Each year, approximately 3.1% of Alabama graduates receive degrees in nursing. Thus, Alabama's 38 RN schools put out approximately 4,426 registered nurses each year.

Top Schools

Auburn University, which was ranked 25th nationwide in 2010, is the top-ranked school in Alabama that has a RN program. It is located in Auburn University. 93 students graduated with a degree in RN from Auburn University in 2010. Students at Auburn University paid $7,900 per year in tuition fees.

The second-ranked school in Alabama that has a RN program is Spring Hill College. Spring Hill College, which was ranked 39th in the country in 2010, is located in Mobile. 37 students graduated with degree in RN from Spring Hill College in 2010. The tuition rate at Spring Hill College was $26,730 per year.

Tuskegee University, which is located in Tuskegee Institute, is the third-ranked school in Alabama that has a RN program. It received a ranking of 49th in the country in 2010. In 2010, 10 students graduated from Tuskegee University RN program. Students at Tuskegee University paid $16,750 per year in tuition fees.

Cost

Rn schools in Alabama, charge students an average tuition of $6,976 per year. But, tuition can be as much as $26,730 per year, or as little as $2,834 per year. In 2010, the RN schools that charged the highest tuition rates in Alabama were:

1. Spring Hill College - located in Mobile, students are charged $26,730 per year
2. Samford University - located in Birmingham, students are charged $21,942 per year
3. Tuskegee University - located in Tuskegee Institute, students are charged $16,750 per year

The lowest tuition rates at Alabama RN schools were charged at the following schools:

1. Southern Union State Community College - located in Wadley, students are charged $2,834 per year
2. Alabama Southern Community College - located in Monroeville, students are charged $3,270 per year
3. Central Alabama Community College - located in Alexander City, students are charged $3,270 per year

A RN degree from an Alabama school... what next?

Most people who graduate from RN school in Alabama go on to work as a registered nurse. Alabama had 44,300 registered nurses in 2010. The following counties have the largest number of Alabama registered nurses:

1. Bibb County - 14,710 registered nurses
2. Mobile County - 4,990 registered nurses
3. Limestone County - 4,180 registered nurses

Projected Growth

The government projects that the number of registered nurses in Alabama will grow by 18%. By 2018, there will be an estimated 50,360 registered nurses working in Alabama.

Salary

On average, a registered nurse earns a salary of $57,850 per year in Alabama state. However, this number is only an average. registered nurses in Alabama had varying salaries from $36,100 to $82,600 per year in 2010. The following counties in Alabama have the highest average salaries for registered nurses:

1. Autauga County - $61,180 per year
2. Bibb County - $60,440 per year
3. Greene County - $58,930 per year

The following counties in Alabama have the lowest average salaries for registered nurses:

1. Lawrence County - $51,390 per year
2. Chambers County - $51,930 per year
3. Colbert County - $53,000 per year

More Information

Take a look at the graphs and charts below for additional Alabama statistics regarding a career in nursing and to compare salaries with a variety of related fields such as nurse assisting or forensic nursing.