Arkansas has six universities offering nurse practitioner programs across six NP population foci — FNP, PMHNP, AGPCNP, AGACNP, and both pediatric primary and acute care. Students can enter at the master’s, BSN-to-DNP, or post-graduate certificate level, though which levels are open depends almost entirely on the specialty chosen.
Jump to: FNP (6) PMHNP (2) AGPCNP (1) AGACNP (2) PNP-PC (1) PNP-AC (1)
The state splits sharply. The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) offers all six populations at all three credential levels, plus a dual pediatric certification track. Arkansas State offers three specialties fully online at the lowest published prices in the state. The remaining four universities — Harding, Henderson State, the University of Arkansas, and Central Arkansas — offer family nurse practitioner preparation only.
Compare Arkansas Nurse Practitioner Programs
| School | FNP | PMHNP | AGPCNP | AGACNP | PNP-PC | PNP-AC | Degrees | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas State University | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ | — | — | MSN • Certificate | Online |
| Harding University | ✓ | — | — | — | — | — | MSN • Certificate | Hybrid |
| Henderson State University | ✓ | — | — | — | — | — | MSN | Mostly Online |
| University of Arkansas | ✓ | — | — | — | — | — | BSN-DNP | Mostly Online |
| University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | MNSc • DNP • Certificate | Varies by specialty |
| University of Central Arkansas | ✓ | — | — | — | — | — | MSN | Hybrid |
A dash means no program was identified in the statewide specialty inventories, not confirmation that a school does not offer the specialty.
UAMS also offers a dual primary care and acute care pediatric track, producing eligibility for both the CPNP-PC and CPNP-AC exams from a single degree. It is the only combined-population NP option in the state.
Format differences are travel differences. Arkansas State requires no campus attendance for any of its three specialties. UAMS varies by specialty: its PMHNP tracks are mostly online with one onsite orientation day per distance-delivered course, while its pediatric coursework carries in-person laboratory sessions in Little Rock or at a Regional Campus. Confirm the requirement for your specialty rather than for the university.
Arkansas NP Programs by Specialty
Family Nurse Practitioner Programs
All six Arkansas universities offer FNP preparation, making it the only specialty in the state with genuine choice.
| School | Key Difference |
|---|---|
| Arkansas State | Lowest published tuition in the state, and no required campus attendance |
| Henderson State | Lowest-cost CCNE-accredited master’s |
| Central Arkansas | Public master’s with the lowest RN-hour requirement |
| UAMS | Only school offering FNP at master’s, doctoral, and certificate level |
| University of Arkansas | Doctoral-only entry, with in-state pricing for every online student |
| Harding | Faith-based cohort with the state’s heaviest campus commitment |
- Master’s entry is available at five schools. The University of Arkansas offers the FNP only as a BSN-to-DNP.
- Accreditation divides the low-cost options. Arkansas State is ACEN; the others are CCNE. Both qualify graduates for certification, but some employers and doctoral programs prefer CCNE.
- Clinical hour requirements vary more than usual: 540 at Henderson State against 750 at Arkansas State and Harding and 770 at UAMS.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Programs
Two universities offer PMHNP preparation, and the choice between them is unusually clean.
Arkansas State runs an MSN and a post-master’s certificate, both fully online with no required campus time, at a flat rate for every U.S. resident. It is ACEN-accredited and admits on a 3.25 GPA with 1,500 documented RN hours, the steeper academic bar of the two.
UAMS offers PMHNP at master’s, doctoral, and certificate level under CCNE accreditation, and is the only Arkansas school with a PMHNP doctorate. Its tracks are mostly online, with one onsite orientation day per distance-delivered course, and a specialty coordinator negotiates each practicum near the student’s home. The practical trade is accreditation body and placement support against cost and a single annual start.
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP Programs
UAMS is the only university offering AGPCNP preparation in Arkansas, at master’s, doctoral, and certificate level. One requirement matters more than any program detail: UAMS needs a minimum of ten new enrollees to run the AGPCNP cohort and may route applicants into the FNP specialty if that minimum is not met. Anyone set on adult-gerontology primary care should ask about cohort status before applying.
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP Programs
Two universities offer AGACNP preparation. Arkansas State delivers its MSN and certificate fully online with optional weekend skills labs, and is the cheaper of the two. UAMS offers master’s, doctoral, and certificate routes, and its doctoral training covers procedures the online alternative does not document, including central and arterial lines, lumbar puncture, paracentesis, and ventilator management.
UAMS also bars students from rotating where they work and requires a different facility each semester. That is demanding, but it produces broader employer exposure.
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Programs
UAMS is the only pediatric NP provider in Arkansas, and it covers both populations at master’s, doctoral, and certificate level. Three features stand out:
- The dual primary and acute care DNP runs both full sequences, 89 credits and 1,750 practicum hours, for eligibility on both certification exams.
- The acute care track publishes no PICU or inpatient pediatric experience requirement, which is unusual and opens the door to nurses from other backgrounds.
- Certificates in both populations run 18 credits at about $9,450 for residents, among the lowest-priced pediatric NP certificates anywhere.
UAMS does not publish clock hours for the certificate practicum courses. Since certification eligibility depends on meeting a 500-hour minimum, confirm that figure in writing before enrolling.
Which Arkansas NP School Fits Your Goals?
Widest NP specialty selection: UAMS. Six population foci at three credential levels, plus a dual pediatric track. No other Arkansas school offers more than three.
Lowest-cost master’s: Arkansas State, at roughly $15,770 for the FNP on a flat rate charged to every U.S. resident.
Lowest-cost CCNE master’s: Henderson State, at about $21,780. It is the closest alternative for nurses who want Arkansas State’s price point under CCNE accreditation.
Least campus travel: Arkansas State. All three of its specialties are delivered with no required campus attendance; weekend skills labs are optional.
Best value for out-of-state nurses: Two answers. The University of Arkansas charges every online student the in-state rate regardless of residency. UAMS extends Arkansas resident pricing to nurses in Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas, a $26,136 difference on a 72-credit doctorate.
Only route to pediatric or dual-population practice: UAMS, by default and by depth.
Arkansas NP Programs by Entry Pathway
ADN or RN to NP Programs
No Arkansas university offers an ADN-to-MSN or RN-to-MSN pathway into nurse practitioner practice. UAMS runs an RN-to-MNSc, but it pairs the RN-to-BSN curriculum with the nursing administration track and does not lead to NP certification. Nurses holding an associate degree or diploma will need to complete a BSN first, or look outside the state.
BSN to MSN NP Programs
Five universities offer master’s-level NP entry:
- UAMS: FNP, PMHNP, AGPCNP, AGACNP, PNP-PC, PNP-AC
- Arkansas State: FNP, PMHNP, AGACNP
- Harding, Henderson State, Central Arkansas: FNP
This is where the state’s concentration shows most. For four of the six specialties in Arkansas, a master’s is available only at UAMS.
BSN to DNP NP Programs
Two universities offer direct doctoral entry:
- UAMS: all six populations plus the dual pediatric track
- University of Arkansas: FNP only
Cost is comparable, about $37,800 at UAMS for residents against $36K to $48K at the University of Arkansas, but the structures differ. The University of Arkansas is summer-entry only with student-arranged preceptors. UAMS is hybrid, with coordinator involvement in placement and 1,120 practicum hours over three to four years.
MSN to DNP Programs
UAMS is the only in-state option. It accepts up to 36 master’s hours toward the doctorate, and already-certified APRNs adding a second population focus can transfer up to 18 credits. Nurses wanting a doctorate in a specialty UAMS does not fit will need to look at national programs.
Post-Graduate NP Certificates
Certificate availability is broader than degree availability:
- UAMS: FNP, PMHNP, AGPCNP, AGACNP, PNP-PC, PNP-AC
- Arkansas State: FNP, PMHNP, AGACNP
- Harding: FNP
Every certificate begins with a gap analysis, so published credits and prices are floors rather than fixed figures. Nurses missing advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, or assessment add coursework; already-certified APRNs typically see the largest reductions. One planning note: Arkansas State’s certificates are not eligible for financial aid.
What Do NP Programs Cost in Arkansas?
| School | Published Tuition Rate | Important Cost Context |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas State | Varies by specialty — verify current rate | Sources show $380 per credit for FNP and AGACNP and $500–$510 for PMHNP; certificates are not financial-aid eligible |
| Harding | ~$49,000 (MSN), ~$34,000 (certificate) | FNP only; private university; three intensives a year add travel cost |
| Henderson State | ~$21,780 total (MSN) | FNP only; flat rate for all students; 540 clinical hours |
| University of Arkansas | $36,000–$48,000 total (BSN-DNP) | FNP only; all online students pay the in-state rate |
| UAMS | $525 per credit resident, $888 non-resident | All six specialties; six border states pay the resident rate; published fee totals disagree across sources — verify before budgeting |
| Central Arkansas | ~$21,000 total (MSN) | FNP only; clinical hours and placement approach not published |
Compare like with like. Among master’s programs, Arkansas State leads at about $15,770, with Central Arkansas and Henderson State near $21K to $22K and Harding well above. The UAMS MNSc total varies by specialty and credit load, running from roughly $22K to $27K for residents. Among BSN-to-DNP programs, UAMS and the University of Arkansas are close. Among FNP certificates, Arkansas State is roughly $8,200, UAMS about $11,000, and Harding about $34,000.
The lowest per-credit rate does not always produce the lowest total. Credit counts differ, fees are not always included, and the cheapest school may not offer the specialty you want.
Online NP Programs in Arkansas
No required campus attendance
- Arkansas State — FNP, PMHNP, and AGACNP; weekend skills labs are optional
Limited campus attendance
- University of Arkansas — FNP DNP; one-time orientation
- Henderson State — FNP; one two-day assessment session
Recurring campus attendance
- UAMS — requirements differ by specialty. PMHNP tracks are mostly online with one onsite orientation day per distance-delivered course; pediatric coursework carries in-person laboratory sessions in Little Rock or at a Regional Campus
- Central Arkansas — FNP; campus time for advanced assessment and the clinical immersion
- Harding — FNP; three intensives a year
The gap between the top and bottom of this list is the difference between never traveling and traveling several times a year. UAMS describes itself as hybrid rather than online, and the description is accurate: it works for someone living a few hours from Little Rock, not for someone in another region. Confirm required dates before enrolling anywhere, since “online” rarely means zero travel.
Clinical Placement and Practicum Requirements
| School | Placement Approach | Important Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Henderson State | Arranged within the student’s region | FNP only; 540 clinical hours, the state’s lowest |
| UAMS | Coordinator-negotiated | Cannot rotate where you work; new facility each semester |
| Arkansas State | Student-secured | Practicums only in states where the university holds operating authority |
| University of Arkansas | Student-secured | Summer entry only |
| Harding | Local sites, student travels | Excludes Louisiana, New York, and North Carolina residents |
| Central Arkansas | Not clearly stated | Clinical hour total not published |
This is the state’s sharpest practical divide. Henderson State arranges placements regionally. UAMS assigns a specialty coordinator who negotiates each practicum with an approved preceptor near the student’s home. That is documented for PMHNP; confirm it holds for your specialty, since placement delays are the most common reason NP students fall behind a plan of study.
Nurses without established clinical connections, particularly in rural Arkansas, should weigh this more heavily than tuition.
Choosing an NP Program in Arkansas
1. Start with specialty, not price. Four of the six specialties in Arkansas are available at one university. That constraint decides most applications before cost enters the picture.
2. Decide between primary and acute care early. Arkansas has two AGACNP schools and one AGPCNP school, and switching populations later generally means a second credential.
3. Match the pathway before comparing tuition. A certificate is not a cheaper master’s, and a master’s is not a discounted doctorate. Arkansas licensure requires only a master’s plus national certification, so the doctorate should be a choice about leadership, faculty, or systems roles.
4. Price the campus travel. Three intensives a year at Harding or in-person labs at UAMS are real annual costs that no published tuition figure includes.
5. Check the RN-hour requirement first if you are early in your career. Arkansas gates unusually hard: 1,000 hours at Central Arkansas, 1,500 at Arkansas State, and 2,000 at Henderson State and UAMS.
6. Ask who finds your preceptors. Get the answer in writing before you commit.
FAQ
How many nurse practitioner schools are in Arkansas?
Six universities offer NP programs: UAMS, Arkansas State, Harding, Henderson State, the University of Arkansas, and the University of Central Arkansas.
Which NP specialties are available in Arkansas?
Six population foci: FNP, PMHNP, AGPCNP, AGACNP, pediatric primary care, and pediatric acute care, plus a dual pediatric certification track at UAMS.
Which Arkansas school offers the most NP specialties?
UAMS, by a wide margin. It offers all six populations at master’s, doctoral, and certificate level. Arkansas State is next with three; the other four universities offer FNP only.
Are there fully online NP programs in Arkansas?
Arkansas State is the only school with no required campus attendance, across all three of its specialties. Henderson State requires one two-day session and the University of Arkansas a single orientation. Central Arkansas and Harding require recurring in-person time, and UAMS requirements differ by specialty.
Can I become an NP in Arkansas with an ADN?
Not directly. No Arkansas university offers an ADN-to-MSN or RN-to-MSN nurse practitioner bridge. You would need to complete a BSN first, or consider programs outside the state.
Which Arkansas schools offer BSN-to-DNP programs?
UAMS, across all six populations plus the dual pediatric track, and the University of Arkansas, for FNP only.
What are the lowest-cost NP options in Arkansas?
Arkansas State leads at the master’s level, about $15,770 for the FNP, and at the certificate level, about $8,200. For doctoral study, UAMS runs about $37,800 for residents and for nurses in six border states.