Alabama's Best Nursing Schools for 2020

Coastal Alabama Community College is located in Bay Minette, Alabama and is known to have one of the lowest tuition rates in Alabama. They offer a number of nursing programs – an LPN program, a nursing mobility program (LPN to RN), and an RN program. Nursing graduates from Faulkner State Community College are prepared to be critical thinkers, practicing safely and effectively in a variety of healthcare settings.

Wallace State Community College is located in Hanceville, Alabama, and they offer both an LPN and an RN program. The Wallace State Department of Nursing’s goal is to produce nursing graduates “who are dedicated and exceptional healthcare providers committed to transforming the lives of patients, families, and the community.”  Wallace State Community College also has an articulation agreement with University of Alabama, which allows its graduates to pursue their bachelor’s or master’s degree of nursing.

Lawson State Community College is located in Birmingham, Alabama; there is also a campus in Bessemer, Alabama for an evening RN program.  The school boasts that their nursing program is competitive and prestigious – and difficult to gain entrance.  Although their is a minimum GPA requirement, it is recommended to maintain a high GPA and perform at a high level in all science courses.  It is even recommended that their students take additional biology classes to ready themselves for their nursing program – classes that are not required for the nursing program.

Troy University is located in Troy, Alabama.  Their RN to BSN program also offers a pathway for students to enter directly into an MSN program, allowing the nurse to continue to their advanced nursing degree immediately following completion of their BSN degree.  Students can also take the majority of their coursework online.

Shelton State Community College is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.  They offer both a traditional RN program and an LPN to RN program; they also offer an LPN program.  Shelton State Community College prides itself on being the first full-time and evening practical nursing program in the state of Alabama.  The college also advertises it’s SOAR institute – Student Opportunities for Achievement and Resources.  This institute housed within the college assists students with general education courses and offers the use of computers for student use.

Southern Union State Community College has multiple campuses in Alabama- Wadley, Opelika, and Valley.  The RN school is housed on the Opelika campus.  Their RN program is unique in that it offers mobility programs for not just LPNs seeking to become RNs, but also paramedics seeking to become RNs.

Spring Hill College is located in Mobile, Alabama.  Spring Hill College is the oldest Catholic college in the Southeast and the third oldest Jesuit college in the US.  They boast that their student to faculty ratio is 13:1.  In addition, nursing students comprise 9% of their student population, which is pretty outstanding when their are 46 majors available.

Troy University is located in Troy, Alabama.  Their RN to BSN program also offers a pathway for students to enter directly into an MSN program, allowing the nurse to continue to their advanced nursing degree immediately following completion of their BSN degree.  Students can also take the majority of their coursework online.

The University of Alabama is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.  They boast that they were the first public college of Alabama, founded in 1831.  They are also proud to say that their NCLEX-RN pass rate has been between 96% and 100% since it began in 1976.  They offer an RN to BSN program and an RN to BSN/MSN program.

Auburn University is located in Auburn, Alabama.  Its BSN program was formed in 1979, graduating its first group of students in 1981.  Per their website, admission into their nursing program is extremely competitive; it does require a minimum GPA of 2.5 but in reality, the minimum GPA is most likely much higher.  In addition, applicants must undergo an interview process in order to be accepted into the program.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham is located in Birmingham, Alabama.  Their RN-BSN program is unique in that it can be tailored to fit the needs of the student.  If the student chooses to attend school full-time, it can be completed in two semesters.  However, for the student who may have to work full-time, they can opt for a decelerated program and attend for as long as five semesters.  In addition, the bulk of the coursework can be completed online, with professors being accessible via the Internet as well.

Samford University is located in Birmingham, Alabama.  Their Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing was originally founded as a diploma nursing program in 1922.  It was the first nursing program in Alabama to be accredited by the National League of Nursing.  The school merged with Samford University in 1973, and moved to its campus in 1988.  To date, the school has graduated more than 5,000 RNs.