Nursing Schools in Alabama (2026)
48 accredited nursing programs found
Alabama has 48 nursing-relevant schools in this directory, with a heavily public-tilted split of 35 public and 13 private institutions. Average in-state tuition is $10,667, with public schools averaging $7,198 and private schools averaging $23,771. The 25th-to-75th-percentile tuition band runs from $4,980 to $12,426 — a narrow range that reflects the dominant public-college landscape. The cheapest tracked program is Gadsden State Community College at $4,032 per year, and the largest by undergraduate enrollment is The University of Alabama at approximately 32,323.
Across Alabama programs the average graduation rate is 43.4 percent and the average retention rate is 67.3 percent. Median post-graduation earnings average $40,280 and median federal debt at graduation averages $18,403. The Alabama Community College System supplies a substantial portion of the licensure pipeline, complemented by the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and other state universities, feeding into a healthcare market anchored by UAB Medicine, Huntsville Hospital, and several regional networks.
Registered Nurse Market in Alabama
BLS wage and employment data for registered nurses
Registered Nurse Salary in Alabama
Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024
Matches the Alabama average of $10,667.
Matches the Alabama average of 43.4%.
Matches the Alabama median of $40,280.
Tuition Overview
| Avg Public Tuition | $7,198 |
| Lowest Tuition | $4,032 |
| Highest Tuition | $38,144 |
| Avg Private Tuition | $23,771 |
Student Outcomes
| Avg Graduation Rate | 43.4% |
| Avg Earnings After Grad | $41,462 |
| Avg Student Debt | $18,403 |
| Total Enrollment | 202,681 |
Most Affordable Nursing Schools in Alabama
All Nursing Schools in Alabama
| Institution | City | Type | Tuition (In-State) | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa | Public | $11,900 | 32,323 |
| Auburn University | Auburn | Public | $12,536 | 25,732 |
| Columbia Southern University | Orange Beach | For-Profit | $5,808 | 13,053 |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham | Public | $8,832 | 12,118 |
| Troy University | Troy | Public | $9,792 | 10,089 |
| University of South Alabama | Mobile | Public | $9,676 | 8,540 |
| Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville | Public | $12,426 | 7,030 |
| John C Calhoun State Community College | Tanner | Public | $5,060 | 6,928 |
| University of Alabama in Huntsville | Huntsville | Public | $11,770 | 6,650 |
| University of North Alabama | Florence | Public | $11,990 | 5,468 |
| Jefferson State Community College | Birmingham | Public | $5,040 | 5,443 |
| Coastal Alabama Community College | Bay Minette | Public | $4,980 | 4,714 |
| George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville | Hanceville | Public | $4,980 | 4,413 |
| Southern Union State Community College | Wadley | Public | $4,980 | 3,888 |
| Samford University | Birmingham | Private | $38,144 | 3,828 |
| Gadsden State Community College | Gadsden | Public | $4,032 | 3,619 |
| Alabama State University | Montgomery | Public | $11,248 | 3,322 |
| Shelton State Community College | Tuscaloosa | Public | $5,067 | 3,191 |
| George C Wallace Community College-Dothan | Dothan | Public | $4,920 | 3,053 |
| Lawson State Community College | Birmingham | Public | $4,980 | 2,720 |
| Auburn University at Montgomery | Montgomery | Public | $9,436 | 2,693 |
| University of West Alabama | Livingston | Public | $10,990 | 2,666 |
| Athens State University | Athens | Public | N/A | 2,407 |
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee | Private | $23,440 | 2,367 |
| Bevill State Community College | Jasper | Public | $4,678 | 2,189 |
| Bishop State Community College | Mobile | Public | $5,280 | 2,100 |
| University of Montevallo | Montevallo | Public | $13,710 | 2,087 |
| Northwest Shoals Community College | Muscle Shoals | Public | $5,071 | 1,924 |
| H Councill Trenholm State Community College | Montgomery | Public | $4,890 | 1,584 |
| Faulkner University | Montgomery | Private | $23,920 | 1,555 |
| Northeast Alabama Community College | Rainsville | Public | $4,980 | 1,547 |
| Snead State Community College | Boaz | Public | $5,472 | 1,494 |
| Enterprise State Community College | Enterprise | Public | $5,040 | 1,476 |
| Oakwood University | Huntsville | Private | $21,838 | 1,253 |
| Central Alabama Community College | Alexander City | Public | $5,040 | 1,134 |
| Lurleen B Wallace Community College | Andalusia | Public | $4,980 | 1,122 |
| University of Mobile | Mobile | Private | $26,120 | 1,079 |
| Chattahoochee Valley Community College | Phenix City | Public | $5,040 | 1,044 |
| Huntingdon College | Montgomery | Private | $28,650 | 865 |
| Spring Hill College | Mobile | Private | $23,270 | 850 |
| George C Wallace State Community College-Selma | Selma | Public | $4,680 | 828 |
| J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College | Huntsville | Public | $5,130 | 719 |
| Birmingham-Southern College | Birmingham | Private | $22,750 | 713 |
| Reid State Technical College | Evergreen | Public | $6,100 | 365 |
| Fortis College | Mobile | For-Profit | N/A | 252 |
| Fortis College-Dothan | Dothan | For-Profit | N/A | 154 |
| Cardiac and Vascular Institute of Ultrasound | Mobile | For-Profit | N/A | 51 |
| Blue Cliff Career College | Mobile | For-Profit | N/A | 41 |
Nursing Schools by City in Alabama
Nursing Guides & Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How many nursing schools are in Alabama?
What is the average nursing school tuition in Alabama?
What is the average graduation rate for nursing schools in Alabama?
What is the average retention rate in Alabama?
What do graduates from nursing schools in Alabama earn?
What is the average student debt at nursing schools in Alabama?
How much do registered nurses earn in Alabama?
What is the RN job outlook for Alabama?
Alabama Nursing Market Context
BLS data for Alabama shows an RN median annual wage of $63,010 and a mean of $65,160 — among the lowest in the country. The 10th to 90th percentile range runs from $48,420 to $83,170. Statewide RN employment is approximately 50,850 and the projected growth rate is 6 percent — in line with the national figure.
Median program debt of $18,403 against a $63,010 RN median wage produces one of the tighter payback ratios among large healthcare-employment states; the wage floor of $48,420 at the 10th percentile is well below the national 10th-percentile of approximately $63,000. Cost of living in Alabama is meaningfully below the national average, which offsets a substantial share of the modest wage figure for graduates intending to remain in-state. The 90th-percentile figure of $83,170 indicates a fairly compressed RN-tier wage ceiling, so career growth often depends on advanced-practice routes (NP, CRNA) or relocation to higher-wage neighboring states.