NorthWest Arkansas Community College
NorthWest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) is a public community college in Bentonville that offers three nursing pathways: Practical Nursing (LPN), Associate Degree Nursing (ADN), and an LPN-to-ADN option.
As a community college, NWACC is generally one of the more budget-aware options in the region, but exact nursing program costs (tuition per credit hour, program fees, uniforms, testing packages, and background check/drug screen costs) vary by residency and year.
NCLEX-RN outcomes are one practical indicator students often compare. NWACC’s average weighted NCLEX-RN pass rate is 91.5%, close to the Arkansas state average of 91.1% (2024).
The Bentonville campus places students in the middle of Northwest Arkansas’s I-49 corridor, with commuting patterns that commonly include travel from Rogers, Springdale, and Fayetteville. Many students plan for early-morning clinical start times, so reliable transportation and extra drive-time during peak traffic hours are practical considerations.
The Northwest Arkansas Community College Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing is intended to prepare students for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses.
The program requires 33-34 hours of general courses and 35 hours of nursing courses in three generic Tracks.
- Track 1 begins in the fall semester every year and a maximum of 40 students are accepted.
- Track 2, accelerated begins in the first summer semester and a maximum of 30 students are accepted.
- Track 3, is an evening and weekend program beginning each spring and a maximum of 30 students are accepted.
Admission Requirements:
- High school diploma or GED equivalency certificate
- Meet admission criteria requirements of the college
- Overall GPA of 2.5 or above
- A valid current and unencumbered license to practice in Arkansas for LPNs Paramedics and RTs.
- Entrance exam (currently TEAS)
The application process for Tracks 1 and 2 begins early in the spring semester (about the 1st of February) and application for track 3 begins early in the fall semester (about the 1st of October).
Applications will be processed on the basis on prerequisite courses completed and grades obtained for the courses as well as TEAS score.
The committee will notify successful applicants for Track 1 in mid June, Track 2 applicants will be notified in late May and Track 3 applicants will be contacted in early January. The college will maintain an alternate list to fill positions that are declined.
Successful applicants will be required to present annual proof of negative Tuberculin skin test, proof of MMR immunizations, Varicella immunization, Hepatitis B vaccination, CPR certification, proof of health insurance, annual drug screening, annual clear criminal background check, proof of current physical exam (no more than 3 months before entering the program).
NCLEX-RN Pass Rates
Accreditations
Nursing Programs Accreditations
Institutional Accreditations
- North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
Nearby Nursing Schools
