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Most Popular Nursing Schools in Alabama

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2023 Most Popular Nursing Schools in Alabama

36 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.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Healthcare Degree Search has created its Most Popular Nursing Schools in Alabama ranking. This report analyzed 36 schools in Alabama to see which ones were the most popular programs for healthcare students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Nursing program at each school on the list.

Check out the nursing programs at these schools if you want to attend one of the most popular in Alabama.

Our analysis found University of South Alabama to be the most popular school for nursing students who want to pursue a degree in Alabama. Located in the medium-sized city of Mobile, USA is a public school with a large student population.

On average, nursing graduates from USA take out $26,429 in student loans while working on their degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $230, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Nursing at University of South Alabama Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of Alabama at Birmingham. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Schools in Alabama list. Located in the city of Birmingham, UAB is a public school with a very large student population.

While working on their degree, nursing majors at UAB accumulate an average of around $22,958 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 $307.

Full Nursing at University of Alabama at Birmingham Report

#3

The University of Alabama

Tuscaloosa, AL

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Alabama. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Popular Nursing Schools in Alabama list. UA is a fairly large public school located in the city of Tuscaloosa.

Nursing majors at UA take out an average of $25,125 in student loans while working on their egree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $646.

Full Nursing at The University of Alabama Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Alabama in Huntsville. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Popular Nursing Schools in Alabama list. UAH is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Huntsville.

On average, nursing graduates from UAH take out $25,614 in student loans while working on their degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $272.

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#5

Jacksonville State University

Jacksonville, AL

The excellent programs at Jacksonville State University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in Alabama. Located in the suburb of Jacksonville, Jacksonville State University is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

While working on their degree, nursing majors at Jacksonville State University accumulate an average of around $21,500 in student debt.

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#6

Samford University

Birmingham, AL

Samford University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Schools in Alabama ranking. Samford is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Birmingham.

Nursing majors at Samford take out an average of $26,000 in student loans while working on their egree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $518.

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#7

Troy University

Troy, AL

Troy University landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular nursing programs. Located in the remote town of Troy, TROY is a public school with a fairly large student population.

On average, nursing graduates from TROY take out $26,663 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Nursing at Troy University Report

#8

Auburn University

Auburn, AL

Auburn University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for nursing students. It came in at #8 on the list. Located in the small city of Auburn, Auburn is a public college with a very large student population.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Auburn carry an average student debt load of $20,500. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $562.

Read full report on Nursing at Auburn University

University of North Alabama ranked #9 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Schools in Alabama list. UNA is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Florence.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from UNA carry an average student debt load of $24,756.

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Jefferson State Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for nursing students. It came in at #10 on the list. Located in the city of Birmingham, Jeff State is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Jeff State take out is $16,625.

Full Nursing at Jefferson State Community College Report

Best Nursing Colleges in the Southeast Region

Explore all the Most Popular Nursing Schools 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.

  • 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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