Online RN to BSN Programs in Arkansas

Best RN to BSN Online Programs in Arkansas

1. Arkansas State University

• Program: Online RN to BSN
• RN to BSN Credits: 30
• Length: 12 Months
• Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Yes
• NCLEX Pass Rates: 95.50%

A-State’s ACEN-accredited 100% Online RN to BSN is cheap, efficient, and approved by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing. The School of Nursing achieves highly respectable NCLEX pass rates and it offers a number of nursing scholarships, including some for RN to BSN students. Better yet, A-State has local relationships and partnerships with 500+ clinical sites in Arkansas. If you’re considering further education, keep in mind that the school also offers a number of highly affordable Online MSN programs.

2. University of Arkansas

• Program: Online RN to BSN
• RN to BSN Credits: 30
• Length: 3 Semesters (Full-Time); 4-5 Semesters (Part-Time)
• Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Yes—Check State Exceptions
• NCLEX Pass Rates: 83.50%

U of A’s 100% Online RN to BSN is the brainchild of the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing (EMSON). EMSON is a highly respectable choice in Arkansas—it achieves sturdy independent reviews and plaudits for its Online MSN. It also ensures that all Online RN to BSN courses are taught by full-time faculty. This convenient program includes one clinical immersion course that you will complete in your geographic area. You’ll be involved in a mentor-led quality improvement project.

3. University of Arkansas at Little Rock

• Program: Online RN to BSN
• RN to BSN Credits: 34
• Length: 12 Month (Full-Time); 18 Month (Part-Time)
• Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Yes
• NCLEX Pass Rates: 89.27%

UA Little Rock’s ACEN-accredited Online RN to BSN comes to you courtesy of a School of Nursing with excellent median earnings for BSN graduates and plenty of overachieving nursing faculty! Check out the School’s Highlights section for proof. The curriculum goes fairly deep for an RN to BSN program, with courses in Wellness Promotion & the Nurse Educator and Health Care Economics. We also love the fact that RN to BSN students are eligible for the generous Willard and Pat Walker Foundation Scholarship.

Cheapest RN to BSN Online Programs in Arkansas

Online RN to BSN programs in Arkansas are pretty affordable! All of the schools in our Cheapest AR rankings are between $8,000-$9,000, but even tuition rates at top-ranked options will be fairly reasonable. Feel free to compare these options with schools in our list of the Most Affordable Online RN to BSN Programs in the country.

1. Ouachita Baptist University

• Program: Online RN to BSN
• RN to BSN Credits: 30
• Affordable Pick for Out-of-State: Yes
• Cost Info: Tuition & Fees
• NCLEX Pass Rates: Unknown

OBU’s 100% Online RN to BSN comes with a special RN to BSN tuition rate. If you only have to complete 30 credits, then you’re looking at an affordable ACEN-accredited program from a Christian university. 8-week terms allow for entry into the degree at 5 times of the year.

2. Arkansas State University

• Program: Online RN to BSN
• RN to BSN Credits: 30
• Affordable Pick for Out-of-State: Yes
• Cost Info: Tuition & Fees
• NCLEX Pass Rates: 95.50%

Like OBU, the total cost for ASU’s 100% Online RN to BSN is just above $8,000. Prices are the same for in-state and out-of-state residents. For this ACEN-accredited program, you will have additional one-off costs (e.g. CPR certification). Be sure to check out the College of Nursing & Health Professions Scholarships.

3. University of Central Arkansas

• Program: Online RN to BSN
• RN to BSN Credits: 30
• Affordable Pick for Out-of-State: No
• Cost Info: Tuition & Fees
• NCLEX Pass Rates: 86.00%

The online tuition rate for UCA’s 100% Online RN to BSN is the same for all students. However, this program only accepts candidates with a current & unencumbered Arkansas RN license. And you may need to budget for additional per semester nursing fees. Happily, UCA’s School of Nursing Scholarships include RN to BSN awards.

Fastest Online RN to BSN Programs in Arkansas

To appear in our Fastest rankings, Arkansas Online RN to BSN programs had to take less than 1 year/3 semesters to complete on a full-time schedule. On its program website, OBU states that its 100% Online RN to BSN can be completed in 9-12 months. When we looked at the RN to BSN handbook, the plan of study was laid out for 1 year, but you may be able to get 30 credits done faster in 8-week terms. If you would like even more choice, have a look at our rankings of the Fastest Online RN to BSN Programs in the country.

RN to BSN Scholarships in Arkansas

RN to BSN Requirements in Arkansas

RN Licensure: Online RN to BSN degrees are classified as “post-licensure” programs. Arkansas universities will expect you to have—or be in the process of earning—an RN license. For instance, recent associate degree or diploma graduates in UALR’s 100% Online RN to BSN are allowed to take up to 4 BSN courses prior to sitting for the NCLEX-RN exam and earning a valid, unencumbered RN license.

• If you have any questions about state licensure, talk to the Arkansas Board of Nursing.
• The Board also posts NCLEX Pass Rates for Arkansas BSN programs from the past 5 years. These statistics don’t apply to post-licensure degrees like the RN to BSN, but we always like to use them as a general quality marker.

State Authorization: Do you live outside of Arkansas? Check the admissions requirements before you apply. Some schools will have limitations on non-resident candidates. For example:

• U of A’s 100% Online RN to BSN is currently unavailable to students residing in Colorado, Minnesota, and Washington.
• UCA’s 100% Online RN to BSN is only open to RNs with a current & unencumbered Arkansas RN license.

Arkansas Online RN to BSN Programs: FAQs

Are 100% Online RN to BSN Programs in Arkansas Available?

Absolutely. The vast majority of Online RN to BSN programs in our AR listings are 100% online, with no campus visits required.

Can I Choose a “No Clinicals” Online RN to BSN in Arkansas?

Not really. CCNE- and ACEN-accredited BSN-level programs always contain practicums in areas such as community & public health and leadership. However, you can usually complete these fieldwork experiences in your local area and/or place of employment. For instance:

• ATU’s Online RN to BSN features a Professional Practicum that involves a community-based teaching project and a Leadership and Management Practicum under the supervision of a nurse manager.
• U of A’s 100% Online RN to BSN contains a mentor-led, quality improvement project in an area of the student’s interest.
• HSU’s 100% Online RN to BSN has three clinical practice experiences in Community Health, Palliative and Gerontological Nursing, and the Capstone project.
• OBU’s 100% Online RN to BSN includes two courses with 45 practicum hours each. Practicum experiences are conducted in community and hospital settings agreed upon by students and instructors.

Do I Need Statistics to Apply for an Arkansas Online RN to BSN Program?

Probably. We saw it named as a prerequisite in all kinds of AR public university programs (e.g. U of A, ASU, UCA, UALR, etc.). However, we didn’t see it listed for OBU’s 100% Online RN to BSN. (Instead, OBU has prerequisites in Bible studies and mathematics.) If you don’t have stats on your transcript, ask the RN to BSN program coordinator if you’re allowed to take it as a co-requisite during the degree.

Are There Any Online RN to BSN to MSN Programs in Arkansas?

Not that we could find. Having said that, a number of schools offer Online MSN programs (e.g. A-State, U of A, etc.). You can opt for an affordable or fast Online RN to BSN program and then choose an Online MSN that suits you best.