Alabama Nursing Schools And Programs

Alabama has more than 40 nursing programs leading to an associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN). Pick a school that fits your budget, goals, and schedule, get licensed through the Alabama Board of Nursing, and you step into a market where qualified nurses are in short supply.

Strong Nursing Programs in Alabama

Most ADN programs in Alabama run through public community colleges. BSN programs exist at public and private schools of every size.

Located in Birmingham, Samford University offers a BSN built for students who already hold a non-nursing bachelor's degree. The five-semester program accommodates working professionals and learners with family obligations, starts in the fall, and requires no summer courses. Students complete clinical practicums at Birmingham healthcare facilities, and the school offers medical mission and study abroad options.

• Program: Bachelor of science in nursing (BSN)
• Campus: Birmingham, Alabama
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• Tuition: $955 per credit (parttime, under 12 credits per semester) for in-state and out-of-state students
• Admission requirements: Non-nursing bachelor's degree from an accredited school; minimum 2.3 GPA overall and in required classes including chemistry, microbiology, anatomy, and physiology; no ACT or SAT required
• NCLEX-RN pass rate: 90.1% first-time

Auburn University offers a 19-credit post-master's primary care nurse practitioner certificate for nurses who already hold a master's degree. The hybrid format combines online coursework with on-campus practicums, workshops, lectures, and supervised testing. Core coursework covers diagnostic reasoning, clinical management, women and children, and adult and geriatric care, capped by a primary care practicum.

• Program: Post-master's primary care nurse practitioner certificate
• Campus: Auburn, Alabama
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: SACSCOC
• Tuition: $607 per credit, plus $300 for some nursing courses
• Admission requirements: Master's degree in nursing, minimum 3.0 graduate GPA, RN license in good standing, at least one year of clinical experience, prerequisite coursework including advanced pathophysiology
• NCLEX-RN pass rate: 98.0% first-time

The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa offers an online RN-to-BSN program for nurses who hold an ADN or diploma and an active, unencumbered license. Degree-seekers complete 52 to 58 lower-division credits and 25 core nursing credits, and ADN holders can transfer up to 40 credits.

• Program: RN-to-BSN
• Campus: Tuscaloosa, Alabama
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: SACSCOC
• Tuition: $325 per credit hour
• Admission requirements: ADN or nursing diploma from an accredited program, current and unencumbered RN license, minimum 3.0 GPA
• NCLEX-RN pass rate: 97.4% first-time

The University of Mobile offers a BSN-to-DNP that incorporates a Christian worldview. The hybrid doctoral program pairs online classes with a required on-campus intensive, where students present their capstone project. The curriculum focuses on improving care for underserved populations, and candidates with at least one year of clinical experience get preference.

• Program: Doctor of nursing practice (BSN-to-DNP)
• Campus: Mobile, Alabama
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: SACSCOC and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• Tuition: $675 per credit for residents and out-of-state students
• Admission requirements: BSN from an accredited school, minimum 2.75 GPA in last 60 credits, unencumbered RN license, basic life support certification
• Minimum time: 36 months

The University of Alabama in Huntsville offers two paths: a four-year prelicensure BSN that qualifies graduates for the NCLEX-RN, and an online RN-to-BSN that licensed nurses can finish in 12 months. Both require in-person clinical hours, and UAH offers a pay-as-you-go tuition option.

• Program: BSN; RN-to-BSN
• Campus: Huntsville, Alabama
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: SACSCOC
• Tuition: BSN $42 per credit (in-state); RN-to-BSN $12,200 total
• Admission requirements: RN-to-BSN: ADN or diploma from an accredited program, current RN license. BSN: minimum 3.0 GPA in nursing prerequisites, minimum 2.75 GPA in science prerequisites, minimum 75% on the HESI Admission Assessment
• NCLEX-RN pass rate: 91.0% first-time

Jacksonville State University offers a 15-credit graduate certificate in nursing education for RNs moving toward teaching roles. The program emphasizes clinical instruction, program development, assessment, and teaching skills, and includes a practicum near the student's location. Credits transfer into JSU's MSN nursing education concentration.

• Program: Graduate certificate in nursing education
• Campus: Jacksonville, Alabama
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: SACSCOC
• Tuition: $410 per credit (in-state or online); $820 per credit (out-of-state)
• Admission requirements: BSN from an accredited program, unencumbered RN license
• Credits required: 15

The University of Alabama at Birmingham offers a 30-credit online RN-to-BSN for licensed nurses who hold a diploma or ADN. Coursework emphasizes community health, leadership, nursing informatics, and evidence-based practice. Spring and fall start dates are available, with on-campus orientation and in-person clinical rotations.

• Program: RN-to-BSN
• Campus: Birmingham, Alabama
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: SACSCOC
• Tuition: $440 per credit
• Admission requirements: Diploma or ADN, minimum 2.5 GPA, active and unencumbered RN license
• NCLEX-RN pass rate: 97.4% first-time

Oakwood University in Huntsville is a private institution offering a BSN. Founded in 1896 and affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the program requires 125 to 132 credits, which most students finish in four to five years. The curriculum blends nursing courses, electives, and Christian education requirements, with in-person clinical rotations.

• Program: Bachelor of science in nursing
• Campus: Huntsville, Alabama
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: SACSCOC; Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
• Tuition: $9,487 per semester (12 to 16 credits)
• Admission requirements: Minimum 3.0 high school GPA, minimum 17 ACT or 840 SAT, minimum 75% on the HESI Admission Assessment
• NCLEX-RN pass rate: 64.3% first-time

Based in Tanner, Calhoun Community College offers a 66-credit associate in applied science (AAS) in nursing that prepares students for the NCLEX-RN and RN licensure. Graduates can work in home health, acute care, and clinic settings while pursuing advanced education.

• Program: Associate in applied science in nursing
• Campus: Tanner, Alabama
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: SACSCOC; ACEN
• Tuition: $123 per credit (in-state); $246 per credit (out-of-state)
• Admission requirements: Minimum 2.5 GPA in prerequisites, GED or high school transcript with a 2.5 GPA, ACT or HESI A2 score
• NCLEX-RN pass rate: 94.8% first-time

A private institution in Marion, Judson College offers a two-year, 72-credit ADN approved by the Alabama Board of Nursing. Learners gain experience through clinical practicums and a computerized simulation lab. Graduates qualify for the NCLEX-RN, and recent cohorts posted a 100% first-time pass rate.

• Program: Associate degree in nursing
• Campus: Marion, Alabama
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: SACSCOC
• Tuition: $743 per credit hour
• Admission requirements: High school diploma or GED, prerequisite courses with minimum C grades
• NCLEX-RN pass rate: 100% first-time

How to Choose a Nursing Program in Alabama

The first decision is whether you want a two-year ADN or a four-year BSN. ADN programs are faster, cheaper, and easier to get into. BSNs are more comprehensive and open more doors for career growth and graduate study. From there, weigh cost and financial aid, the NCLEX pass rate, program quality and acceptance rate, and the logistics of attending. If you study online, confirm you can get clinical placement in your community. Stick to accredited schools. An unaccredited program is not worth the risk to your time and money.

Why Become a Nurse in Alabama

The average NCLEX-RN pass rate for Alabama nursing schools is 96.9%, above the national average of 94.3%.

Alabama is a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) state, so once you graduate you can apply for a multistate license valid across the more than 40 states currently in the compact.

The state has also experimented with nursing apprenticeships that pair community college students with hospital work, giving students early clinical experience and a head start on building relationships with employers.

Cost of living is a draw. The state's cost-of-living index is 87.9, one of the lowest in the country, and the state sits within driving distance of Gulf beaches, New Orleans, and northern Florida.

Salary and Job Outlook for Nurses in Alabama

Alabama pay runs below national figures, but so does the cost of living. The median annual wage for registered nurses in Alabama is roughly $66,000, well below the national RN median of $93,600 (BLS, May 2024). Nurse practitioners in Alabama earn about $107,000, compared with the national NP median of $129,210.

Nursing remains one of the faster-growing fields in the state, driven by an aging population and persistent demand for bedside care. The Alabama Hospital Association has described the shortage as acute enough that qualified nurses can essentially choose their jobs.

Steps to Becoming a Nurse in Alabama

Alabama requires nurses to earn a nursing degree, pass the relevant national exam (NCLEX-RN for RNs, board certification exams for advanced practice registered nurses), and clear a criminal background check. Both RNs and APRNs renew every two years.

RN Requirements

Earn an ADN or BSN from an accredited program in Alabama or its equivalent elsewhere, pass the NCLEX-RN, and complete a background check. The board requires you to graduate before applying, though you can request a temporary license for an extra $50. The standard application fee is $100. An applicant with an unencumbered license from another state can receive a temporary permit in 72 to 96 hours.

APRN Requirements

APRNs need an MSN or DNP, a current and unencumbered RN license, and board certification in their specialty. NPs and nurse midwives also need a collaborative agreement with a physician. (Alabama refers to NPs as certified registered nurse practitioners.) The licensing fee is $175.

If you already hold a license in another state, you can apply by endorsement. Otherwise, apply to the state board, hold an ADN or BSN from an accredited program, pass the NCLEX-RN, and clear a background check.