whether graduates are finding full-time positions, and what explains the dramatic earnings decline. If they can't provide satisfactory explanations, the safer bet is one of Arkansas's better-performing LPN programs with proven track records.