To answer what @Angela220 said, my DD graduated from UAB’s program Spring 2016. She was in their Nursing Scholars Program (where you apply in HS senior year and meet the application deadline, have the essay submitted, and are chosen for the program). So for DD’s UAB junior year, fall semester, UAB had a “Lamp of Learning Ceremony” welcoming the nursing students into the clinical portion of nursing. Her class had 115 students. Over 60 students were nursing scholars students; some were transfer students (including some who may have a RN degree and are completing BSN) and some were UAB students that changed their major to nursing and had a strong GPA. Some UAB students may have other requirements to complete and enter in nursing in the spring term, and I don’t know the criteria for the students beginning the clinical rotation on the summer term.
I would advise to really check out the schools/programs that are affordable. Each state has a State Nursing Board, and on their web site they will tell all the nursing programs (at every level). It may be affordable is going CC for ADN (associate degree in nursing) and then finish up BSN program. Some schools have on-line programs.
UAB is the largest nursing program in AL, but there are a number of others.
UAH’s program is growing - they added a wing onto their nursing building. They offer through doctorate in nursing.