Best colleges for Registered Nursing in Alabama
Ranked by graduate earnings
Tuskegee University, The University of Alabama and Auburn University at Montgomery are the top bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Alabama by graduate earnings. Tuskegee University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $78,874, College Scorecard. University of South Alabama, University of Alabama at Birmingham and The University of Alabama award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Alabama: 1,374, 1,046 and 601 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 40 Alabama colleges offer Registered Nursing and award 7,031 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tuskegee University Tuskegee Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $78,874 | 24 | 55% | $33,313 | $31,000 |
| 2 | The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa Public · Bachelor's degree | $73,000 | 601 | 73% | — | $25,006 |
| 3 | Auburn University at Montgomery Montgomery Public · Bachelor's degree | $69,625 | 97 | 33% | — | $26,375 |
| 4 | University of South Alabama Mobile Public · Bachelor's degree | $69,447 | 1,374 | 53% | — | $26,000 |
| 5 | Jacksonville State University Jacksonville Public · Bachelor's degree | $68,896 | 248 | 55% | — | $21,500 |
| 6 | Auburn University Auburn Public · Bachelor's degree | $67,120 | 264 | 82% | — | $20,449 |
| 7 | Troy University Troy Public · Bachelor's degree | $66,344 | 282 | 50% | — | $25,000 |
| 8 | University of Mobile Mobile Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $66,307 | 65 | 57% | $19,817 | $31,000 |
| 9 | University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham Public · Bachelor's degree | $65,173 | 1,046 | 64% | — | $21,911 |
| 10 | Samford University Birmingham Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $64,226 | 209 | 77% | $28,160 | $25,750 |
Top 10 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bishop State Community College Mobile Public · Associate degree | $71,034 | 48 | 36% | — | $16,250 |
| 2 | Southern Union State Community College Wadley Public · Associate degree | $69,147 | 116 | 36% | — | $13,250 |
| 3 | Coastal Alabama Community College Bay Minette Public · Associate degree | $67,900 | 207 | 31% | — | $17,653 |
| 4 | Chattahoochee Valley Community College Phenix City Public · Associate degree | $67,491 | 71 | 36% | — | $18,588 |
| 5 | George C Wallace State Community College - Selma Selma Public · Associate degree | $67,158 | 44 | 41% | — | $21,000 |
| 6 | University of West Alabama Livingston Public · Associate degree | $66,312 | 65 | 35% | — | $25,875 |
| 7 | Lurleen B Wallace Community College Andalusia Public · Associate degree | $65,605 | 55 | 41% | — | $9,500 |
| 8 | Bevill State Community College Jasper Public · Associate degree | $63,532 | 201 | 38% | — | $12,750 |
| 9 | Gadsden State Community College Gadsden Public · Associate degree | $61,443 | 103 | 38% | — | $10,850 |
| 10 | Shelton State Community College Tuscaloosa Public · Associate degree | $60,540 | 108 | 30% | — | $14,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Registered Nursing degrees in Alabama
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of South Alabama Mobile Public | 1,374 | $69,447 |
| 2 | University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham Public | 1,046 | $65,173 |
| 3 | The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa Public | 601 | $73,000 |
| 4 | University of North Alabama Florence Public | 360 | $61,137 |
| 5 | Troy University Troy Public | 282 | $66,344 |
| 6 | Auburn University Auburn Public | 264 | $67,120 |
| 7 | Jacksonville State University Jacksonville Public | 248 | $68,896 |
| 8 | University of Alabama in Huntsville Huntsville Public | 244 | $63,036 |
| 9 | Samford University Birmingham Private not-for-profit | 209 | $64,226 |
| 10 | Auburn University at Montgomery Montgomery Public | 97 | $69,625 |
ShowHide the other 30 Alabama colleges offering Registered Nursing
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Top skills
What Registered Nurses earn in Alabama
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Registered Nursing programs in Alabama.
Which Alabama colleges award the most Registered Nursing degrees?+
University of South Alabama (1,374 graduates a year), University of Alabama at Birmingham (1,046 graduates a year) and The University of Alabama (601 graduates a year) award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Alabama, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 40 Alabama colleges offer Registered Nursing.
What is the best college for Registered Nursing in Alabama?+
By graduate earnings, Tuskegee University leads among bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Alabama, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $78,874, College Scorecard. The University of Alabama and Auburn University at Montgomery follow. By degrees awarded, University of South Alabama is the largest, with 1,374 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Registered Nursing program in Alabama has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Tuskegee University tops the list at $78,874. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Registered Nurses earn in Alabama?+
The average annual wage for Registered Nurses in Alabama is $77,020 (median $77,080), across about 54,340 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Registered Nursing program?+
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Registered Nurses?+
The national job outlook is about +4.9% growth with around 189,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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