Rankings / By State
Best Nursing Colleges in Alabama
- 25
- Schools
- $45,936
- Avg. Earnings
- 48%
- Avg. Graduation
- $17,775
- Avg. Net Price
- $22,264
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
-
Graduate earnings span a wide band on this list, from $31,701 at the low end to $65,337 at the top. That 2.1× spread shows how much outcomes vary within a single category.
-
Lurleen B Wallace Community College offers the strongest payback. Graduates earn a median of $32,307 against $2,792 in annual net price, the best earnings-to-cost ratio in this ranking.
-
The most budget-friendly option on this list is Lurleen B Wallace Community College, at $2,792 annually in net price.
-
Completion rates separate this field: Auburn University graduates 81% of its students, well above the 48% list average. Finishing what you start matters as much as where you start.
-
Debt-to-earnings ratios favor Enterprise State Community College: graduates owe only 0.18× their yearly income, the most manageable debt burden on the list.
Surprising Comparisons
- The top spot belongs to Samford University ($58,469 earnings), not the highest earner, Auburn University ($65,337). That is what weighting mobility and value over salary alone produces.
- Price and payoff diverge sharply here. Lurleen B Wallace Community College ($2,792/yr) and Tuskegee University ($35,013/yr) produce graduates earning $32,307 and $49,641 respectively, a far narrower earnings gap than the $32,221 cost difference would suggest.
- On a cost-adjusted basis, Lurleen B Wallace Community College outperforms Auburn University: similar career earnings at a much lower net price.
The Takeaway
A consistent pattern: the schools that finish at the top get there by delivering strong earnings, manageable debt, and real mobility rather than by charging more or rejecting more applicants. Those outcomes are what define educational value.
What This Means for Students
For students evaluating these schools, begin with Lurleen B Wallace Community College and Auburn University. Look past sticker price: pull each school's net price for your income level, compare it against projected earnings, and let the data guide the decision instead of the brand.
Why this ranking matters
Healthcare is one of the higher-return fields in the economy, but the payoff depends heavily on where you study it. Graduates of these programs earn a median of about $44K within a decade, and registered nurse roles are projected to grow 6%. We rank programs by the outcomes they produce for graduates, not by reputation.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-07-13
Source datasets
Methodology
Schools are scored on the CollegeRanker 4-Pillar Algorithm: Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25–35%), Academic Quality (15–20%), and Value (20–25%). Every weight is published and every figure traces to a public dataset.
See the full methodology and weights →Confidence notes
- Earnings, completion, and debt figures come from federal administrative records — tax data and student-aid filings — not surveys or self-reports, the highest-confidence tier of education data available.
- Social-mobility estimates are drawn from de-identified tax records covering more than 30 million students (Opportunity Insights).
- Where an institution is missing a metric, it is excluded from that metric rather than imputed, so averages are never inflated by guesses.
Limitations
- Federal earnings data primarily cover students who received federal financial aid; outcomes for non-aided students may differ.
- Earnings are measured roughly ten years after enrollment, so they describe how earlier cohorts fared — historical outcomes, not guarantees of future results.
- An institution's field-of-study mix affects raw earnings; scores reflect measured outcomes and are not fully major-adjusted unless explicitly noted.
- Net price is an average; the actual cost a given student pays varies widely by family income.
At a Glance
How the Top Schools Compare
| School | Earnings | Net Price | Graduation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Samford University #1 overall | $58,469 ▲ +27% vs avg | $32,622 | 78% | 80 |
| 2 University of South Alabama #2 overall | $49,379 ▲ +7% vs avg | $17,648 | 53% | 78 |
| 3 Jacksonville State University #3 overall | $45,235 ▼ -2% vs avg | $14,279 | 53% | 75 |
| $54,501 ▲ +19% vs avg | $18,749 | 63% | 75 | |
| $36,438 ▼ -21% vs avg | $4,244 | 36% | 75 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best Nursing Colleges in Alabama
This analysis ranks 25 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $45,936 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 48% and an average net price of $17,775.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: Lurleen B Wallace Community College — Net Price: $2,792 | Graduation Rate: 42%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: Auburn University — 81% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: Auburn University — Median alumni earnings: $65,337
Our Analysis Found
Private nonprofit colleges cost 110% more in net price than publics, while their graduates earn 21% more.
Healthcare Workforce Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about the U.S. healthcare workforce?
$44,232
Median earnings (10yr)
48%
Median graduation rate
$18,749
Median net price
1.9%
Avg. mobility rate
Few sectors of the economy depend more directly on what colleges produce than healthcare. Chronic shortages across nursing and allied health have made workforce training a bottleneck for the entire system. Schools rise on this list by combining rigorous instruction with clinical placements and high licensure pass rates, the bridge between enrolling and actually practicing.
Start with the medians across these 25 schools. Graduates earn a median of $44,232 ten years after enrollment. The median graduation rate is 48%, and the typical net price (what students pay after grants) runs $18,749 a year with about $23,000 in federal debt. Pell grants reach 39% of students on average, and the average mobility rate, the share of students lifted from the bottom income quintile to the top, is 1.9%.
One pattern runs through this list: programs with deep clinical partnerships move their graduates into the workforce faster. Samford University tops the ranking, and the median graduate here earns $44,232 ten years after enrollment. Demand outruns supply in this field, so the bottleneck is training capacity and credential attainment rather than hiring.
The podium
Build your ranking
Drag a pillar — schools re-rank live.
Tip: Check the box on any 2–4 schools below to compare them side by side.
Full rankings
Why it ranks #1
Samford University lands at #1 with a 80/100 composite, led by academic quality (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (47/100). Graduates earn a median $58,469 a decade after enrolling, 27% above this list's average, and net price runs $32,622 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #2
University of South Alabama lands at #2 with a 78/100 composite, led by social mobility (78/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (58/100). Graduates earn a median $49,379 a decade after enrolling, 7% above this list's average, and net price runs $17,648 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #3
Jacksonville State University lands at #3 with a 75/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (60/100). Graduates earn a median $45,235 a decade after enrolling, 2% below this list's average, and net price runs $14,279 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #4
University of Alabama at Birmingham lands at #4 with a 75/100 composite, led by social mobility (79/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (57/100). Graduates earn a median $54,501 a decade after enrolling, 19% above this list's average, and net price runs $18,749 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #5
Chattahoochee Valley Community College lands at #5 with a 75/100 composite, led by value per dollar (84/100) and pulled down by academic quality (47/100). Graduates earn a median $36,438 a decade after enrolling, 21% below this list's average, and net price runs $4,244 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #6
University of Mobile lands at #6 with a 72/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (52/100). Graduates earn a median $43,611 a decade after enrolling, 5% below this list's average, and net price runs $22,382 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #7
Jefferson State Community College lands at #7 with a 72/100 composite, led by value per dollar (78/100) and pulled down by academic quality (45/100). Graduates earn a median $40,719 a decade after enrolling, 11% below this list's average, and net price runs $9,086 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #8
Auburn University at Montgomery lands at #8 with a 71/100 composite, led by social mobility (78/100) and pulled down by academic quality (59/100). Graduates earn a median $44,391 a decade after enrolling, 3% below this list's average, and net price runs $13,224 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #9
University of Alabama in Huntsville lands at #9 with a 71/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (59/100). Graduates earn a median $61,767 a decade after enrolling, 34% above this list's average, and net price runs $18,796 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #10
Spring Hill College lands at #10 with a 71/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (53/100). Graduates earn a median $51,500 a decade after enrolling, 12% above this list's average, and net price runs $20,449 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #11
Huntingdon College lands at #11 with a 70/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (42/100). Graduates earn a median $49,601 a decade after enrolling, 8% above this list's average, and net price runs $22,566 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #12
The University of Alabama lands at #12 with a 70/100 composite, led by academic quality (77/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (54/100). Graduates earn a median $59,221 a decade after enrolling, 29% above this list's average, and net price runs $22,420 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #13
University of North Alabama lands at #13 with a 70/100 composite, led by social mobility (78/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (61/100). Graduates earn a median $45,415 a decade after enrolling, 1% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,170 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #14
Auburn University lands at #14 with a 70/100 composite, led by social mobility (77/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (57/100). Graduates earn a median $65,337 a decade after enrolling, 42% above this list's average, and net price runs $24,323 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #15
Tuskegee University lands at #15 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (29/100). Graduates earn a median $49,641 a decade after enrolling, 8% above this list's average, and net price runs $35,013 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #16
University of West Alabama lands at #16 with a 68/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (50/100). Graduates earn a median $44,232 a decade after enrolling, 4% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,684 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #17
Enterprise State Community College lands at #17 with a 67/100 composite, led by value per dollar (76/100) and pulled down by academic quality (50/100). Graduates earn a median $42,572 a decade after enrolling, 7% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,609 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #18
University of Montevallo lands at #18 with a 67/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (57/100). Graduates earn a median $42,957 a decade after enrolling, 6% below this list's average, and net price runs $17,683 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #19
Herzing University-Birmingham lands at #19 with a 66/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (57/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (45/100). Graduates earn a median $36,909 a decade after enrolling, 20% below this list's average, and net price runs $19,651 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #20
Faulkner University lands at #20 with a 65/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (45/100). Graduates earn a median $43,457 a decade after enrolling, 5% below this list's average, and net price runs $22,085 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #21
Lurleen B Wallace Community College lands at #21 with a 61/100 composite, led by value per dollar (95/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (25/100). Graduates earn a median $32,307 a decade after enrolling, 30% below this list's average, and net price runs $2,792 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #22
Oakwood University lands at #22 with a 60/100 composite, led by social mobility (63/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (40/100). Graduates earn a median $42,488 a decade after enrolling, 8% below this list's average, and net price runs $25,669 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #23
Troy University lands at #23 with a 56/100 composite, led by academic quality (59/100) and pulled down by social mobility (52/100). Graduates earn a median $42,062 a decade after enrolling, 8% below this list's average, and net price runs $16,527 a year. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #24
Alabama State University lands at #24 with a 50/100 composite, led by social mobility (56/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (40/100). Graduates earn a median $34,502 a decade after enrolling, 25% below this list's average, and net price runs $20,435 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #25
Lawson State Community College lands at #25 with a 44/100 composite, led by value per dollar (88/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (23/100). Graduates earn a median $31,701 a decade after enrolling, 31% below this list's average, and net price runs $6,275 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Cut it by what you care about
The same 25 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs — and the jobs are
Where these graduates work
Graduates of these programs most often become Registered Nurses and related roles — a field with $86,070 median pay and 6% projected growth.
See the Registered Nurse career guide →Choosing the right nursing college is a crucial decision for anyone looking to enter this vital field. In Alabama, 23 schools stand out for their nursing programs, each offering unique paths towards a career in healthcare. With an average earning potential of $46,377 for graduates, these options are worth exploring.
What really sets the top nursing colleges apart are the significant outcomes that prospective students should weigh. Metrics like graduation rates, debt levels, and actual earnings provide a clearer picture of what it means to earn a nursing degree in Alabama. The list below highlights schools that not only excel in these areas but also reflect a commitment to student success.
For instance, Auburn University tops the list with impressive earnings of $65,337 and a graduation rate of 81%. In contrast, the University of South Alabama has a lower graduation rate of 53% and average earnings of $49,379. This stark difference illustrates how program effectiveness can vary widely, giving students valuable context for their choices.
The story behind the ranking
A ranking gives you an order; these charts give you the shape. They show how this group of schools spreads across the four things that decide whether a degree pays off — what graduates earn, whether they finish, how far they move up, and what it costs. Look for the standouts, the outliers, and the trade-offs the list alone can't show.
Earnings Outcomes
What graduates earn 10 years after enrolling. Data from College Scorecard.
Distribution of Median Earnings
Earnings vs. Net Price
Top-left = best value. Top-ranked schools are highlighted.
Completion & Access
Graduation rates and who gets in. Data from College Scorecard & IPEDS.
Graduation Rates
Pell Grant Rate vs. Graduation Rate
Right = more low-income students. Higher = more graduate.
What the Mobility Data Says
The backbone of this ranking is social-mobility data from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, which draws on more than 30 million tax records. A school's mobility rate is the share of its students who move from the bottom income quintile to the top. Among the 20 schools on this list with available data, that rate averages 1.9%. Tuskegee University leads the group at 5.2%, with Lurleen B Wallace Community College (3.1%) and Spring Hill College (2.6%) close behind.
Who gets in matters as much as what happens after. Across these schools, an average of 12.2% of students start in the bottom income quintile. Lurleen B Wallace Community College leads at 28.7%, which signals an admissions door that is actually open to low-income students. Schools that pair high access with high mobility are the ones driving generational change.
Once low-income students enroll, their odds of reaching the top income quintile average 18.7% across this list. Spring Hill College posts the highest success rate at 39.6%. Access without completion and career momentum is an incomplete picture, and this is the number that completes it.
Social capital, measured by economic connectedness, captures the degree of cross-class friendship on campus, another dimension Opportunity Insights ties to long-run outcomes. Across these schools it averages 1.24 against a national benchmark of 1.0. Samford University reaches 1.70, the highest on the list.
Mobility, access, and social-capital figures from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card & the Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas.
Cost & Debt
What families actually pay and what students owe. Data from College Scorecard.
Median Debt at Graduation
Examining the data reveals that Auburn University outperforms the University of South Alabama in both earnings and graduation rates. While Auburn graduates earn an average of $65,337, South Alabama's graduates bring in $49,379. This difference can significantly affect a graduate's financial future, making the choice of school pivotal.
As you consider these rankings, reflect on your priorities. Think about what location suits you best, the type of campus environment you thrive in, and your financial situation. Weighing these factors alongside the data can help you make a more informed decision that aligns with your personal and professional goals.
Ultimately, these numbers represent real lives and futures. The choices made today can lead to stable careers that support families and communities. One family's decision to invest in a nursing degree can set the course for a secure life, making every data point on this list a critical consideration for students and their families.
Data Sources
U.S. Dept of Education College Scorecard
Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card
Social Capital Atlas
Times Higher Education World Rankings
NCES IPEDS
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Nursing Colleges in Alabama: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best Nursing Colleges in Alabama ranking? +
Samford University in Birmingham, AL ranks #1 in our 2026 Best Nursing Colleges in Alabama ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $58,469 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 78% graduation rate. Our score is built entirely from federal data on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt, and social mobility. Reputation surveys play no part.
Which school has the highest graduate earnings? +
Auburn University posts the highest median earnings on this list: $65,337 ten years after enrollment, well above the $45,936 average across the 25 ranked schools with earnings data. Earnings that outpace cost are what separate a degree that pays off from one that does not.
Which school offers the best value? +
On a pure return-on-cost basis, Lurleen B Wallace Community College leads: graduates earn a median $32,307 against net price of about $2,792 a year, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio in the ranking. Applicants should weigh that payback against sticker price rather than prestige.
Which school has the highest graduation rate? +
Auburn University has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 81%, compared with a 48% average across the list. Completion matters because the students who finish are the ones who actually capture the earnings and mobility gains a degree promises.
How much does it cost to attend these schools? +
The average net price, meaning what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, is about $17,775 a year across the 25 ranked schools with cost data. Lurleen B Wallace Community College is among the most affordable at roughly $2,792. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Best Nursing Colleges in Alabama ranking calculated? +
We score every school on a four-pillar algorithm: economic outcomes (graduate earnings and debt), social mobility (Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built on more than 30 million anonymized tax records), academic quality (graduation and retention), and value (net price and loan burden). Social mobility carries the heaviest weight, so schools that lift low-income students into higher earnings rank above those that simply admit wealthy students. Every input comes from federal data, and schools that withhold their numbers are scored lower for it.
How many schools are ranked and where does the data come from? +
This ranking evaluates 25 institutions using the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, the Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card and Social Capital Atlas, Times Higher Education, and NCES IPEDS. There are no opinion surveys or paid placements. The order is determined by the data alone and refreshed as new federal figures are released.
Sources & Citations
Related Rankings
