Compare NCLEX pass rates, costs, and outcomes for every ranked nursing program across Alabama.
Net prices for Alabama nursing programs range from $1,170 to $14,279, a gap that forces students to balance immediate cost with long-term earnings potential. Meanwhile, hospitals across the state are accelerating hires of BSN-prepared nurses. Our 28 ranked programs, spanning ADN and BSN pathways, illustrate this trade-off in practice. These figures reveal starkly different debt-to-earnings ratios: graduates from some low-cost programs earn median wages that repay their debt in under a year, while others face longer timelines. Factoring in graduation rates and NCLEX success further sharpens the picture.
Our rankings reward Alabama nursing programs that balance affordability, strong graduation rates, and long-term career outcomes. Schools are evaluated on net price, institutional graduation rates, and median earnings, along with program-specific features like clinical hours and NCLEX preparation. This list highlights options for a wide range of students, from those seeking low-cost community college ADN pathways to comprehensive university BSN programs.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Auburn University | Auburn, AL | $13,000 – $35,000/yr | Concurrent BSN pathway seekers | |
Auburn University's BSN program stands out for its blend of academic rigor and hands-on clinical training, with diverse clinical placements across Alabama. The university's overall graduation rate is 82%, and its strong earnings outcomes reflect the value of its nursing education. Through partnerships like the concurrent enrollment option with Southern Union State Community College, Auburn creates accessible pathways for associate-degree nurses to earn their BSN without leaving the state.
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| #2 | Northeast Alabama Community College | Rainsville, AL | $5,000 – $9,000/yr | Low-debt ADN pursuers | |
Northeast Alabama Community College offers an affordable ADN program with a strong record of preparing students for the NCLEX-RN. The institution's overall graduation rate is 56%, and its low net price makes it a top choice for budget-conscious students in the region. With a median graduate debt of just $6,100, graduates enter the workforce with minimal financial burden.
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| #3 | The University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL | $22,000/yr | Career changers in rural and urban settings | |
The University of Alabama's Capstone College of Nursing provides a BSN program that combines rigorous academics with mentorship and advanced technology. The university's overall graduation rate is 73%, and its graduates earn a median of $59,221 ten years after entry. A direct-entry MSN pathway is also available for career-changers, serving both urban and rural Alabama communities.
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| #4 | University of Alabama in Huntsville | Huntsville, AL | $19,000/yr (net price) | ||
UAH's BSN is a five-semester, pre-licensure track that prioritizes students with strong academic backgrounds, with the university's overall graduation rate at 64%. Located in Huntsville's healthcare corridor, students benefit from clinical partnerships with major regional hospitals. The program's focus on clinical skills and patient care prepares graduates for immediate employment in Alabama.
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| #5 | University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, AL | $19,000/yr (net price) | ||
UAB offers a traditional BSN alongside an RN-to-BSN pathway, leveraging its position within a major academic health center. The university's overall graduation rate is 64%, and its net price is among the lowest for public universities on this list. With multiple admission cycles and scholarship opportunities, UAB provides flexible access for Alabama residents.
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| #6 | Samford University | Birmingham, AL | $30,000 – $35,000/yr | ||
Samford University's BSN program boasts over 900 clinical hours and NCLEX pass rates above national averages, leading to high employment rates at graduation. The university's overall graduation rate is 77%, and its low student-to-faculty ratio ensures personalized attention. As a private institution, Samford's net price is higher, but its strong outcomes and debt figures make it a competitive option.
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| #7 | Snead State Community College | Boaz, AL | $3,000/yr (net price) | ||
Snead State's ADN program provides an affordable, campus-based pathway with high-fidelity simulation labs and supportive faculty. The institution's overall graduation rate is 49%, and its net price of $3,249 is among the most budget-friendly in Alabama. Graduates carry a median debt of $9,000, making it a low-risk entry into nursing.
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| #8 | Wallace State-Hanceville | Hanceville, AL | $10,000 – $15,000/yr | ||
Wallace State's ADN program is ACEN-accredited and offers pathways for LPNs and other healthcare professionals to advance. The college's overall graduation rate is 51%, and its state-of-the-art facilities support a comprehensive nursing education. With a net price of $13,170, it balances affordability with strong clinical preparation.
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| #9 | Northwest Shoals Community College | Muscle Shoals, AL | $5,000 – $9,000/yr | ||
Northwest Shoals offers a flexible ADN program with both traditional and hybrid tracks, designed to prepare students for the NCLEX-RN. The institution's overall graduation rate is 39%, but its net price of $2,838 and median debt of $10,000 keep costs exceptionally low. The program's AL licensure focus ensures graduates are ready for in-state practice.
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| #10 | University of South Alabama | Mobile, AL | $18,000/yr (net price) | ||
USA's BSN program offers traditional, accelerated, and RN-to-BSN pathways, with a high employment rate reported for graduates. The university's overall graduation rate is 53%, and its net price of $17,648 offers solid value. The accelerated 12-month option is especially attractive for career-changers in the Mobile region.
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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.
Following the Institute of Medicine's recommendation that 80% of nurses hold a BSN, Alabama hospitals increasingly favor BSN-prepared nurses for new roles and leadership positions. This trend makes a BSN essential for nurses seeking strong career mobility and long-term earning potential in the state. An associate degree may still get you started, but a BSN helps you stand out in a competitive job market.
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.
If your ideal program wasn't among our top picks, browse 15 more Alabama nursing schools. This statewide directory covers ADN and BSN pathways, with on-campus and online options from North Alabama to the Gulf Coast.
