Fifteen-hundred years after indigenous peoples lived in Alabama, the Spanish were the first Europeans to enter the area, sometime in the 16th century. It was the French, however, who founded the state's first city, Mobile, in 1702. Like many states in the South, Alabama saw a severe economic downturn in the early 20th century, following the Great Depression, but has witnessed significant progress over the last few decades. In particular, the automotive industry has gained a major foothold, with Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing, Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, and Toyota Motor Manufacturing all located in the state. (Alabama now ranks fourth in the country for vehicle exports.) In addition, healthcare, regional banking and finance, construction, and tech are growing in the state. Unsurprisingly, education opportunities are on the rise, as well — in particular, online education, which offers affordable prices and flexible scheduling to accommodate today's college student.
In-state tuition is often applied to public schools offering online programs. Many online programs require some face-to-face time, or more numerous support services at their brick and mortar locations. Intensive study experiences–often on the weekends or in several week long bouts–enable many online students to accelerate their time until graduation. And students looking at online education can drastically expand their educational options if they also look to hybrid degrees (degrees where degrees can be taken partially, or mostly online). Finally, one of the most common stipulations in scholarships is that students be from a certain state or region, often more funds are available to students seeking degrees in-state.
There are 15 public schools in Alabama offering online degrees. The largest of these is Troy, which offers the most online opportunities in the state at 38, including 13 associates (Business and Education concentrations), 6 bachelors (Business, Nursing, Management), 18 masters (MBA, MPA, etc.), and a Doctor of Nursing Practice. The second largest provider is The University of Alabama — 10 bachelors, 14 masters, and a doctorate — with a wide variety of options in Business, Healthcare, Education, Law, Management, and more. From there, UAB, Jacksonville State University, and University of West Alabama each offer 20+ online degrees. UAB's graduate programs are worth highlighting, with several Engineering concentrations (among the few in the state), a half dozen MEd concentrations, and a Master of Public Health Maternal & Child Health Policy & Leadership. Outside of Troy's 13 associates, the next-largest offering is from Northwest-Shoals Community College, which has 5 pre-professional tracks in Business, Law, and Education.
There are 6 private schools in Alabama that offer online degrees. Amridge University is the largest, with 31, and is the second largest provider in the state. Undergraduate tracks are available in Business, Management, Communication, and Criminal Justice; and masters include an MA in Behavioral Leadership And Management, MS in Leadership And Management, and MA in Professional Counseling. Amridge also offers numerous Christian Ministry, Divinity, and Biblical Studies degrees, including 6 online doctorates, the most in the state. From there, Faulkner University offers 14 online degrees. Highlights include an Executive MBA, MS in Counseling, BS's in Business and Criminal Justice, and 2 doctorates in the Humanities and Biblical Studies. Remington College's Mobile campus offers 9 online tracks — 2 associates, 7 bachelors — and Oakwood University offers a Bachelor in Organizational Management.
Featured Online Schools
Potential Resident
For a variety of reasons, a student may look to move to the state of their online college program whether specifically required by the program or not – be it for a job, location desirability, school benefits, etc. Different states have different policies, however, and some of them can be rather demanding. Fortunately, Alabama's are relatively straightforward and are outlined by Alabama's registrar. In sum, a school will assume non-resident status if any any out-of-state information is received (including transcripts, addresses, or other items included in the admissions application). For independent students to declare in-state tuition, they will need to demonstrate either: full-time employment in Alabama; membership or veteran status in the United States Armed Forces; or permanent residence/domicile in Alabama at least one year immediately preceding the first day of classes of the academic term.
Four-year public university tuition in Alabama clocks in at $10,040, or in the middle of the pack in terms of national higher education prices. Technically this rate is around $1,000 more than the national average, but still well below the most expensive states of Vermont and New Hampshire (over $15,000 a year average public school tuition). For students looking to relocate, some portion of educational expenses will most likely be lower than their prior location due to low living expanses in Alabama. Alabama's average private four-year nonprofit university tuition, however, is lower than the national average, with the pair being $23,950 and $32,410 for published total prices, respectively. Coupled with lower living expenses, this makes Alabama one of the most affordable states to attend private universities in.
Birmingham is the largest city in the state of Alabama, with close to 1/4th of the state's population residing in the surrounding metropolitan area. Initially booming in the late 1800's as a railroading, iron, steel, and mining hub, Birmingham has come into its own as a unique and vibrant 21st century city of late. Among a number of smaller schools, the city is home to the University of Alabama Birmingham as well as Samford University, the first of which is a particularly noted online degree provider. UAB is a particularly good choice for in-state (and more specifically in-town) students, offering 22 fully online degrees at affordable in-state pricing. Other nearby online degree offering institutions include the University of Montavello as well as the University of Alabama (in Tuscaloosa). For potential students looking to relocate to an Alabaman city, Birmingham has many things to offer, including a large number of festivals, large academic and scientific employers, and vibrant art and music offerings. One such offering is Joe Minter's African Village in America, a half acre visionary art installation close to downtown Birmingham. Constructed of discarded goods, the installation is a folk art masterpiecepaying homage to the history of African-Americans and his vision of the continent from which they came.
Montgomery is the capital and second largest city in Alabama, claiming 375,000 residents within its metropolitan area. Recent downtown revitalization efforts, as well as many cultural events have lent Montgomery the title of "Alabama's happiest city" in recent years. Coupled with a number of higher education offerings, as well as a wide variety of high tech and manufacturing employers, the city is a great place to relocate or start establishing roots in for potential online students. Currently four institutions of higher education offer online degrees in Montgomery: Alabama State University, Faulkner University, Amridge University, and Auburn University at Montgomery. Amridge an Faulkner Universities are particularly good choices for online students, providing a total of 45 fully online degrees (Amridge offers the second most online degrees of any university in the state). The largest employers in the area offer a large range of opportunities as exemplified through their diversity. In descending order the largest employers in the area include Maxwell-Gunter Airforce Base, the State of Alabama, Montgomery Public Schools, Baptist Health, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, and Alfa Insurance Corporation.
Mobile is the third largest city in Alabama, and the largest city behind New Orleans in the culturally distinct French gulf coast. This lineage is expressed today through unique cultural, artistic, and culinary offerings, as well as the distinction of being the first city in America to celebrate Mardi Gras (a tradition that continues with exuberance today). Other unique cultural offerings in the city include the Mobile Museum of Art, the National African American Museum and Archives, the Battleship Memorial Park, the Mobile Carnival Museum, as well as many smaller home-based museums of the Antebellum south. Located in Mobile Bay, a saltwater bay located off of the Gulf of Mexico, many recreational and economic opportunities exist in the region. Three online-degree granting institutions are close or in Mobile, including the United States Sports Academy, Remington College's Mobile Campus, and the University of South Alabama. 25 fully online degrees are offered in total from these three institutions. More degree offerings are also offered directly across the state line to Florida in Pensacola. For potential online students looking to relocate to a culturally unique portion of Alabama, close to Florida, the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and Louisiana, Mobile is a great option in which to pursue an online education.
Huntsville is the fourth largest city in Alabama (and second largest metro), and noteworthy for its access to nature, vibrant high tech, science, and research economies, and online learning opportunities. Just south of the some of the southwesternmost foothills of the Appalachains, and just north of the Tennessee River, Hunstville has a wide range of outdoors opportunities available. For students pursuing degrees in the sciences or business, Huntsville is a great location due to its being the largest center of research for rocket propulsion research for Nasa and the military. The metropolitan area is regularly the top ranked area in the United States for engineers per total employment, largely due to the rocket propulsion research in the area. Three online degree granting institutions are available within city limits, including the University of Alabama at Huntsville, Oakwood University, and Alabama A&M University. Additional degree options are available in neighboring Athens Alabama, as well as in nearby Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Birmingham
Population: 212,113 Cost of Living: 0.726 Top Industries: Medicine, Research, Trade, Finance, Government Local Online Degrees: 25
Montgomery
Population: 201,332 Cost of Living: 0.808 Top Industries: Government, Education, Health Care, Auto Manufacturing Local Online Degrees: 56
Mobile
Population: 195,111 Cost of Living: 0.839 Top Industries: Aviation/Aerospace, Chemicals and Maritime Local Online Degrees: 20
Huntsville
Population: 186,284 Cost of Living: 0.914 Top Industries: Aerospace/Defense, Information Technology, Advanced Manufacturing and Bioscience Local Online Degrees: 19
Tuscaloosa
Population: 95,338 Cost of Living: 0.951 Top Industries: Education, Auto manufacturing Local Online Degrees: 27
Dothan
Population: 68,001 Cost of Living: 0.845 Top Industries: Agribusiness, Technology, Aerospace Local Online Degrees: 0
The Best Online Colleges in Alabama
Monitoring the accreditation of a university you are interested in attending is incredibly important. Accreditation ensures your credits can transfer that you can receive Federal financial aid, and most importantly that certain standards of educational quality are during your schooling. The highest accreditation standard for most programs in the United States is provided by regional accreditation agencies. The regional accrediting agency for Alabama is the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, one of six regional accrediting agencies responsible for accrediting schools in Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Latin America (Extraterritorial).
Making sure that a University you're hoping to attend is regionally accredited — or accredited by a real and respected accrediting agency — is one of the most important choices you can make in ensuring the quality of your education.
Three Steps for Securing Financial Aid
Submit your FAFSA.
Check to see if additional forms are needed at your university of choice.
Search and apply for private scholarships.
Through the previous three steps most students find themselves offered some sort of federal grant, work study, private grant, scholarship, or stipend.
Great Alabama Higher Education Resources
Alabama State Department of Education The ASDE includes resources for students, teachers, and parents, with the latest news in education and college core standard information.
A+ Education Partnership The A+ Education Partnership is a non-profit dedicated to improving public education across Alabama.
Alabama Community College System The ACCS promotes community colleges in the state; site includes the latest news, reports, and more.
Alabama Commission on Higher Education Click here for info on financial aid, a net price calculator, workforce development, and other hot topics.
Alabama Possible Alabama Possible's site includes up-to-date data and how-to guidance on obtaining grants for higher education.
Alabama Possible KHEAA-Alabama provides college- and career-planning information to Alabama students and adult learners.
Central Alabama Community Foundation The CACF, established in 1987, holds $54 million in charitable assets and distributes $3.7 million per year to more than 400 grants and scholarships.
Community Foundation of South Alabama The CFSA is forty-years-old; visit for grant information, financial planning, and more.
Southeast Alabama Community Foundation For residents of Coffee, Dale, Henry, Geneva, and Houston counties, the SACF site houses 25 funds which annually award more than $15,000.
Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham The CFGB covers five counties, with 478 grant-making funds and $17.9 million grants authorized.
Black Belt Community Foundation The Black Belt Community Foundation's site includes information on grants and scholarships available, plus reports, news, and more.
Community Foundation of Huntsville/Madison County Residents of Greater Huntsville visit for information on funding and financial planning.
Community Foundation of West Alabama The CFWA site includes grant applications, application guidelines, and scholarship information.
Walker Area Community Foundation The WACF has dedicated over $15 million in grants to the community.
Southern Regional Educational Board Providing policymakers with the data to improve education across the region, with a particular focus on affordability, college and career readiness, and teacher feedback. Read for more on post-secondary and adult education opportunities.
Southern Association of Institutional Research The SAIR promotes improvements in post-secondary education in the region. Visit the site for the latest news, reports, and conference information.
