How to Become a Registered Nurse in Alabama

Nurses play a crucial role in the healthcare industry.

And if you’ve always wanted to be a medical practitioner, you can study to be a registered Nurse.

Besides, this is a profession where you’ll never be out of employment as there is a high demand for nurses.

Enroll in any of the top five Nursing Schools offering state-approved R.N. programs in Alabam to kickstart your nursing career.

5 Registered Nurse Schools in Alabama

These are the 5 top-rated nursing schools in Alabama that offer the best R.N. program.

1. Auburn University

Auburn university college of nursing was founded in 1979 and is ranked among the best schools in Alabama offering R.N. programs.

The university has increased its intake from 75 to 215 in its R.N. program.

To qualify for their BSN program, you must have completed 3-5 of the required science courses in pre-nursing and have outstanding pre-nursing coursework of no more than 18 hours.

Application interviews are conducted every year for the fall semester; if you meet the minimum requirements, you don’t need to attend interviews.

The course takes about 12 months of full-time study to earn a BSN and another 12 months of full-time study to earn an MSN.

Cost

• Alabama residents: $609 per credit (full-time) and $9,744 for part-time
• Non-Alabama residents: $609 per credit (full-time) and $9,744 for part-time

2. The University of Alabama

Also referred to as the Capstone College of Nursing, it is committed to offering students access to educational options for registered nurses.

Their curriculum focuses on classroom work, lab, and clinical experience.

The university has advanced and state-of-the-art technology that allows them to offer quality nursing education.

The BSN program has two divisions, the lower, which consists of core-curriculum courses, and the upper, which consists of nursing courses, which are five in total and encompass theoretical and clinical lab components.

Students are admitted to the lower nursing division after meeting the admission requirements.

It takes two years to finish, and then they are promoted to the upper division of the nursing curriculum.

Cost

• Application fee of $65
• Full-time students: $ 400 per credit for in-state and out-of-state students

3. Wallace State Community College- Hanceville

The college offers nursing students access to the most updated and state-of-the-art facilities.

And the intake for Associate Degree in Nursing (R.N.) takes place twice a year, from May to May and July to September.

The programs take nine semesters to complete, of which five semesters involve academic coursework and four include lab and clinical experience.

Their nursing program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and approved by the Alabama Board of Nursing.

Cost

• In-state students : $375 per credit
• Out-of-state students: $750 per credit

4. Samford University

Samford is among the best nursing schools in Alabama as it has a 95% graduate rate on the NCLEX-RN exam.

The university is committed to providing the workplace with all-rounded students with a high level of critical thinking and practical skill to provide optimal nursing care to patients.

Their R.N. program takes 4 years to finish. And unlike other BSN programs that accept a 2.5 GPA, Samford agrees with a minimum of 3.0 GPA and SAT scores of 1060.

And the best thing is that they have on-campus housing facilities.

Cost

• Application fee of $50
• In-state students’ tuition and fees: $31,650
• Out-of-state tuition and fees: $31,650
• Room and board: $10,500

5. Lawson State Community College

The R.N. program in Alabama has recorded the highest pass rate and is ranked among the 10 best nursing schools in Alabama.

The R.N. program at Lawson State Community College was established in 1970 and has recorded a successful history with over 1000 nursing graduates.

The college offers daytime and evening classes, and after graduation, its students are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN licensure exams within 90 days.

The program has 5 semesters, and the curriculum consists of classroom work, lab, and clinical experience.

The college holds two intakes every year, the fall semester, whose application deadline is May 15^th, and the summer semester, whose application deadline is January 15^th.

To be accepted, you must complete all your prerequisite courses, have an 18 and above, and fill out the application form accordingly.

Students can also apply for grants, such as Pell Grants, federal grants, and scholarships.

Cost

• No application fee
• In-state tuition and fees: $4,740
• Out-of-state tuition and fees: 8,610

Registered Nurse Schools in Alabama – Summary Table

Salary

If you are new to the school and have no further education as a Registered Nurse graduate in Alabama, you are assured of getting an average salary of $59,390.

And the salary can increase if you have several years of experience and other certifications.

With your negotiation skills, you can get an average salary of $106,520.

And remember, the salary varies from state to state. So do your research before going for an interview.

Regional Salary in Alabama