Department ofNursing

About Nursing at SAU

Southern Arkansas University’s Department of Nursing offers a rigorous Bachelor of Science in Nursing program that blends classroom instruction with hands-on clinical practice—inclusive of immersive training in the Wharton Simulation Lab and real-world experiences at local medical facilities. Guided by a mission aligned with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), the program cultivates person-centered care, professionalism, critical thinking, effective communication, safety, and clinical judgment.

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First-Time NCLEX-RN passage rate
50 %

SAU Nursing is proud to announce a remarkable achievement—our 2026 NCLEX-RN first-time licensure exam candidates again achieved a 100% pass rate. For the second year running, all first-time BSN graduates have passed the NCLEX-RN on the first attempt. This exceptional milestone places SAU at the top among state-funded nursing programs in Arkansas.

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Note to Prospective Students

  • Admission to pre-nursing major does not guarantee admission to the nursing program. Pre-requisite courses must be completed prior to the start of the nursing program.
  • Beginning March 16, 2021, all pre-nursing students applying to our BSN program will need to complete a HESI standardized preadmission examination administered through the SAU Office of Counseling and Testing. This exam is for diagnostic purposes and must be taken at SAU. HESI Admission Assessment (HESI A2) preadmission examination score must be 75% or greater. The reported score does not round up to 75%. There is a maximum of three attempts to this preadmission exam.
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Recent News

Accreditation Notice

Public Notice of Opportunity to Submit Third-Party Comments

The Southern Arkansas University Department of Nursing announces that the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program is scheduled for an accreditation review by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) during September 14–16, 2026.

Consistent with the CCNE accreditation process, program constituents and other interested parties are invited to submit written third-party comments concerning the program’s qualifications for accreditation. Third-party comments must be received by August 24, 2026, which is at least 21 days before the scheduled evaluation visit.

Please note:

  • Only signed third-party comments are accepted by CCNE.
  • All comments must be submitted in English.
  • Third-party comments are shared only with members of the CCNE evaluation team prior to the accreditation visit and are not shared with the nursing program.
  • The evaluation team considers only those comments that relate to the CCNE accreditation standards.

Submit comments by email:
thirdpartycomments@ccneaccreditation.org
Or by mail:
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Attn: Third-Party Comments
655 K Street, NW, Suite 750
Washington, DC 20001

Submission Deadline: August 24, 2026

Thank you for your interest in the quality and continuous improvement of the Southern Arkansas University BSN Program.

Southern Arkansas University Department of Nursing

Posted July 9, 2026

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100 E. University, Magnolia, Arkansas 71753-5000 Telephone: (870) 235-4000
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