Alabama has eight universities offering nurse practitioner programs across six NP specialties — FNP, PMHNP, AGPCNP, AGACNP, and both pediatric primary and acute care — plus dual-role and subspecialty options. Students can enter through MSN, BSN-to-DNP, MSN-to-DNP, and post-graduate certificate pathways, with per-credit rates running from $445 to $1,000.
The schools split into two groups.
- Two universities — South Alabama and UAB — carry broad multi-specialty portfolios.
- The other six concentrate on one or two specialties, and several of those narrow programs hold the state’s lowest prices.
Choosing well in Alabama usually means deciding whether specialty selection or cost matters more.
Alabama NP Programs at a Glance
- Universities offering NP programs: 8
- Specialties represented: 6, plus dual-role tracks
- Most widely available specialty: PMHNP (5 universities)
- Least available specialties: AGPCNP and pediatric NP (2 universities each)
- Degree pathways: MSN, BSN-to-DNP, MSN-to-DNP, post-graduate certificate
- ADN/RN entry: Yes — one ADN-to-MSN school and one RN-entry route for non-nursing bachelor’s holders
- Format picture: Mostly online statewide; one hybrid program; no school requires weekly campus attendance except UAH
Compare Alabama Nurse Practitioner Programs
| School | FNP | PMHNP | AGPCNP | AGACNP | PNP-PC | PNP-AC | Degrees | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville State University | — | — | — | ✓ | — | — | DNP | Mostly Online |
| Samford University | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | — | — | MSN • DNP • Certificate | Mostly Online |
| University of Alabama | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | — | — | MSN • DNP • Certificate | Varies by specialty |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | ✓ | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Verify | MSN • DNP • Certificate | Mostly Online |
| University of Alabama in Huntsville | — | — | — | ✓ | — | — | MSN • Certificate | Hybrid |
| University of Mobile | — | ✓ | — | — | — | — | Certificate | Online |
| University of North Alabama | — | ✓ | — | — | — | — | MSN • Certificate | Mostly Online |
| University of South Alabama | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | MSN • DNP • Certificate | Mostly Online |
A dash means no program was identified in the supplied statewide specialty inventories, not confirmation that a school does not offer the specialty. Sources disagree on whether UAB offers pediatric acute care; confirm directly with the school.
Format notes worth checking before you apply:
- University of Alabama is listed with no campus requirement for PMHNP but two required campus visits for the FNP MSN.
- South Alabama’s campus intensive is described as virtual for PMHNP and on-campus for other specialties.
- UAH is the only school with recurring scheduled campus classes.
- UAB doctoral students attend an annual multi-day intensive on top of orientation.
Alabama NP Programs by Specialty
Family Nurse Practitioner Programs
Four universities offer FNP preparation across 15 tracks — the state’s second-broadest specialty and its deepest pathway selection.
| School | Key Difference |
|---|---|
| Samford University | Only ADN-to-MSN entry point in Alabama |
| UAB | Programs structured part-time from the start |
| University of Alabama | Lowest published per-credit rate among FNP schools |
| University of South Alabama | Highest documented doctoral clinical hours (1,140) |
- Every FNP program requires at least one campus visit; none is fully campus-free.
- Certificate costs diverge more than any other pathway, from roughly $14K to $36K.
- South Alabama also admits RNs holding a bachelor’s degree in another field.
Compare all Alabama FNP programs →
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Programs
PMHNP is Alabama’s most widely available specialty, offered by five universities — the only specialty where the state’s smaller schools compete directly.
| School | Key Difference |
|---|---|
| Samford University | Only ADN/ASN-to-MSN psychiatric pathway |
| University of Alabama | Lowest per-credit rate and highest MSN clinical hours (780) |
| University of Mobile | Certificate only, restricted to already-certified NPs |
| University of North Alabama | Fastest MSN at two years, on 8-week course terms |
| University of South Alabama | Only school covering all four pathway types |
All five schools offer a post-graduate certificate, making this the most competitive certificate market in the state. South Alabama is the only in-state source of an MSN-to-DNP in psychiatric mental health.
Compare all Alabama PMHNP programs →
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP Programs
Four universities offer AG-ACNP preparation — broader coverage than adult-gerontology primary care, and the only specialty where Jacksonville State and UAH appear.
| School | Key Difference |
|---|---|
| Jacksonville State University | Doctoral entry only; no master’s or certificate route |
| UAB | Only school with an RNFA perioperative subspecialty track |
| University of Alabama in Huntsville | Only in-state AG-ACNP certificate; lowest published rate |
| University of South Alabama | Only dual FNP/AG-ACNP master’s in the state |
Entry requirements are stricter here than in other specialties. UAH requires documented critical care RN hours plus ACLS, and South Alabama requires acute care experience before clinical courses. UAH also limits clinical rotations to Alabama or Tennessee — a hard constraint regardless of where you live.
Compare all Alabama AGACNP programs →
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP Programs
Only two universities — UAB and South Alabama — offer AGPCNP preparation, making it the most limited adult-focused specialty in the state despite adult-gerontology acute care being available at four.
Both offer the full pathway range: MSN, BSN-to-DNP, MSN-to-DNP, and post-graduate certificate. South Alabama is the lower-cost option at every degree level and requires no GRE; UAB requires the GRE when undergraduate GPA falls below 3.2 and admits certificate students in summer only.
Compare all Alabama AGPCNP programs →
Pediatric Primary Care NP Programs
Two universities offer PNP-PC: UAB and South Alabama. Both deliver coursework mostly online with flat tuition regardless of residency.
- South Alabama is the lower-cost option at MSN and doctoral levels and offers a short post-master’s DNP for nurses already certified.
- UAB coordinates practicum placements through faculty rather than leaving site-finding to students.
- Certificate pricing at both schools is set by individual gap analysis.
Pediatric Acute Care NP Programs
Pediatric acute care is Alabama’s narrowest specialty. South Alabama offers PNP-AC at the MSN, BSN-to-DNP, and certificate levels. Supplied sources disagree about whether UAB also offers pediatric acute care tracks, so confirm current availability with UAB directly before ruling it in or out.
Compare all Alabama PNP programs →
Which Alabama NP School Fits Your Goals?
Widest NP Specialty Selection
The University of South Alabama is documented across all six NP specialties plus a dual FNP/AG-ACNP master’s — no other Alabama school covers more than five.
Lowest Per-Credit Rate for FNP or PMHNP
The University of Alabama charges $480 per credit, the lowest rate among schools offering these two specialties, with the state’s highest master’s-level clinical hour requirements.
Lowest-Cost Acute Care Pathways
The University of Alabama in Huntsville prices its AG-ACNP master’s near $21K and its certificate near $12K — the cheapest at both levels — if you can reach Huntsville biweekly and complete clinicals in Alabama or Tennessee.
Lowest-Cost Doctorate
Jacksonville State University’s BSN-to-DNP runs about $35K at $500 per credit, below every other doctoral option in the state, though it accepts no transfer credits and takes four years.
Only ADN-to-MSN Entry
Samford University is the sole Alabama school taking associate-degree RNs directly into an MSN NP program, available in both FNP and PMHNP.
Faculty Involvement in Clinical Placement
UAB documents faculty-coordinated practicum placement across its primary care tracks, with students contracting directly with a local preceptor. South Alabama faculty assist with site identification when a student’s search stalls.
Alabama NP Programs by Entry Pathway
ADN or RN to NP Programs
Alabama offers limited non-BSN entry, and the two available routes are not interchangeable.
- Samford University — ADN/ASN-to-MSN: available in FNP and PMHNP; the only associate-degree entry identified in the state.
- University of South Alabama — RN entry with a non-nursing bachelor’s: documented in FNP and pediatric NP, adding bridge credits ahead of the standard sequence.
No other in-state university in the supplied inventories admits nurses without a BSN.
BSN to MSN NP Programs
Six universities offer master’s-level NP entry:
- University of South Alabama: FNP, PMHNP, AGPCNP, AG-ACNP, PNP-PC, PNP-AC, dual FNP/AG-ACNP
- UAB: FNP, AGPCNP, AG-ACNP, PNP-PC, plus AG-ACNP with RNFA
- Samford University: FNP, PMHNP
- University of Alabama: FNP, PMHNP
- University of North Alabama: PMHNP
- University of Alabama in Huntsville: AG-ACNP
The MSN is the widest-access pathway in Alabama, but only two schools let you choose among more than two specialties at this level.
BSN to DNP NP Programs
Five universities offer direct doctoral entry:
- University of South Alabama: FNP, PMHNP, AGPCNP, AG-ACNP, PNP-PC, PNP-AC
- UAB: FNP, AGPCNP, AG-ACNP, PNP-PC
- Jacksonville State University: AG-ACNP
- Samford University: FNP
- University of Alabama: PMHNP
Doctoral entry narrows sharply outside the two multi-specialty schools. If you want a BSN-to-DNP in psychiatric mental health, Alabama offers two options; in adult-gerontology primary care, also two.
MSN to DNP Programs
Three universities serve master’s-prepared nurses, and the structures differ:
- University of South Alabama: both same-specialty DNP completion and MSN-to-DNP tracks that add a new NP specialty
- UAB: MSN-to-DNP documented in adult-gerontology primary care
- Samford University: post-master’s DNP that pairs the doctorate with NP specialty preparation
Same-specialty completion is substantially cheaper than adding a new specialty — a distinction worth confirming before comparing quoted figures.
Post-Graduate NP Certificates
Seven of eight universities offer certificates; only Jacksonville State does not. Availability by specialty is uneven:
- PMHNP: all five PMHNP schools
- FNP: all four FNP schools
- AGPCNP, PNP-PC, PNP-AC: UAB and South Alabama
- AG-ACNP: UAH only
Several certificates use gap-analysis pricing, so the published figure is a starting point rather than a total. Watch entry restrictions too: Mobile’s certificate admits only nurses already certified as Family, Primary Care, or Adult-Gerontology NPs, and UAB admits certificate students in summer only.
What Do NP Programs Cost in Alabama?
| School | Published Tuition Rate | Important Cost Context |
|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama in Huntsville | $445 per credit + $68/hr fees | AG-ACNP only; clinicals limited to AL/TN |
| University of Alabama | $480 per credit | FNP and PMHNP only; approved-state list applies |
| University of North Alabama | $495 per credit + $115/hr fees | PMHNP only; significant per-hour fees |
| Jacksonville State University | $500 per credit | AG-ACNP doctoral entry only |
| University of South Alabama | $594 per credit | Six specialties; flat rate regardless of residency |
| University of Mobile | $715 per credit | PMHNP certificate only; certified NPs only |
| UAB | Verify current rate | Sources differ; per-course fee applies; multiple specialties |
| Samford University | $1,000 per credit | FNP and PMHNP; only ADN entry route |
The lowest per-credit rate is rarely the lowest total cost for your goal. UAH holds the price floor but offers one specialty with a two-state clinical restriction. The University of Alabama’s rate is low, but its MSN timelines run three to four years and enrollment is limited by state authorization.
Compare like with like. Master’s tuition across the state clusters roughly between $21K and $48K; BSN-to-DNP totals run from about $35K to $76K; certificates start near $12K–$14K. A certificate is not a cheaper DNP — it is a different credential for nurses who already hold a graduate nursing degree.
Online NP Programs in Alabama
Nearly every Alabama NP program is delivered primarily online. The practical difference is how much travel each one requires.
No required campus attendance
- University of Mobile — PMHNP certificate
- University of South Alabama — PMHNP, where the skills intensive is delivered virtually
- University of Alabama — PMHNP lists no campus requirement; confirm before enrolling
Limited campus attendance
- University of South Alabama — one Clinical Skills Intensive for FNP, AGPCNP, pediatric, and acute care tracks
- University of Alabama — two campus visits for the FNP MSN
- Samford University — one to two intensives for PMHNP; two to three Birmingham intensives for FNP
- University of North Alabama — two on-campus simulation intensives in Florence
- Jacksonville State University — orientation and limited on-campus sessions
Recurring campus attendance
- University of Alabama in Huntsville — campus classes every other Wednesday
- UAB doctoral tracks — orientation plus an annual multi-day intensive each year of the program
Attendance requirements are set at the program level, not the university level. Two schools on this list appear in more than one group because their requirements differ by specialty — so verify against the exact track you plan to enter, not the school’s general marketing description.
Clinical Placement and Practicum Requirements
| School | Placement Approach | Important Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| UAB | Faculty-coordinated | Student contracts directly with preceptor; clinical hour totals unpublished |
| University of South Alabama | Faculty-assisted | Full admission requires a confirmed site by end of first semester |
| University of Mobile | University-partnered sites | Open only to already-certified NPs |
| Samford University | Varies by specialty | Sources describe different models for FNP and PMHNP; confirm directly |
| University of Alabama | Student-secured | Students find sites before affiliation agreements are formalized |
| University of North Alabama | Not clearly stated | Students maintain experiences independent of their employer |
| University of Alabama in Huntsville | Not clearly stated | Rotations restricted to Alabama or Tennessee |
| Jacksonville State University | Not clearly stated | No placement support documented in supplied material |
Faculty assistance is not the same as a guaranteed placement, and completing clinicals locally does not mean the university arranges them. South Alabama’s requirement to confirm a site early is a real admissions gate for certificate applicants in particular.
Clinical hour totals also diverge in ways that affect workload rather than cost. Master’s-level requirements range from roughly 500 to 780 hours; doctoral totals reach 1,140 at South Alabama and 1,480 at Jacksonville State. UAB does not publish clinical hour totals for any track, so a direct comparison with UAB is not possible.
Choosing an NP Program in Alabama
1. Start with specialty availability. Four of Alabama’s six specialties are offered by two schools or fewer. If you want AGPCNP or pediatric NP preparation, your in-state list is short before cost enters the conversation.
2. Settle primary care versus acute care first. Alabama has more adult-gerontology acute care programs than primary care ones, and the acute care schools carry experience requirements the primary care schools do not.
3. Match the pathway before comparing tuition. A $12K certificate and a $41K BSN-to-DNP are not competing options. Compare MSN to MSN, doctorate to doctorate, certificate to certificate.
4. Price the travel. UAH’s biweekly classes and UAB’s annual doctoral intensives are recurring commitments. One-time intensives at South Alabama, Samford, UNA, and Alabama are not.
5. Confirm who finds your preceptor. Three schools document faculty involvement; several state nothing at all. If you have no clinical network, that gap is a bigger risk than a few thousand dollars in tuition.
6. Check state authorization early. Several Alabama schools limit enrollment by state of residence or restrict where clinicals can occur. Verify eligibility before investing in an application.
FAQ
How many nurse practitioner schools are in Alabama?
Eight universities offer NP programs: Jacksonville State, Samford, the University of Alabama, UAB, UAH, the University of Mobile, the University of North Alabama, and the University of South Alabama.
Which NP specialties are available in Alabama?
Six: FNP, PMHNP, AGPCNP, AG-ACNP, pediatric primary care, and pediatric acute care. Dual-role and subspecialty options also exist, including a dual FNP/AG-ACNP master’s at South Alabama.
Which Alabama school offers the most NP specialties?
The University of South Alabama, documented across all six specialties plus a dual-role track. UAB is next with four confirmed specialties.
Are there online NP programs in Alabama?
Most coursework is online statewide, but few programs are entirely campus-free. The University of Mobile requires no campus visits, and South Alabama’s PMHNP intensive is virtual. Most other programs require at least one on-campus intensive.
Can I become an NP in Alabama with an ADN?
Only at Samford, which offers an ADN/ASN-to-MSN pathway in FNP and PMHNP. South Alabama accepts RNs with a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field, but that is a separate route.
Which Alabama schools offer BSN-to-DNP programs?
Five: South Alabama, UAB, Jacksonville State, Samford, and the University of Alabama. South Alabama and UAB offer the widest specialty selection at the doctoral level.
What are the lowest-cost NP options in Alabama?
UAH publishes the lowest per-credit rate and the cheapest certificate and master’s in acute care. The University of Alabama has the lowest rate among FNP and PMHNP schools, and Jacksonville State has the lowest-cost doctorate. Each of those low prices comes with a narrow specialty menu or a geographic restriction.