3 Best BSN-to-DNP Programs in Arkansas – 2026
Written By: Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH
Interested in helping transform Arkansas’s healthcare delivery into a system that better meets the needs of the Natural State’s residents? As a nurse with a DNP degree, you’ll be in a position to do just that! Employment opportunities for nurses who hold DNP degrees are anticipated to increase by more than 61 percent within the next 10 years. Salaries are high, too: On average, graduates of one of the BSN-to-DNP programs in Arkansas earn $122,170 annually. Whether you’re interested in becoming a nurse practitioner, a nurse executive, a nurse educator, or a nurse data specialist, one of the programs on the compilation below of the best BSN-to-DNP programs in Arkansas will be the right choice for you.
WHAT ARE THE BEST BSN-TO-DNP PROGRAMS IN ARKANSAS (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2026?
(Based on our Ranking Methodology, listed below are the 3 Best BSN-to-DNP programs in Arkansas (Online & Campus) for 2026.
1. Arkansas State University - Jonesboro
Specialties Offered: Nurse Anesthesia
You'll complete 2,880 clinical hours, including supervised patient care and DNP practicum hours. This BSN-to-DNP program in Arkansas is affiliated with some of the most prestigious medical centers throughout Arkansas, Tennessee, and Mississippi, including Baptist North Little Rock, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, and Veteran Affairs’ Medical Center. Arkansas State University's Nurse Anesthesia is a face-to-face course taught at the university's campus in Jonesboro.
Admission Requirements: This BSN-to-DNP/Nurse Anesthesia program is only open to post-baccalaureate nurses who graduated from an accredited nursing program with a grade point average of 3.25 or higher. All applicants must take the Graduate Record Exam within five years of applying, and preference is given to applicants whose combined verbal and quantitative score is at least 300. Applicants must have at least one year of professional critical care experience and possess Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certifications, as well as either Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) or Cardiac Surgery Certification (CSC) credentials.
Why Choose This Program
• 100 percent of Arkansas State University's BSN-to-DNP/Nurse Anesthesia grads received employment offers within six months of completing the program.• Arkansas State University's Nurse Anesthesia program is one of the most affordable Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist tracks in the nation.
2. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences - Little Rock
Specialties Offered: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (Primary Care & Acute Care), and Nurse Anesthesia
While the Nurse Anesthesia track is taught entirely on the university's campus in Little Rock, the nurse practitioner tracks use a hybrid format that combines online coursework with face-to-face components, including labs, intensives, and clinical experiences. All BSN-to-DNP students share a foundational DNP pathway with courses like "Research Methodology," "Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Nursing Practice and Research," and "Evidence-based Practice." All students also complete a DNP project. Full-time students can earn their degree in nine semesters (36 months), while part-time students will complete the program in 12 semesters (48 months). Note that the Nurse Anesthesia track only admits full-time students.
Nurse Anesthesia students must complete 2,295 experiential hours at 13 clinical sites within central and northwestern Arkansas, including UAMS Medical Center, Washington Regional Medical Center, and Arkansas Children’s Hospital. NP students will complete 1,120 supervised hours of direct patient care and 770 DNP practicum hours at healthcare facilities throughout Arkansas, with an emphasis on hospitals and clinics serving rural and medically underserved communities. New UAMS students begin their BSN-to-DNP studies in the fall semester.
Admission Requirements: This program is only open to applicants with a BSN from an accredited nursing program who maintained a 3.0 grade point average throughout their undergraduate studies. All students must have a current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certificate, a valid nursing license in Arkansas or a compact state, and a minimum of two years of professional nursing experience. AGACNP, AGPCNP, and FNP students must be certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), while pediatric NP students must be certified in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS).
Nurse Anesthesia students must have at least one year of full-time critical care experience and certifications in Basic Life Support (BLS), ACLS, and PALS. Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) certification is highly recommended.
Why Choose This Program
• According to U.S. News & World Report, UAM offers the best DNP program in Arkansas.• University of Arkansas Medical Sciences' NP graduates score extremely high on their national certification exams. PMHNPs and PPCNPs have 100 percent first-time pass rates on their national certification exams, AGACNPs have first-time pass rates of 100 percent on the American Association Critical Care Nurses boards, and FNPs have first-time pass rates of 100 percent on the American Nursing Credential Center boards.
3. University of Arkansas - Fayetteville
Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner
Courses like "Translation of Evidence and Quality Improvement for Advanced Practice," "Statistics in Education and Health Professions," and "Quantitative Methods and Decision Making" will prepare you to undertake a four-semester DNP project in collaboration with a community or healthcare provider stakeholder. New cohorts can begin this program in the summer semester and graduate in four years if they enroll full-time. Part-time students have up to seven years to finish the degree.
Admission Requirements: You must apply separately to the University of Arkansas Graduate School and the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing DNP program. Applicants must have a BSN from an accredited nursing program with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and at least one year of professional nursing experience. You must have a valid license in the state where you'll be completing your clinical experiences.
Why Choose This Program
• U of A's BSN-to-DNP/FNP is affordably priced; moreover, in-state students and out-of-state students pay the same tuition.• Cohort sizes are capped at 25, guaranteeing that students will have plenty of opportunities to form close relationships with their colleagues and their instructors.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ANSWERED
1. Who Accredits BSN-to-DNP Programs In Arkansas?
| S.No. | Accrediting Agency |
| 1 | Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) |
| 2 | Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) |
2. How Many Schools Offer Accredited BSN-to-DNP Programs In Arkansas?
| 3 |
3. What Is The Average BSN-to-DNP Salary In Arkansas?
| Hourly | $58.74 |
| Weekly | $2,349 |
| Monthly | $10,180 |
| Annual | $122,170 |
4. On Average, How Much Do Entry-Level BSN-to-DNP Graduates Make In Arkansas?
| Hourly | $43.21 |
| Weekly | $1,728 |
| Monthly | $7,490 |
| Annual | $89,880 |
5. On Average, How Much Do Experienced BSN-to-DNP Graduates Make In Arkansas?
| Level of Experience | Hourly | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
| 1-4 Years of Experience | $48.89 | $1,956 | $8,480 | $101,700 |
| 5-9 Years of Experience | $57.72 | $2,309 | $10,000 | $120,050 |
| 10-19 Years of Experience | $64.27 | $2,571 | $11,140 | $133,690 |
| 20 Years or More Experience | $76.81 | $3,073 | $13,310 | $159,770 |
6. What Is The Average BSN-to-DNP Salary In Arkansas By Metro?
| Metro | Hourly | Monthly | Weekly | Annual |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | $63.34 | $10,980 | $2,533 | $131,740 |
| Fort Smith | $59.05 | $10,240 | $2,362 | $122,830 |
| Hot Springs | $56.09 | $9,720 | $2,243 | $116,660 |
| Jonesboro | $61.21 | $10,610 | $2,448 | $127,310 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | $58.06 | $10,060 | $2,323 | $120,770 |
| Pine Bluff | $58.42 | $10,130 | $2,337 | $121,510 |
7. Average BSN-to-DNP Salary In Arkansas VS. Average Salaries Of Other Closely Related Occupations In Arkansas
| Job Title | Average Annual Salary | Difference | |
| Number | % | ||
| Dentist | $168,760 | -$46,590 | -27.61% |
| Optometrist | $146,360 | -$24,190 | -16.53% |
| Pharmacist | $128,600 | -$6,430 | -5.00% |
| Podiatrist | $123,270 | -$1,100 | -0.89% |
| Nurse With BSN-to-DNP | $122,170 | $0 | 0.00% |
| Veterinarian | $112,550 | +$9,620 | +8.55% |
| Chiropractor | $110,110 | +$12,060 | +10.95% |
| Occupational Therapist | $92,680 | +$29,490 | +31.82% |
| Physical Therapist | $92,270 | +$29,900 | +32.40% |
| Physician Assistant | $88,720 | +$33,450 | +37.70% |
| Audiologist | $88,680 | +$33,490 | +37.76% |
| Radiation Therapist | $84,320 | +$37,850 | +44.89% |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $84,060 | +$38,110 | +45.34% |
| Dental Hygienist | $78,040 | +$44,130 | +56.55% |
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Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH
Pattie Trumble is a nurse who worked in both California and New York for many years as an emergency room nurse. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and an Associate Degree in Nursing from the Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing. After 10 years of providing direct care, she went back to school and earned concurrent Master’s degrees in both public policy and public health from the University of California, Berkeley. Thereafter, she worked for various public health agencies in California at both the community and state levels providing economic and legislative analysis.
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