Arkansas offers 8 LPN-to-BSN bridge programs for Licensed Practical Nurses seeking bachelor's degrees and RN licensure eligibility. These programs recognize prior nursing education and provide pathways to BSN completion. Schools operate in Jonesboro, Russellville, Searcy, Fayetteville, Little Rock, and Conway, with program listings showing location and average NCLEX-RN pass rates for comparison.
Arkansas Tech University in Russellville 3-years average NCLEX pass rate for RN programs is 97.3%, and ranked among the highest in the state. The university follows the Arkansas Nursing Education Progression Model and awards 17 articulated credit hours for LPN/LPTN progression after completing ATU coursework. Admission requirements include a 3.0 prerequisite GPA, CPR certification, liability insurance, and criminal background check clearance. Application materials are due March 1st for fall admission.
Harding University in Searcy posts a 100% average NCLEX-RN pass rate for RN programs. The university operates an Advanced Placement Track for licensed nurses, including LPN to BSN students. Admission thresholds require a 2.0 overall GPA and 2.5 GPA in pre-nursing courses. Harding accepts applications on two annual deadlines: March 1st for fall entry and October 1st for spring entry.
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock shows a 91.0% NCLEX pass rate. Their BSN application window opens October 1, 2025 and closes March 1, 2026. UAMS requires TEAS testing for applicants without existing bachelor's degrees.
Arkansas RN licensure by examination requires applying through the Arkansas Nurse Portal and registering with Pearson VUE for NCLEX-RN testing. The state mandates completion of state and federal criminal background checks as part of the licensure process.
Review all eight programs using location and NCLEX-RN pass rate data below ...then verify current admissions requirements and timelines through individual school official website before submitting applications.
Where possible, we include NCLEX pass rates data for each campus. The average pass rates are calculated using the last 3 years of data. The average scores are then used in our annual RN/PN rankings. You can read more about it here. You can also view this year's rankings for Arkansas here.