NCLEX pass rates in Arkansas
85.9% of Arkansas nursing graduates passed the NCLEX-RN on their first attempt in 2026, 0.8 points below the 86.7% national rate for 2025. In 2024 the figure was 92.3%.
First-time NCLEX-RN pass rate in Arkansas
- 2024 2,195 first-time takers92.3%
- 2025 2,332 first-time takers87.7%
- 2026 2,447 first-time takers85.9%
United States, 2025: 86.7%
All programs combined, US-educated first-time candidates. Source: Arkansas board of nursing (opens in a new tab), not stated by board. National rate from NCSBN (opens in a new tab). Portions copyrighted by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. All rights reserved.
By type of program
| Program type | Programs | First-time test-takers | Pass rate | National 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's (BSN) | 13 | 939 | 88.2% | 87.6% |
| Associate (ADN) | 24 | 1,482 | 84.3% | 86.1% |
| Entry-level master's | 1 | 12 | 100.0% | – |
Each program's most recent reporting year, pooled. Programs reporting under another school are included in the type that board lists them under.
Highest pass rates among 37 ranked programs
7 programs at 95% or higher, 12 programs at 90% to 94.9%, 13 programs at 80% to 89.9%, 5 programs at under 80%. Pass rates here are pooled over each program's last three reporting years, and only programs with at least 20 first-time test-takers are ranked.
| Program | Type | Pass rate | First-time test-takers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harding University | Entry-level master's | 100.0% | 30 |
| Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | BSN | 98.9% | 89 |
| University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton | ADN | 98.8% | 84 |
| Arkansas Tech University | BSN | 97.4% | 191 |
| Baptist Health College Little Rock | ADN | 96.7% | 489 |
| University of Arkansas-Fort Smith | BSN | 96.0% | 226 |
| Ouachita Baptist University | BSN | 95.3% | 64 |
| Jefferson Regional School of Nursing | ADN | 94.7% | 113 |
| Arkansas Tech University | ADN | 93.8% | 81 |
| University of Arkansas at Monticello | BSN | 93.5% | 31 |
Every ranked BSN program, with cost and pay, is on BSN programs in Arkansas.
Practical nursing (NCLEX-PN)
Graduates of practical and vocational nursing programs in Arkansas passed the NCLEX-PN on their first attempt 93.2% of the time in 2026, against 86.6% nationally in 2025.
What a pass rate does and does not tell you
The NCLEX is the licensing exam every US nurse must pass. A program's first-time pass rate reflects its students' preparation and the program's selectivity as well as its teaching, and small programs swing widely from year to year, so we pool three years and set a floor of 20 test-takers for ranking. Pass rates also say nothing about cost or what graduates earn.
Compare BSN programs in Arkansas. Registered nurses in Arkansas earned a median $78,940 in May 2025.
Common questions
What is the NCLEX-RN pass rate in Arkansas?
85.9% of Arkansas nursing graduates passed the NCLEX-RN on their first attempt in 2026, 0.8 points below the 86.7% national rate for 2025.
Which Arkansas nursing program has the highest NCLEX pass rate?
Among the 37 ranked programs, Harding University has the highest three-year first-time pass rate at 100.0%. Only programs with at least 20 first-time test-takers are ranked.
Does the pass rate count students who retake the exam?
No. The rates here are for first-time test-takers educated in the United States. Candidates who retake the exam are not counted in a program’s first-time rate.
Why do small programs swing so much from year to year?
A program with a few dozen test-takers can move several points on one or two results. We pool three years and rank only programs with at least 20 first-time test-takers to reduce that noise.