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Best Nursing Schools in Alabama

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2023 Best Nursing Schools in Alabama

33 Colleges
$66,541 Avg Salary
$23,597 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Nursing School for You

Nursing is the most popular major in Alabama with 7,364 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021.

With all the healthcare programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. Also, there are a number of trade schools with offerings that you might find attractive.

The Best Nursing Schools in Alabama ranking is one of many tools that Healthcare Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 33 schools in Alabama to see which ones offered the best programs for healthcare students.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Nursing Schools in Alabama

Check out the nursing programs at these schools if you want to get the best education that money can buy.

Top 10 Best Nursing Schools

#1

Auburn University

Auburn, AL

Our analysis found Auburn University to be the best school for nursing students who want to pursue a degree in Alabama. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn is a public school with a very large student population.

While working on their degree, nursing majors at Auburn accumulate an average of around $20,500 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $562.

Read More…

The excellent programs at Herzing University - Birmingham helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in Alabama. Herzing University - Birmingham is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Birmingham.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Herzing University - Birmingham carry an average student debtload of $33,946. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $107.

Read full report on Nursing at Herzing University - Birmingham

#3

Samford University

Birmingham, AL

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Samford University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Nursing Schools in Alabama list. Samford is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Birmingham.

On average, nursing graduates from Samford take out $26,000 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $518.

Read full report on Nursing at Samford University

#4

The University of Alabama

Tuscaloosa, AL

Out of the 33 schools in Alabama that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Alabama landed the # 4 spot on the list. UA is a very large public school located in the city of Tuscaloosa.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from UA carry an average student debtload of $25,125. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $646.

Read full report on Nursing at The University of Alabama

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means University of Alabama at Birmingham is a great place for nursing students. Located in the city of Birmingham, UAB is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Nursing majors at UAB take out an average of $22,958 in student loans while working on their egree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $307.

Full Nursing at University of Alabama at Birmingham Report

University of South Alabama ranked #6 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Alabama list. Located in the midsize city of Mobile, USA is a public college with a fairly large student population.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at USA take out is $26,429. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $230, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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Coastal Alabama Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Alabama list. Coastal Alabama Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the distant town of Bay Minette.

While working on their degree, nursing majors at Coastal Alabama Community College accumulate an average of around $17,002 in student debt.

Read full report on Nursing at Coastal Alabama Community College

University of Alabama in Huntsville ranked #8 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Alabama list. UAH is a moderately-sized public school located in the midsize city of Huntsville.

While working on their degree, nursing majors at UAH accumulate an average of around $25,614 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $272.

Full Nursing at University of Alabama in Huntsville Report

Gadsden State Community College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Alabama list. Located in the small city of Gadsden, GSCC is a public college with a small student population.

On average, nursing graduates from GSCC take out $9,529 in student loans while working on their degree.

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Wallace Community College, Dothan landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Wallace, Dothan is a small public school located in the city of Dothan.

While working on their degree, nursing majors at Wallace, Dothan accumulate an average of around $9,075 in student debt.

Full Nursing at Wallace Community College, Dothan Report

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 Degrees Awarded
Florida 21,209
North Carolina 7,425
Tennessee 6,004
Georgia 7,112
Kentucky 6,395
West Virginia 1,771
Virginia 6,775
Louisiana 3,502
Mississippi 2,838
South Carolina 3,296
Arkansas 2,882

One of 30 majors within the healthcare area of study, nursing has other similar majors worth exploring.

Nursing Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
Registered Nursing 266,651
Family Practice Nurse/Nursing 16,104
Nursing Administration 9,838
Nursing Practice 7,992
Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing 5,092
Nursing Science 4,600
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing 2,287
Adult Health Nurse/Nursing 2,021
Nurse Anesthetist 1,936
Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing 1,883
Critical Care Nursing 773
Geriatric Nurse/Nursing 563
School Nursing 553
Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery 509
Clinical Nurse Leader 444
Clinical Nurse Specialist 419
Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing 331
Maternal/Child Health and Neonatal Nurse/Nursing 181
Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing 57
Emergency Room/Trauma Nursing 53
Palliative Care Nursing 14
Forensic Nursing 14

Related Major Annual Graduates
Health & Medical Administrative Services 89,359
Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services 84,492
Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants 84,274
Allied Health Professions 82,308
Public Health 40,596

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Aleksahgabrielle.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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