Arkansas has 28 ADN programs with admission requirements that vary considerably in selectivity, testing requirements, and application timing.
Entrance exam requirements: Northwest Arkansas Community College requires the NLN exam with a minimum composite score of 138. Baptist Health College Little Rock mandates ATI TEAS scores. East Arkansas Community College uses the PSB nursing entrance exam. These aren't interchangeable. A strong TEAS score doesn't satisfy an NLN requirement and vice versa.
If you're uncertain which programs you'll ultimately choose, you might take the most common exam first to keep options open. If you're targeting specific schools, take only the exams they require. Each test costs $50 to $150 and requires study time, so minimizing exam attempts saves both money and effort.
Score requirements vary even among schools using the same exam. NWACC specifies a 138 composite on the NLN, but other NLN-requiring schools might set different minimums. Some schools publish clear score thresholds, while others evaluate scores holistically alongside GPA and other factors. Schools refusing to publish minimum scores force you to apply without knowing if you're competitive, potentially wasting application fees.
Deadlines: Northwest Arkansas Community College accepts applications only between April 1 and May 1, a one-month window for a single annual fall cohort. Missing this deadline means waiting a full year. Baptist Health College Little Rock offers two opportunities annually, with a June 1 application deadline and June 15 file completion deadline for August start, plus separate deadlines for January admission. East Arkansas Community College sets a March 31 deadline, earlier than both NWACC and BHCLR.
These deadline differences affect planning. If you're taking prerequisite courses in spring semester, you might not complete them before EACC's March 31 deadline but could still meet NWACC's May 1 cutoff. Students who miss spring deadlines should identify programs with summer or fall deadlines to avoid losing an entire year.
File completion deadlines often follow application deadlines by days or weeks. Baptist Health's June 1 application deadline and June 15 completion deadline give you two weeks to gather transcripts, secure references, and finalize documentation. This buffer helps but requires organization. Official transcripts can take weeks to arrive, especially from out-of-state institutions. Request transcripts well before deadlines to avoid missing cutoffs due to processing delays.
Some programs use selective admission while others employ first-come, first-served within qualified applicants. Selective programs rank applicants by GPA, test scores, and sometimes additional factors like healthcare experience or volunteer work. First-come programs fill seats in application order once candidates meet minimum requirements. The approach affects whether you should apply early or can wait until closer to deadlines.
Prerequisite course requirements also vary. Common prerequisites include anatomy, physiology, microbiology, chemistry, math, English composition, and psychology. Some schools require all prerequisites complete before application, while others allow one or two courses in progress during the application semester. Schools may require specific course numbers from their institution or accept equivalents from other colleges, adding transfer evaluation complexity.
Healthcare experience requirements differ too. Some programs prefer or require CNA certification, medical assistant experience, or other healthcare exposure. Others admit students with no prior healthcare background. If you're career-changing into nursing without healthcare experience, verify that target programs don't require or heavily weight prior experience in admission decisions.
NCLEX-RN pass rates provide outcome data that sometimes correlate with admission selectivity. Northwest Arkansas Community College's 91.4% pass rate and Baptist Health College Little Rock's 90% rate (ranked #6 statewide in 2025) suggest strong preparation despite moderately accessible admission requirements. East Arkansas Community College's 83.3% pass rate and #10 ranking indicate lower outcomes despite a higher 2.80 GPA requirement, suggesting that selectivity alone doesn't guarantee superior results.
After completing any Arkansas ADN program, Arkansas State Board of Nursing licensure requires applying through ASBN, registering with Pearson VUE for NCLEX-RN, and completing state and federal criminal background checks.
Compare Arkansas's 28 state-approved ADN programs below. If you noticed that we missed a school/program that should have been included in the list, please let us know.
Updated: February 23, 2026
