The University of Arkansas at Little Rock online Bachelor of Science in nursing (RN to BSN) Program has been ranked the best in the state for the second year in a row.

RegisteredNursing.org, a nursing advocacy organization, ranked UA Little Rock first in its annual list of the Best Online RN to BSN Programs in Arkansas.

“We are very excited to be ranked #1, considering the vast number of online-only options nurses have for completing their BSN,” said Dr. Sloan Davidson, director of the UA Little Rock School of Nursing. “This is the second year in a row that we received this ranking.”

The Bachelor of Science in nursing is an accelerated, online completion program that offers registered nurse graduates of either an associate or a diploma program the opportunity to pursue a BSN while continuing employment.

The accelerated program is designed to be completed in 12 or 18 months. The course work builds on the curriculum foundation of the core registered nurse program and covers topics such as health assessment, wellness promotion, economics, research, legalities, leadership, and advocacy.

“We have all our courses Quality Matters Certified, signifying excellence in online education,” Davidson said. “Our faculty are experienced and student-centered. We allow ease of admission with three cycles per year in spring, summer, and fall. Students in our AAS program are automatically given a position in the RN-BSN program and can take two of the required courses during their last semester in the AAS program.”

Many nurses in Arkansas have found an advantage in furthering their nursing education through an accelerated online program that allows them to work while completing a degree that will make them eligible to pursue a wider variety of nursing positions as well as earn a higher salary.

“We care about our students and understand they have many responsibilities in addition to attending classes,” said Belinda Nix, academic counselor for the RN to BSN program. “We take a holistic approach to advising students and do our best to help them navigate their educational journey.” 

Nursing programs were assessed on several factors that represent how well a program supports students during school, towards licensure, and beyond using data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education, and the Council for Community and Economic Research.