Top Nursing Schools in Alabama
This page lists 39 schools in Alabama that reported awards in licensed nursing education to the U.S. Department of Education for 2023-24 — including 20 practical/vocational nursing (LPN/LVN), 24 associate degree (ADN), 16 bachelor's (BSN), 13 master's and 9 Doctor of Nursing Practice award levels. By ownership, 33 public, 5 private nonprofit and 1 private for-profit. 36 appear in the CCNE or ACEN accreditor directories for at least one nursing program level. The largest concentrations are in Birmingham (5), Mobile (4), Montgomery (3) and Huntsville (2).
Data last reviewed: October 6, 2026
Sources: IPEDS (U.S. Dept. of Education) / CCNE directory / ACEN directory
Listing does not certify educational quality or guarantee licensure eligibility. Verify details with the school before applying.
Listed alphabetically. Inclusion is editorial selection, not a ranking — see our methodology. How schools are selected
Schools (39)
| School | Location | Ownership | Nursing awards / programs | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lurleen B Wallace Community College | Andalusia, AL | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Northeast Alabama Community College | Rainsville, AL | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Northwest Shoals Community College | Muscle Shoals, AL | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Reid State Technical College | Evergreen, AL | Public | LPN/LVN | — |
| Samford University | Birmingham, AL | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-PMHNP, Grad Cert-PMHNP, DNP, DNP-FNP, DNP-Leadership, DNP-PMHNP, Doctorate-CRNA | CCNE |
| Shelton State Community College | Tuscaloosa, AL | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Snead State Community College | Boaz, AL | Public | CNA, ADN | ACEN |
| South University-Montgomery | Montgomery, AL | Private for-profit | BSN, MSN-FNP | — |
| Southern Union State Community College | Wadley, AL | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Spring Hill College | Mobile, AL | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN-CNL | CCNE |
| The University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL | Public | BSN, MSN, Post-Master's, DNP, PhD | CCNE |
| Troy University | Troy, AL | Public | ADN, BSN, MSN, Post-Master's, DNP | ACEN |
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee, AL | Private nonprofit | BSN | ACEN |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, AL | Public | BSN, MSN, DNP, PhD | CCNE |
| University of Alabama in Huntsville | Huntsville, AL | Public | BSN, MSN, Post-Master's-FNP, DNP, PhD | CCNE |
| University of Mobile | Mobile, AL | Private nonprofit | ADN, BSN, MSN-FNP, PhD-FNP | CCNE, ACEN |
| University of North Alabama | Florence, AL | Public | BSN, MSN, Post-Master's | CCNE |
| University of South Alabama | Mobile, AL | Public | BSN, MSN, Post-Master's, Post-Master's-Leadership, DNP | CCNE |
| University of West Alabama | Livingston, AL | Public | ADN, BSN | ACEN |
Before you apply in Alabama
- Prelicensure nursing programs must be approved by the state's board of nursing. Check the board's current list for the campus you will attend.
- Program accreditation (CCNE, ACEN or CNEA) is separate from state approval and from the institution's own accreditation. Each school page shows which records we found and where.
- Online programs based in another state may not accept residents of Alabama. See online coursework and clinical requirements.