If you’re considering enrolling in a BSN program in Alabama, then you’ve come to the right place!
In this article, we ranked the top best BSN programs in Alabama based on their NCLEX pass rates.
Whereas other sites have ranked schools based on out of date data and questionable methodology, we gathered our data from the Alabama Board of Nursing. The rankings below reflect the average NCLEX pass rates from 2019 to 2021 for each school.
Of course, if you’re looking to get your BSN and need more flexibility in your schedule, you can always consider getting your degree from one of the top online BSN programs. This is a great choice if you’re already working as a nurse but still want to advance your knowledge, skills, and career.
However, if you’ve got your heart set on attending classes in person, then keep reading to see if one of the following BSN programs in Alabama may be a good fit for you!
What Is The Best BSN Program in Alabama?
Auburn University is the best BSN program in Alabama.
This school has the highest NCLEX pass rate in the state. From 2019 to 2021, the rolling three-year average for NCLEX pass rates for students from this school was 98.56%.
However, just because they come in number one in our rankings doesn’t necessarily mean this is the right school to help you reach your particular goals.
Continue reading to learn more about Auburn University and other BSN programs in Alabama.
5 Best BSN Programs in Alabama Ranked
The table below ranks each BSN program in Alabama by NCLEX pass rate. To learn more about the top 10 schools on the list, keep reading.
| School | NCLEX Exam Pass Rate (3 Year Average) |
| Auburn University | 98.56% |
| University of Alabama Capstone College of Nursing | 97.70% |
| University of North Alabama Anderson College of Nursing | 94.67% |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | 94.52% |
| University of Alabama in Huntsville | 93.60% |
1. Auburn University
As we mentioned above, Auburn University ranks number one on our list of best BSN programs in Alabama with an average NCLEX exam pass rate of 98.56% between 2019 and 2021.
The pass rates for each year were:
- 2019: 98.90%
- 2020: 99.01%
- 2021: 97.78%
To enroll at Auburn, you first enter the Pre-Nursing program your freshman year before applying for admission into their upper-division BSN program. So, you need to keep in mind that admission into the school does not necessarily equate to admission into the College of Nursing.
If you’re already an RN, you can gain entry into their three-semester, online RN-to-BSN program.Also, Auburn University has clinical locations in but not limited to:
- Auburn-Opelika area
- Montgomery
- Birmingham
- Mobile
- Columbus, GA
- Atlanta, GA
Finally, according to GradReports.com:
- The employment rate for graduates from this program is 100%
- Median debt after graduation is $20,500 (based on 135 students)
- Median alumni salary is $55,550 (based on 126 students)
2. University of Alabama Capstone College of Nursing
The second-best BSN program in Alabama is at the University of Alabama Capstone College of Nursing. The three-year average NCLEX pass rate here is 97.70%.
The pass rates for each year were:
- 2019: 98.06%
- 2020: 98.02%
- 2021: 97.01%
Like Auburn, you first need to complete Low-Division courses before you can get accepted to the Upper-Division. The promotion to Upper-Division occurs after the first two years of study. The Upper-Division consists of five semesters of courses.
However, keep in mind that the school heavily draws attention to the competitiveness of the program and that meeting only the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission.
The University of Alabama also offers an RN-to-BSN and RN-to-MSN program online if you’re already a Registered Nurse. In fact, the university’s website says you can go from RN to MSN in as little as two years.
According to GradReports:
- The employment rate for graduates from this program is 99%
- Median debt after graduation is $18,750 (based on 415 students)
- Median alumni salary is $56,750 (based on 355 students)
3. University of North Alabama Anderson College of Nursing
The next best BSN program in Alabama is at the University of North Alabama Anderson College of Nursing. The three-year rolling average NCLEX pass rate is 94.67%.
The pass rates for each year were:
- 2019: 91.49%
- 2020: 98.18%
- 2021: 94.34%
The University of North Alabama offers several ways to get your BSN. Three of them are online only:
- Bachelor of Science in Applied Health Science
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN)
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to MSN Bridge)
This school also offers a traditional, on-campus-only BSN degree, called the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Traditional Program).
Finally, they offer a hybrid program consisting of online and in-person courses, called the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Accelerated Program).
According to GradReports:
- The employment rate for graduates from this program is 98%
- Median debt after graduation is $21,620 (based on 137 students)
- Median alumni salary is $52,180 (based on 158 students)
4. University of Alabama at Birmingham
The next top-rated BSN program in Alabama is at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, which had an average NCLEX pass rate of 94.52%.
The pass rates for each year were:
- 2019: 97.44%
- 2020: 96.10%
- 2021: 90.03%
To get your BSN at this school, you must first enroll in the pre-nursing foundation courses. To officially enter the BSN program, you must maintain a “C” or better in each of these courses as well as have a pre-nursing foundation GPA of 2.75 or higher.
This school also offers a Nursing Honors program, which provides learning opportunities in research for students with a minimum 3.4 GPA in pre-nursing foundation courses and 3.0 cumulative GPA.
Unfortunately, GradReports doesn’t have any data for University of Alabama at Birmingham employment, debt, and salary. However, one reviewer of their nursing program said,
“UAB is a fantastic nursing school. Most of the courses are on campus. They have an excellent skills lab with some top notch equipment. The coursework is difficult, but it adequately prepares you for the real nursing world. The instructors are great and willing to help whenever needed. I was able to pass my boards on the first try, with only 75 questions.”
-Lauren (March 28, 2017)
5. University of Alabama in Huntsville
The final school in our top five rankings of BSN programs in Alabama is the University of Alabama in Huntsville. The three-year average NCLEX pass rate is 93.60%.
The pass rates for each year werre:
- 2019: 90.97%
- 2020: 91.91%
- 2021: 97.92%
Students that declare nursing and meet all the prerequisites for the BSN program can be eligible for the Early Promotion to Nursing Program (EPNP) and Honors College.
Also, students who have completed at least 30 hours of coursework at University of Alabama in Huntsville are given priority consideration for admission into the program.
This school also offers several other pathways to get your degree, including:
- Accelerated BSN
- ADN/BSN Dual Nursing
- RN to BSN
According to GradReports:
- The employment rate for graduates from this program is 97%
- Median debt after graduation is $18,750 (based on 139 students)
- Median alumni salary is $51,210 (based on 176 students)
What is the Average BSN Nurse Salary in Alabama?
The average annual salary for a Registered Nurse in Alabama is $60,230.
Unfortunately, Alabama is the state that pays RN’s the least when compared to the rest of the United States.
However, keep in mind that the cost of living is also much lower in Alabama than most other states, which means you won’t need to make quite as much money to live comfortably there.
Is a BSN Program in Alabama Right For You?
If you’re looking to get your BSN in the traditional format of in-person learning and want to stay in Alabama, one of the programs we talked about above may be a good fit for you.
However, keep in mind that online courses allow you more flexibility and can often help you save money when trying to advance your education.
If you’re not sure where to start looking for an online degree, click here!
Nurse Luke is a CRNA who specializes in Nursing content and still enjoys a very busy career with Locum, Per Diem and Travel nursing in the greater midwest. He has over 25 years of experience in the healthcare field and received his CRNA masters degree from the Mayo Clinic School of Healthcare. He is passionate about helping nurses explore the options of becoming a travel nurse as well as spending time with his Family.
