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2025 Best Nursing Schools in Alabama

33 Colleges in Alabama
6,985 Nursing Degrees Awarded
$84,107 Avg Early-Career Salary
Ranked #3 in popularity, nursing is one of the most sought-after degree programs in the nation. This means there are lots of options to choose from when you decide to get your degree.

For its 2025 ranking, College Factual looked at 33 schools in Alabama to determine which ones were the best for nursing students pursuing a degree. Combined, these schools handed out 6,985 degrees in nursing to qualified students.

What's on this page: * Degree-Level Rankings

Choosing a Great Nursing School

Best Nursing Schools in Alabama The nursing program you select can have a big impact on your future. That's why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Nursing rankings. In order to come up with a best overall ranking for nursing schools, we combine our degree-level rankings, weighting them by the number of degrees awarded at each level.

In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.

Nursing Rankings by Degree Level

Associate Degrees in Nursing
Bachelor's Degrees in Nursing
Master's Degrees in Nursing
Doctor's Degrees in Nursing

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we've developed a number of rankings, including this Best Nursing Schools in Alabama list, to help you choose the best school for you. If you'd like to restrict your choices to just one part of the country, you can filter this list by location.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

If you want to learn more about how we derive our rankings, see College Factual's Methodology.

Best Schools for Nursing in Alabama

Although we recommend filtering by degree level first, you can view the list below to see which schools give the educational experience for the nursing degree levels they offer.

10 Top Alabama Schools in Nursing

1
Samford crest
Samford University
Birmingham, AL
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
274 Nursing Degrees Awarded
$122,039 Median Starting Salary

It's hard to beat Samford University if you wish to pursue a degree in nursing. Samford is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university located in the large suburb of Birmingham. A Best Colleges rank of #311 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Samford is a great university overall.

There were about 274 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Samford in the most recent data year. Those nursing students who get their degree from Samford University make $37,933 more than the typical nursing student.

More information about a degree in nursing from Samford University

2
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
1,118 Nursing Degrees Awarded
$93,658 Median Starting Salary

University of Alabama at Birmingham is one of the finest schools in the United States for getting a degree in nursing. UAB is a fairly large public university located in the medium-sized city of Birmingham. A Best Colleges rank of #299 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means UAB is a great university overall.

There were approximately 1118 nursing students who graduated with this degree at UAB in the most recent data year. Nursing degree recipients from University of Alabama at Birmingham receive an earnings boost of about $9,551 over the typical earnings of nursing graduates.

More information about a degree in nursing from University of Alabama at Birmingham

Sponsored
Bachelors Degree Type
BS in Nursing - RN to BSN Program Name

With the affordable and transfer-friendly online RN to BSN program at Southern New Hampshire University, you can build upon your prior educational journey and enhance your professional experience in a program designed to fit around your schedule.

More information about a degree in BS in Nursing - RN to BSN from Southern New Hampshire University

Related Programs

3
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
153 Nursing Degrees Awarded
25.5% Growth in Graduates

Wallace Community College, Dothan is a great option for students pursuing a degree in nursing. Wallace, Dothan is a small public college located in the city of Dothan. A Best Colleges rank of #376 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Wallace, Dothan is a great college overall.

There were approximately 153 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Wallace, Dothan in the most recent year we have data available. Students who graduate with their degree from the nursing program report average early career earnings of $59,653.

More information about a degree in nursing from Wallace Community College, Dothan

4
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
1,361 Nursing Degrees Awarded
$99,688 Median Starting Salary

Every student pursuing a degree in nursing needs to take a look at University of South Alabama. Located in the city of Mobile, USA is a public university with a large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #737 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means USA is a great university overall.

There were about 1361 nursing students who graduated with this degree at USA in the most recent year we have data available. Those nursing students who get their degree from University of South Alabama make $15,582 more than the standard nursing grad.

More information about a degree in nursing from University of South Alabama

5
Auburn crest
Auburn University
Auburn, AL
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
291 Nursing Degrees Awarded
7.9% Growth in Graduates

Located in the small city of Auburn, Auburn is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #169 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Auburn is a great university overall.

There were about 291 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Auburn in the most recent year we have data available. Students who graduate with their degree from the nursing program state that they receive average early career income of $79,627.

More information about a degree in nursing from Auburn University

6
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
592 Nursing Degrees Awarded
0.3% Growth in Graduates

Located in the medium-sized city of Tuscaloosa, UA is a public university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #180 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means UA is a great university overall.

There were approximately 592 nursing students who graduated with this degree at UA in the most recent data year. Graduates who receive their degree from the nursing program earn around $83,024 in their early career salary.

More information about a degree in nursing from The University of Alabama

7
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
68 Nursing Degrees Awarded
$85,141 Median Starting Salary

Herzing University - Birmingham is a small private not-for-profit university located in the large suburb of Birmingham.

There were about 68 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Herzing University - Birmingham in the most recent data year. Students who receive their degree from the nursing program make an average of $85,141 in the first couple years of working.

More information about a degree in nursing from Herzing University - Birmingham

Sponsored
Bachelors Degree Type
BS in Nursing - RN to BSN - Accelerated RN to MSN Program Name

At Southern New Hampshire University, we understand the demands placed on today's nursing professionals. When it comes to your education, consider saving money and time by electing the RN to MSN pathway. Eligible students will complete graduate courses within their undergraduate program. This pathway allows you to gain a BSN along the way and ultimately shorten your time within the MSN Nursing Education or Population Healthcare tracks.

More information about a degree in BS in Nursing - RN to BSN - Accelerated RN to MSN from Southern New Hampshire University

Related Programs

8
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
79 Nursing Degrees Awarded
$61,443 Median Starting Salary

GSCC is a small public college located in the city of Gadsden. A Best Colleges rank of #761 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means GSCC is a great college overall.

There were roughly 79 nursing students who graduated with this degree at GSCC in the most recent data year. After graduation, nursing degree recipients typically earn about $61,443 at the beginning of their careers.

More information about a degree in nursing from Gadsden State Community College

9
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
57 Nursing Degrees Awarded
26.3% Growth in Graduates

Located in the rural area of Andalusia, Lurleen B. Wallace Community College is a public college with a small student population. A Best Colleges rank of #606 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Lurleen B. Wallace Community College is a great college overall.

There were approximately 57 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College in the most recent data year. After graduation, nursing degree recipients usually earn around $65,605 in their early careers.

More information about a degree in nursing from Lurleen B Wallace Community College

10
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
74 Nursing Degrees Awarded
$71,034 Median Starting Salary

Bishop State Community College is a small public college located in the midsize city of Mobile. A Best Colleges rank of #441 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Bishop State Community College is a great college overall.

There were approximately 74 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Bishop State Community College in the most recent year we have data available. Soon after graduating, nursing degree recipients usually make an average of $71,034 in their early careers.

More information about a degree in nursing from Bishop State Community College

Best Nursing Colleges in the Southeast Region

Explore all the Best Nursing Colleges in the Southeast Area or other specific states within that region.

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Georgia 287 7,016
Florida 282 21,034
North Carolina 279 7,329
Virginia 274 6,630
Tennessee 269 5,906
South Carolina 248 3,276
Kentucky 244 6,143
Louisiana 242 3,416
Mississippi 234 2,801
Arkansas 234 2,878
West Virginia 207 1,768

View All Rankings >

One of 34 majors within the Health Professions area of study, Nursing has other similar majors worth exploring.

Nursing Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
Registered Nursing 6,386
Nursing Practice 386
Family Practice Nurse/Nursing 110
Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing 30
Nursing Administration 28
Nurse Anesthetist 25
Emergency Room/Trauma Nursing 11
Nursing Science 7
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing 1
Clinical Nurse Leader 1

View All Nursing Focus Areas >

Majors Similar to Nursing

Related Major Annual Graduates
Allied Health Professions 1,708
Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants 1,369
Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services 1,001
Health & Medical Administrative Services 756
Public Health 754
Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions 463
Communication Sciences 446
Medicine 414
Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences 371
Mental & Social Health Services 257

View All Nursing Related Majors >

Notes and References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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