Top Alabama RN-to-BSN Degree Programs
Are you ready to earn your online nursing degree?
Alabama is known as the Heart of Dixie. This is due to the fact that it is located centrally and because it has such a rich Civil War history. The summers in the state are hot, allowing people to enjoy the southern beaches. It is also a very popular state for college football. If you intend to enroll in a BSN (bachelor of science in nursing) program, there are many opportunities in this state. It is a good idea to look into these because the shortage of nurses in Alabama is becoming increasingly large, so much so, in fact, that various employers have now started to offer mentoring programs and incentives to attract new nurses and keep existing ones.
The need for nurses in Alabama, therefore, is clear. The population is getting larger and larger, but fewer nurses are available to meet the needs of this growing population. As an RN with a bachelor’s degree, you can earn an average annual wage of $67,720, which is very reasonable. Additionally, most employers now have a variety of bonuses and incentives on top of that, thereby significantly increasing earnings. If you are interested in studying towards a BSN, it is advisable to contact at least three different schools to find the variety of programs that are on offer, what they entail, what the acceptance criteria are, and how high are the tuition fees.
Below are what we think are the best Alabama BSN degree programs to help you get started.
Auburn University at Montgomery has a solid reputation of delivering some of the most qualified nurses in the field. They are caring and compassionate individuals who understand science and who are true critical thinkers. Indeed, employers in the Southeast regularly turn to Auburn University when they are looking for new employees. Graduates have the opportunity to serve people in the community, oftentimes people who are going through tremendous difficulties. This requires skills and knowledge, as well as intelligence and compassion. These are the hallmark qualities of nurses who graduate from Auburn University.
- Campus: Montgomery, AL
- Type: Public
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Tuition: $270 per credit hour for residents and $810 for non residents
- Minimum time commitment: 54 credit hours for BSN, 33 credit hours for RN to BSN
- Online availability: Yes for the RN to BSN
- Degree requirements: GPA of 2.3 minimum, ACT of 18 or SAT of 860 minimum, RN for RN to BSN program
- Programs: BSN, RN to BSN
- School Site: Tuition and Financial Aid
At the Lurleen B. Wallace College of Nursing at Jacksonville State University, students can take part in a BSN program that allows them to take the NCLEX-RN exam and become a registered nurse. The program starts with core academic courses, which is the lower division. After completion of this division, students must apply to be accepted to the upper division, which is the clinical element of the degree. The upper division starts twice a year, in the spring and in the fall. However, an application to be accepted must be made at least three months in advance.
- Campus: Jacksonville, AL
- Type: Public
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Tuition: $283 per credit hour for in state students and $566 for out of state students. $345 for online credit hours.
- Minimum time commitment: 62 credit hours for BSN, one year for RN to BSN
- Online availability: Yes for RN to BSN
- Degree requirements: ACT, transcripts, prerequisite courses, GPA of 2.5 minimum, TOEFL if applicable, criminal background check, RN license for the RN to BSN program
- Programs: BSN, RN to BSN
- School Site: Tuition and Financial Aid
Oakwood University’s Department of Nursing has two separate baccalaureate options. The first is the 4-year BSN program that prepares students to take the NCLEX-RN examination and become registered nurses. The second option is not generic and takes two years to complete and has been designed for those who already hold an RN certification. Both, however, lead to a bachelor’s degree in nursing and both encourage students to continue towards their master’s degree and even doctorate degree in the future. Graduates can work in various health care industries, including the community, hospitals, government and clinics.
- Campus: Huntsville, AL
- Type: Private
- Accreditation: ACEN
- Tuition: $7,587 per semester
- Minimum time commitment: 4 years for BSN, 63 credit hours for RN to BSN
- Online availability: No
- Degree requirements: ACT, GPA of 3.0 minimum, CPR certification, medical clearance, prerequisite courses, RN license for RN to BSN program
- Programs: BSN, RN to BSN
- School Site: Tuition and Financial Aid
The Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing prepares students who feel they have a true calling for the profession. They have been providing education for over 90 years and has a reputation of delivering the most knowledgeable graduates in the state, ensuring that critical thinking and true practical skills are enhanced. Graduates are able to offer compassionate and effective care to patients in all kinds of health care settings. Graduates can take the NCLEX-RN examination that will allow them to become registered nurses. The pass rates for Samford University are some of the highest in the country and many graduates go on to advance their degrees even further.
- Campus: Birmingham, AL
- Type: Private
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Tuition: Varies depending on student classification
- Minimum time commitment: 4 years for BSN, 68 credits for Accelerated Second Degree BSN, 5 semesters for second degree BSN
- Online availability: No
- Degree requirements: GPA of 3.0 minimum, prerequisite courses, ACT, bachelor’s degree for Second Degree BSN, video interview for Second Degree BSN, TOEFL if applicable
- Programs: BSN, Accelerated Second Degree BSN, Second Degree BSN
- School Site: Tuition and Financial Aid
At South University Online, students can achieve a BSN degree that is almost fully available online. The degree prepares them to work in a variety of health care settings, such as nursing homes, acute care hospitals, home health, rehabilitation facilities, school health clinics and community based clinics to name but a few. Additionally, the school focuses on delivering innovative health care concepts as well as allowing students to specialize in certain areas of nursing such as gerontological nursing, palliative care, and alternative and complimentary nursing. This is particularly beneficial for those who want to study on towards their master’s degree. The curriculum looks at elements such as motivation and training, critical thinking skills, delegation, decision making, and more.
- Campus: Montgomery, AL
- Type: Private
- Accreditation: CAAHEP
- Tuition: $105,645 for the full program
- Minimum time commitment: 40 months
- Online availability: Yes
- Degree requirements: Varies, admission advisers look into each application
- Programs: RN to BSN
- School Site: Tuition and Financial Aid
The faculty members at Spring Hill College believe that nursing is a true calling. As such, students are expected to have a true desire to serve humankind and make a true and valuable difference to the world as a whole. The field of nursing requires people who are intellectuals and who have ethical skills and knowledge. Additionally, they must have stamina and compassion. The instruction at the college is fully personalized and students are encouraged to gain lots of hands-on experience all over the Gulf Coast Region. This is done under the supervision of clinical experts.
- Campus: Mobile, AL
- Type: Private
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Tuition: $32,468 per year
- Minimum time commitment: 4 years
- Online availability: No
- Degree requirements: High school or GED
- Programs: BSN
- School Site: Tuition and Financial Aid
At the University of Alabama, faculty members are committed to ensuring that students are able to meet their career goals. They offer a BSN program at the Capstone College of Nursing that has been designed for transfer students, freshmen and those who already hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field. Those nurses who want to return to their educational journey and go back to school will find particular benefits from going to this school.
- Campus: Tuscaloosa, AL
- Type: Public
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Tuition: $330 per credit
- Minimum time commitment: 9 semesters
- Online availability: No
- Degree requirements: GPA of 3.0, high school or GED, Bachelor’s Degree for Second Degree BSN
- Programs: BSN, Second Degree BSN
- School Site: Tuition and Financial Aid