About Arkansas State University
Arkansas State University is a public university in Jonesboro, Arkansas, in a small city. It enrolls roughly 9,110 undergraduates, and about 39% of them attend part time. The federal student-to-faculty ratio is about 17 to 1.
Nursing programs at Arkansas State University
The nursing offerings tracked in federal data here are the associate degree in nursing (ADN), bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN), master’s degree in nursing (MSN), and doctoral degree in nursing (DNP). Recent annual completions came to about 109 associate-degree nursing graduates, about 197 bachelor’s-level nursing graduates, about 43 master’s-level nursing graduates, and fewer than 5 doctoral-level nursing graduates. Offering both associate and bachelor’s pathways under one roof can make it easier to start with an ADN, earn your RN license, and move on to a BSN later; our ADN vs. BSN guide explains how to weigh the two. Graduate options (MSN and DNP) are aimed at licensed nurses moving into advanced practice, leadership, or teaching.
Cost and student outcomes
Published tuition and fees are about $8,400 a year for in-state students and $15,000 for out-of-state students. The average net price (what students receiving federal aid pay after grants and scholarships) is about $15,400 a year. About 43% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Students who finish the bachelor’s level and borrow leave with median federal loan debt of about $20,300. Federal earnings data puts median pay for those bachelor’s-level nursing graduates at roughly $78,900 one year after finishing and $88,600 four years out. These are estimates for graduates with reported earnings, not a promise. Schoolwide, about 58% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time and 78% return for a second year.
Applying and licensure
The school admits most applicants (about 82% overall), but that does not mean a nursing seat is guaranteed. Nursing programs usually add their own steps, such as prerequisite science courses, an entrance exam, a minimum GPA, and a limited number of seats, so contact the nursing department about current requirements. Our guide on how to get into nursing school walks through the typical process. To work as a nurse in Arkansas, graduates apply for a license with the state board of nursing in Arkansas and pass the NCLEX. Before you commit, verify the program’s ACEN or CCNE accreditation and state approval, and compare it with other options on our Arkansas nursing schools page.
Figures come from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and can change. Confirm current details with the school.