North Arkansas College received notice its Registered Nursing (RN) program was one of two institutions ranked as the fifth Best RN program in the state for 2025. NorthWest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville tied with Northark at fifth.
Nursing Explorer is a respected site which helps students make decisions about their future career. Rankings are designed to help students compare programs, assess consistency, and make informed decisions. There were 41 nursing schools spread across 52 cities in Arkansas. Only schools who have graduated students in two of the past three years and have an average pass rate of 80% or higher were eligible.
According to Nursing Explorer, the state’s average pass rate for the NCLEX is 85.4%. Northark’s RN program had a 100% pass rate last semester.
The ranking methodology is based on NCLEX-PN and NCLEX-RN pass rates, using advanced statistical methods to identify natural performance groupings and ensures fair, meaningful comparisons. Northark’s weighted 3-year NCLEX pass rate is 91.95%. The state-specific rankings are based on a weighted average of NCLEX pass rates over the past three years (weighted by the number of test-takers), with a recency factor that prioritizes more recent results.
“This ranking reflects the dedication of our faculty and students and reinforces Northark’s commitment to providing a high-quality, accessible education,” said North Arkansas College President Rick Massengale. “Earning a top five ranking statewide-and achieving a 100% pass rate-shows that our RN program is preparing graduates to succeed and serve the needs of our communities.”
Arkansas is experiencing a critical shortage of registered nurses with only 76% of the required nurses to meet demand. Rural locations are especially affected.
“Our graduates are exceptionally well-prepared,” noted Carla Jacobs, executive director of Health Professions/RN program director. “This ranking affirms the strength of our curriculum, clinical partnerships, and commitment to student success – particularly in healthcare settings.”
Northark has partnerships with several institutions throughout Arkansas which allow for a seamless transfer of credits to four-year colleges. Nursing Explorer noted the average salary for RN’s is $73,453 per year.
The full list of rankings can be viewed at the following link: https://www.nursingexplorer.com/states/arkansas