When Britney Alvarado decided to return to school for nursing, convenience was not just a preference. It was a necessity. As a new mother, she needed a college that would allow her to keep pursuing her goals without taking her too far from home.

The Hope, Arkansas, native already knew UAHT well. She earned her Associate of Arts degree from the college in 2022, then returned to begin the next chapter of her education in nursing.

“I chose to attend UAHT because it was close to home,” Britney said. “As a mother, I could not afford to travel back and forth to and from another college.”

That decision allowed her to stay close to her family while continuing to build toward a career in healthcare.

Returning to school also came with financial concerns. Britney had recently had her son and was unsure how she would pay for nursing school. Pell Grants and Arkansas Career Pathways helped make it possible for her to continue both through the LPN program and into the RN program.

“I was worried about how I would pay for it because I had just had my son at the time, but I was able to get help from Career Pathways and Pell Grants both in the LPN program and RN program,” she said.

Britney graduated from UAHT’s Licensed Practical Nursing program in 2026 and is now working toward an Associate of Applied Science in Registered Nursing through the Arkansas Rural Nursing Education Consortium, or ARNEC.

Along the way, she said the support she has received at UAHT has made a lasting impression.

“It has been nothing short of amazing,” Britney said. “The staff is great and friendly, the teacher-to-student ratio is great, and if I have any questions, they are welcomed and answered.”

That personal attention has helped Britney feel supported as she takes on each new step in her education. She currently works at Heather Manor Nursing Home, giving her the opportunity to gain experience in the field while continuing her studies.

Britney also recommends UAHT to others because of the range of opportunities available to students.

“There are so many opportunities they offer no matter what you want to do,” she said.

Her next goal is to graduate from the ARNEC program and begin working as a registered nurse. Reaching that point will mark another major step in a journey that began with a decision to continue her education close to home.

From earning her first associate degree to becoming an LPN and now working toward her RN, Britney has continued building on each accomplishment. With every step, she is moving closer to the nursing career she has worked to create for herself and her family.