Compare NCLEX pass rates, costs, and outcomes for every ranked nursing program across Alabama.
Registered nurses in Alabama earn a median of about $65,900 a year, below the national median, while the cost of getting licensed swings hard depending on where you enroll. Net prices at top nursing schools in the state run from roughly $1,170 at community colleges like Northeast Alabama and Northwest-Shoals to around $14,279 at larger public universities.
That spread is the real decision. An associate degree still qualifies a graduate to sit for the NCLEX-RN and costs a fraction of a four-year path. But Alabama hospitals increasingly reserve new-grad residencies, charge roles, and leadership tracks for BSN-prepared nurses, which means the cheapest route into the profession and the most durable one are rarely the same program, a gap that RN to BSN programs in Alabama help close.
These Alabama nursing programs stand out for a practical mix: completion rates, realistic net price after aid, and post-graduation earnings. The list includes large public universities, a private university, and community college ADN options so students can compare traditional BSN, accelerated, direct-entry, and associate pathways side by side. Use the program details below to see which campus, clinical model, and price point fit your goals.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Auburn University | Auburn, AL | $13,000 – $35,000/yr (est.) | Campus learners wanting simulation-heavy training | |
Auburn University blends evidence-based practice with state-of-the-art simulation labs and hands-on clinical experiences at leading healthcare facilities. The BSN curriculum emphasizes health equity, interprofessional learning, and community partnerships, preparing graduates for hospital, clinic, leadership, research, and policy roles. The university's overall graduation rate is 82 percent, and students can also pursue a concurrent BSN pathway with Southern Union State Community College. CCNE accredited
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| #2 | The University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL | ~$12,000/yr (est.) | Career changers aiming for direct-entry MSN | |
The Capstone College of Nursing pairs mentoring from nursing faculty with advanced simulation technology and clinical placements in hospitals, home care agencies, and public schools. Alabama's BSN accepts freshmen, transfers, and second-degree students, and an RN to BSN option is available for current nurses. The university also offers a Direct Entry MSN for career changers who already hold a bachelor's degree, with a population-health focus serving urban and rural Alabama communities. The university's overall graduation rate is 73 percent. CCNE accredited
CCNE accredited
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| #3 | Samford University | Birmingham, AL | $30,000 – $35,000/yr (est.) | Faith-based students seeking a private BSN | |
Samford University's traditional BSN is a four-year campus program for incoming freshmen, with more than 900 hours of clinical experience in Birmingham health systems. In 2024, graduates posted a 100% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate and over 96% had job offers by graduation day. The university's overall graduation rate is 77 percent, and Samford brings a faith-based, holistic care perspective to nursing education.
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| #4 | University of Alabama in Huntsville | Huntsville, AL | $19,000/yr (est. net price) | ||
The pre-licensure BSN at the University of Alabama in Huntsville is a four-semester upper-division program for students without a prior nursing degree. Students build clinical judgment in the Simulation and Learning Innovation Center and join a tight cohort supported by dedicated advisors. The university's overall graduation rate is 64 percent, and priority consideration is given to UAH students with 30 or more completed hours. CCNE accredited
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| #5 | University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, AL | $19,000/yr (est. net price) | ||
UAB's BSN Pathway is a traditional four-year program with clinicals at UAB's Academic Medical Center, including Level 1 trauma care. The School of Nursing is named Alabama's top nursing program by U.S. News & World Report, and students can choose traditional, transfer, or RN to BSN routes. The university's overall graduation rate is 64 percent, and small cohorts receive dedicated advising plus access to research and paid student nurse roles. CCNE accredited
CCNE accredited
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| #6 | Northeast Alabama Community College | Rainsville, AL | $5,000 – $9,000/yr (est.) | ||
Northeast Alabama Community College offers a five-semester Associate in Applied Science in Nursing that prepares students for RN licensure. Students can earn a Practical Nursing certificate after the third semester, creating an early entry point into the workforce. Admission is competitive with a 2.5 GPA and ACT score of 18, and the program is ACEN accredited. The college's overall graduation rate is 56 percent. ACEN accredited
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| #7 | University of North Alabama | Florence, AL | $12,000 – $22,000/yr (est.) | ||
The University of North Alabama's Traditional BSN is a four-year campus program with 125 total credit hours and admission each spring and fall. The curriculum covers adult health, mental health, maternity, pediatric nursing, pharmacology, and population health management. UNA has taught nursing since 1973, and the university's overall graduation rate is 55 percent.
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| #8 | Snead State Community College | Boaz, AL | $3,000/yr (est. net price) | ||
Snead State Community College offers an Associate Degree Nursing (RN) program with a traditional track for new students and an LPN to RN mobility option for licensed practical nurses. The program uses high-fidelity simulation labs, success coaching, and hybrid lecture options for the LPN to RN pathway. The college's overall graduation rate is 49 percent, and graduates prepare for NCLEX-RN licensure in diverse healthcare settings. ACEN accredited
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| #9 | University of South Alabama | Mobile, AL | $18,000/yr (est. net price) | ||
The University of South Alabama offers a four-year BSN and a 12-month Accelerated BSN for students who already hold a bachelor's degree. Students train in simulation labs and complete diverse clinical placements in the Mobile region, with more than 90% of graduates employed soon after finishing. The university's overall graduation rate is 53 percent. CCNE accredited
CCNE accredited
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| #10 | Wallace State-Hanceville | Hanceville, AL | $10,000 – $15,000/yr (est.) | ||
Wallace State Community College's Associate Degree in Nursing program on the Hanceville campus combines classroom theory with hands-on clinical practice. Students can earn a Practical Nursing certificate after three semesters, and the program offers joint enrollment pathways with UAB and Athens State for a seamless bachelor's degree. The college's overall graduation rate is 51 percent, and the program is ACEN accredited with day and evening class options. ACEN accredited
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How does topnursing.org decide which nursing schools are the best in Alabama?
We built a composite ranking that weighs the numbers most students prioritize: real cost after aid, the likelihood of graduating on time, earnings potential after leaving, and manageable debt levels. Every metric comes from the latest federal datasets, specifically the College Scorecard and IPEDS, so you can verify the data yourself.
Schools earn points across four categories, each weighted equally: - Net Price: The average amount students pay after grant and scholarship aid, for those receiving federal financial aid. This is an institution-wide average across all programs, not a guarantee for every individual. - Graduation Rate: The share of first-time, full-time undergraduate students who complete a degree within 150% of normal time. This is college-wide, not nursing-specific. - Program-Level Earnings: Median earnings of former students who received federal aid, measured one year after graduation. For nursing programs, we use the field-of-study earnings when available; otherwise, we default to the institution-wide median. - Median Debt: The typical federal loan debt upon graduation, which helps you compare borrowing burdens.
Many nursing school lists lean on reputation surveys or outdated self-reported data. We skip the hearsay. By pulling directly from government sources required to report accurate, timely figures, you get an apples-to-apples snapshot updated annually. There is no black box, no mystery weighting that favors big names. Transparency is how we earn your trust.
You will not find NCLEX pass rates baked into our composite score. These rates are important, but they reflect only one exam, not the full return on your investment. We discuss Alabama NCLEX performance in a separate table so you can weigh it alongside our ranking and look for programs that excel in both.
Net prices for Alabama nursing programs range from $1,170 to $14,279, with public community colleges offering the most affordable paths. These net price figures are institution-level averages after financial aid, so your actual cost may differ. Several schools stand out for serving high shares of Pell Grant recipients, including Chattahoochee Valley Community College (92.4%), Northeast Alabama Community College (89.8%), and Snead State Community College (87.6%), making them especially accessible for low-income students.
| School | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Net Price After Aid | Median Debt at Completion | Est. Monthly Payment (10-yr, 5% APR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wallace Community College-Dothan | $4,980 | $8,850 | $1,170 | N/A | N/A |
| Northeast Alabama Community College | $5,040 | $8,910 | $2,756 | $6,100 | $64.71 |
| Lurleen B Wallace Community College | $5,190 | $9,060 | $2,792 | N/A | N/A |
| Northwest Shoals Community College | $5,131 | $9,001 | $2,838 | $10,000 | $106.08 |
| Snead State Community College | $5,278 | $9,148 | $3,249 | $9,000 | $95.47 |
| Chattahoochee Valley Community College | $5,100 | $8,970 | $4,244 | $10,500 | $111.38 |
| Bevill State Community College | $4,734 | $8,346 | $5,937 | N/A | N/A |
| Lawson State Community College | $5,040 | $8,910 | $6,275 | N/A | N/A |
| Calhoun Community College | $5,120 | $8,990 | $7,660 | $12,000 | $127.29 |
| H Councill Trenholm State Community College | $5,190 | $9,060 | $8,325 | N/A | N/A |
| University of West Alabama | $10,990 | $20,090 | $12,684 | $24,944 | $264.62 |
| Wallace State-Hanceville | $5,220 | $9,090 | $13,170 | $11,000 | $116.69 |
| Auburn University at Montgomery | $9,700 | $20,668 | $13,224 | $25,000 | $265.20 |
| Coastal Alabama Community College | $5,040 | $8,910 | $13,644 | $11,000 | $116.69 |
| Jacksonville State University | $12,894 | $23,334 | $14,279 | $22,189 | $235.41 |
ROI ratio compares 10-year earnings to median graduate debt, revealing value beyond salary alone. While Snead State Community College graduates earn a median $35,735, a higher debt load lowers its ROI ratio to 4.0; in contrast, Northeast Alabama Community College graduates earn $34,913 with only $6,100 in debt, yielding an ROI ratio of 5.7. A program with lower sticker price may still offer weaker long-term value if future earnings are modest.
Which Alabama nursing schools have the strongest first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates? The latest statewide report from the Alabama Board of Nursing tracks outcomes for every pre-licensure BSN program during the 2024 testing year. Alabama BSN programs collectively posted a first-time pass rate of 91.87%, just above the national average of 91.16%.1 But school-level performance varies widely, from perfect 100% marks to programs where fewer than three in four graduates pass on the first attempt.
All data below reflects first-time test-takers in 2024, per the Alabama Board of Nursing.2
Seven programs achieved a perfect 100% pass rate in 2024, while Auburn University at Montgomery, Troy, UNA, and South Alabama all exceeded 97%. Spring Hill College (86.96%) fell below the state and national averages, and Oakwood University (50%) and Tuskegee University (71.88%) posted pass rates that raise serious concerns.
NCLEX-RN first-time pass rates are a direct measure of how well a program prepares students for the licensing exam. While not the only indicator of quality, they reflect curriculum alignment with the test, clinical readiness, and institutional support. Many employers, especially competitive hospitals and magnet facilities, prefer graduates from programs with consistently high pass rates. A low program pass rate can also signal potential issues with instruction, student support, or admission standards. If a school’s pass rate drifts below the national average for multiple years, it may face probation from accreditation bodies, putting current students at risk.
Two Alabama schools stand out for NCLEX performance well under both state and national benchmarks in 2024. Oakwood University reported a first-time pass rate of just 50%, meaning half of its test-takers did not pass on the first attempt. Tuskegee University’s rate of 71.88% is also substantially below the 91.16% national average. Prospective students considering these programs should ask pointed questions about recent improvements, tutoring resources, remediation policies, and the pass rates for the most recent graduating cohort. While one year of data can reflect a temporary dip, repeated low performance is a red flag.
The path to becoming a registered nurse in Alabama starts with graduating from a board-approved nursing program and passing the NCLEX-RN. You will also need to pass a fingerprint-based background check and submit an application to the Alabama Board of Nursing. If you already hold an RN license in another state, you can apply by endorsement for a $125 fee, and because Alabama is a Nurse Licensure Compact member, a multistate license lets you practice across participating states without extra applications.
A growing number of Alabama healthcare employers now prefer or require the BSN, making the choice of entry-level nursing education more strategic than ever. Nursing candidates face four main pathways, each with a different timeline, cost, and career impact.
Alabama hospitals, especially those pursuing or maintaining Magnet recognition, increasingly favor BSN-prepared nurses. Many Magnet-designated institutions hire new graduate RNs with an associate degree only under the condition that they complete a BSN within a few years of employment. Beyond initial hiring, the BSN opens doors to leadership roles, community and public health positions, and graduate study for advanced practice.
If cost and speed are your top priorities and you plan to work while continuing your education, the ADN remains the fastest way to become a practicing RN. Just be prepared to enroll in an RN-to-BSN program soon after. For students entering college for the first time and aiming for a traditional campus experience, the four-year BSN provides comprehensive preparation and a competitive edge from day one. Career changers see the most value from an accelerated BSN, leveraging their prior degree to transition quickly into nursing. Working RNs looking to advance can choose the online RN-to-BSN, often with employer tuition support.
Registered nurses in Alabama earn a median annual wage of $65,900, according to 2023 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That figure sits well below the national median of $93,600 as of 2024, reflecting Alabama’s lower overall cost of living and different healthcare market conditions. The earnings range for RNs in the state is broad: the lowest 10 percent of nurses in Alabama make roughly $47,000, while the highest 10 percent can earn over $83,000. These numbers signal that experience, specialty certification, and work setting strongly influence pay.
Geography plays a major role in nursing salaries across Alabama. Recent BLS reports highlight how median pay shifts from one metro area to another:
Rural counties outside these metros typically offer lower base wages, but many employers offset this with hiring bonuses or flexible schedules.
The national outlook for registered nurses shows a projected 5 percent employment increase from 2024 to 2034, according to the BLS. While Alabama-specific projections vary by source, the state’s aging population, one of the oldest in the country, combined with rising rates of chronic disease ensures steady demand for nursing services. Replacing nurses who retire or leave the field further amplifies the need, making Alabama a stable market for both new graduates and experienced professionals.
Many rural and medically underserved communities in Alabama face acute nursing shortages. In response, hospitals and healthcare systems frequently offer sign-on bonuses, relocation assistance, and tuition reimbursement. State and federal programs, like the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program, provide additional financial incentives for RNs who commit to working in designated shortage areas. These initiatives can substantially reduce student debt and make rural practice an appealing career path for nurses willing to serve where the need is greatest.
What are the real admission requirements for nursing schools in Alabama, and how competitive is it to get in?
Overall university acceptance rates can be misleading. For instance, Auburn accepts 46% of all applicants, but its nursing program is far more selective and operates a separate application process. The University of Alabama admits 77% of undergraduates, yet the BSN track has its own rigorous screening. At UAB, where the institutional acceptance rate reaches 88%, the School of Nursing still demands a 2.75 minimum GPA, a professional resume, and encourages healthcare experience.1 These numbers underline a key truth: nursing admission is often considerably more competitive than what the general university numbers suggest.
Across Alabama, BSN programs typically require a cumulative GPA between 2.5 and 3.0, but that is only a starting point. The University of South Alabama, for example, expects a 3.0 both overall and in prerequisite coursework, with no grade below a C.2 Prerequisite courses almost always include anatomy and physiology (with labs), microbiology, statistics, and often nutrition or lifespan development. UAB’s BSN requires 41 semester hours of foundational coursework before you can apply to the upper‑division nursing sequence.1 Failing to complete these prerequisites early, or earning low grades in them, can delay your admission timeline.
Not every Alabama nursing program requires an entrance exam. Both UAB and the University of South Alabama currently do not mandate the TEAS or HESI A2.12 Many other schools do, however, and a competitive score matters. Beyond academics, virtually all programs require a background check, drug screening, and CPR certification. A resume that highlights any healthcare exposure, shadowing, volunteer work, or a CNA certification, can set you apart, especially at schools where clinical experience is encouraged.
Prospective nursing students often have questions about program options, costs, and licensure. This FAQ addresses common topics to help you make an informed decision about your nursing education in Alabama.
The rankings above cover a slice of Alabama's nursing landscape. This directory lists additional programs from around the state, grouped by region, so you can compare formats and degree levels closer to home. Each entry links to the program's own page for current admission details and costs.
