List of Online College Programs in Alabama

POPULATION (2021): 5.04 Million
CAPITAL: Montgomery
LARGEST PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IN ALABAMA: The University of Alabama
LARGEST PRIVATE UNIVERSITY IN ALABAMA: Columbia Southern University

Named after the Alabama River, the state of Alabama was first settled by the French and attained statehood in 1819. Today, it is the 24th most populous state in the United States and has a storied history. The Alabama city of Montgomery is home to the Civil Rights Memorial in honor of those killed in the fight for racial equality. The Selma to Montgomery march that took place in 1965, with the participation of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., secured the right to vote for all African Americans.

4-year Universities and Community Colleges in Alabama

Alabama is a popular destination for college students attending four-year, online, and community colleges. The state has over 40 public colleges, 23 private not-for-profit colleges, and 28 private for-profit colleges. The average acceptance rate for students applying to a college in Alabama was 75.89% in the 2021-2022 school year. In the same year, a total 297,614 students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs attended Alabama colleges and universities. Over 3,000 programs are offered online and on-site by Alabama higher education institutions.

Public Universities in Alabama 

The major public university system in Alabama in the University of Alabama system that has 3 campuses throughout the state (Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, Huntsville).

University of Alabama

The University of Alabama system was founded in 1831 and has more than 45,000 students across its three campuses. Auburn University is both a sports rival of the University of Alabama, as well as an enrollment rival as far as public universities go, with more than 30,000 students at the college named after the city it’s in. 

Alabama State University

Alabama State University, a Historically Black College/University (HBCU)  is the third-largest public school in Alabama and offers 2 and 4-year degrees at its campus in the capital city of Montgomery. 

Private Universities in Alabama

The private university landscape in Alabama isn’t as prominent as in some other southern states, but given its relatively small population, there are still plenty of options for private universities in Alabama. 

Columbia Southern University

Columbia Southern University is the largest private college in Alabama by enrollment, with ~ 18,000 students at its Orange Beach campus along the Gulf Coast. Other prominent private colleges in Alabama are 

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in Alabama

Alabama also has several private HBCUs in addition to the public Alabama State, including Tuskegee University, Talladega College, Selma University, Stillman College, and Miles College. 

Community Colleges in Alabama

There are 24 community colleges across the state as part of the Alabama Community college system, or ACCS. There isn’t a place in Alabama where you’re not an hour or so from one of these schools, and the state has a very noticeable commitment to making learning accessible for all of its residents. Some of these community colleges in Alabama offer four-year degrees, as well, but all of them provide a pipeline to attending one of the universities or colleges in Alabama, if that is your desired path. 

Prominent Online Colleges in Alabama

According to a report by U.S. News, Alabama college students choose online courses more frequently than the national average, and the online colleges in Alabama that serve the most students are Alabama State, Auburn, Talladega, and the University of Alabama system.

Here is a look at the city-by-city collegiate landscape in Alabama.

Universities in Montgomery

Montgomery, Alabama is the capital city and also the second-largest, trailing on Huntsville. As is the case with most capital cities, the town has a very college-city feel even away from the major campuses that call Montgomery home. Here are the other schools in Montgomery:

  • Alabama State University
  • Amridge University
  • Auburn University – Montgomery Campus
  • Faulkner University
  • Huntingdon College
  • Trenhold State Tech
  • South University

Universities in Birmingham

Birmingham centers around the University of Alabama’s main campus, and the city is very supportive of the school’s sports teams… With that in mind, you might want to keep quiet if you wind up attending school in Birmingham but cheer for another Alabama school like Auburn. Here are the other colleg options in Birmingham:

  • Birmingham-Southern College
  • Samford University
  • Birmingham School of Law
  • Herzing University – Birmingham

Get to Know Alabama 

Alabama has a vast economy, with production and aviation at the top of the list of money-makers in this southern state. Tourism in increasing, especially near the beach, with major music festivals and other gatherings of like-minded individuals becoming more popular in the summertime. Alabama also has a pretty enjoyable climate during the other seasons, with the average high only dipping below 60 degrees one month, January. 

One of the country’s most recognizable names in education, Helen Keller, was from Alabama and became the first deaf and blind person to graduate from college in the U.S. (albeit, not in Alabama). Another nice mark on a progressive state history that includes Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. 

Sports are very popular in this state, with The Crimson Tide of the University of Alabama leading the charge. If you want the ultimate party college experience, you definitely need to go to an Alabama/Auburn football game at least once! 

For those searching for a more relaxed atmosphere, the beaches in the southern part of the state are very serene, and exploration in the forests is nearly endless.

Institution Name City State Website Degree Levels Offered Modality Profit Status (CNTLAFFI)
Alabama A & M University Normal AL www.aamu.edu Bachelors
Masters
Doctorate
Campus No
Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine Dothan AL www.acom.edu Doctorate
Campus No
Alabama School of Nail Technology & Cosmetology Jackson AL www.alabamaschoolofnailtechnology.com Certificates
Campus No
Alabama State College of Barber Styling Gardendale AL www.ascbs.edu Certificates
Campus No
Alabama State University Montgomery AL www.alasu.edu Bachelors
Masters
Doctorate
Campus No
Amridge University Montgomery AL www.amridgeuniversity.edu Associates
Bachelors
Masters
Doctorate
Online No
Athens State University Athens AL www.athens.edu Bachelors
Masters
Campus No
Auburn University Auburn AL www.auburn.edu Certificates
Bachelors
Masters
Doctorate
Hybrid No
Auburn University at Montgomery Montgomery AL www.aum.edu Certificates
Bachelors
Masters
Doctorate
Campus No
Bevill State Community College Jasper AL www.bscc.edu Certificates
Associates
Campus No
Birmingham-Southern College Birmingham AL www.bsc.edu Bachelors
Campus No
Bishop State Community College Mobile AL www.bishop.edu Certificates
Associates
Campus No
Blue Cliff Career College Mobile AL www.blue.edu Certificates
Campus No
Brown Beauty Barber School Bessemer AL brownbeautybarberschool.edu Certificates
Campus No
Cardiac and Vascular Institute of Ultrasound Mobile AL www.ultrasound.edu Certificates
Campus No
Central Alabama Community College Alexander City AL www.cacc.edu Certificates
Associates
Campus No
Chattahoochee Valley Community College Phenix City AL www.cv.edu Certificates
Associates
Campus No
Coastal Alabama Community College Bay Minette AL www.coastalalabama.edu Certificates
Associates
Campus No
Columbia Southern University Orange Beach AL www.columbiasouthern.edu Certificates
Associates
Bachelors
Masters
Doctorate
Online No
Enterprise State Community College Enterprise AL www.escc.edu Certificates
Associates
Campus No
Faulkner University Montgomery AL www.faulkner.edu Associates
Bachelors
Masters
Doctorate
Hybrid No
Fortis College Mobile AL www.fortis.edu Certificates
Campus No
Fortis College-Dothan Dothan AL www.fortiscollege.edu Certificates
Campus No
Fortis College-Foley Foley AL www.fortis.edu Certificates
Campus No
Fortis College-Montgomery Montgomery AL www.fortiscollege.edu Certificates
Campus No
Fortis College-Montgomery Montgomery AL www.fortis.edu Certificates
Associates
Campus No
Fortis Institute-Birmingham Birmingham AL www.fortis.edu Certificates
Associates
Campus No
Gadsden State Community College Gadsden AL www.gadsdenstate.edu Certificates
Associates
Campus No
George C Wallace Community College-Dothan Dothan AL www.wallace.edu Certificates
Associates
Campus No
George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville Hanceville AL www.wallacestate.edu Certificates
Associates
Campus No
George C Wallace State Community College-Selma Selma AL www.wccs.edu Certificates
Associates
Campus No
H Councill Trenholm State Community College Montgomery AL www.trenholmstate.edu Certificates
Associates
Campus No
Heritage Christian University Florence AL www.hcu.edu Associates
Bachelors
Masters
Online No
Herzing University-Birmingham Birmingham AL www.herzing.edu Certificates
Associates
Bachelors
Masters
Online No
Huntingdon College Montgomery AL www.huntingdon.edu Bachelors
Campus No
Huntsville Bible College Huntsville AL www.hbc1.edu Certificates
Associates
Bachelors
Masters
Doctorate
Campus No
J F Ingram State Technical College Deatsville AL www.istc.edu Certificates
Associates
Campus No
J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College Huntsville AL www.drakestate.edu Certificates
Associates
Campus No
Jacksonville State University Jacksonville AL www.jsu.edu Bachelors
Masters
Doctorate
Campus No
Jefferson State Community College Birmingham AL www.jeffersonstate.edu Certificates
Associates
Campus No
John C Calhoun State Community College Tanner AL calhoun.edu Certificates
Associates
Campus No
Judson College Marion AL www.judson.edu Associates
Bachelors
Online No
Lawson State Community College Birmingham AL www.lawsonstate.edu Certificates
Associates
Campus No
Lurleen B Wallace Community College Andalusia AL www.lbwcc.edu Certificates
Associates
Campus No
Marion Military Institute Marion AL www.marionmilitary.edu Associates
Campus No
Midfield Institute of Cosmetology Midfield AL www.midfieldic.edu Certificates
Campus No
Miles College Fairfield AL www.miles.edu Bachelors
Campus No
New Beginning College of Cosmetology Albertville AL www.nbccosmetology.com Certificates
Campus No
Northeast Alabama Community College Rainsville AL www.nacc.edu Certificates
Associates
Campus No
Northwest-Shoals Community College Muscle Shoals AL www.nwscc.edu Certificates
Associates
Campus No
Oakwood University Huntsville AL www2.oakwood.edu Associates
Bachelors
Masters
Campus No
Paul Mitchell the School-Birmingham Hoover AL birmingham.paulmitchell.edu Certificates
Campus No
Paul Mitchell the School-Huntsville Madison AL paulmitchell.edu Certificates
Campus No
Reid State Technical College Evergreen AL www.rstc.edu Certificates
Associates
Campus No
Remington College-Mobile Campus Mobile AL www.remingtoncollege.edu Certificates
Associates
Bachelors
Campus No
Ross Medical Education Center-Huntsville Huntsville AL www.rosseducation.edu Certificates
Campus No
Samford University Birmingham AL www.samford.edu Certificates
Bachelors
Masters
Doctorate
Campus No
Selma University Selma AL selmauniversity.edu Associates
Bachelors
Masters
Campus No
Shelton State Community College Tuscaloosa AL www.sheltonstate.edu Certificates
Associates
Campus No
Snead State Community College Boaz AL www.snead.edu Certificates
Associates
Campus No
South University, Montgomery Montgomery AL www.southuniversity.edu Associates
Bachelors
Masters
Campus No
Southern Union State Community College Wadley AL www.suscc.edu Certificates
Associates
Campus No
Spring Hill College Mobile AL www.shc.edu Certificates
Bachelors
Masters
Campus No
Stillman College Tuscaloosa AL stillman.edu Bachelors
Campus No
Strayer University-Alabama Birmingham AL www.strayer.edu Certificates
Associates
Bachelors
Masters
Online No
Talladega College Talladega AL www.talladega.edu Associates
Bachelors
Masters
Campus No
The Salon Professional Academy-Huntsville Huntsville AL www.huntsvilletspa.com Certificates
Campus No
The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa AL www.ua.edu Bachelors
Masters
Doctorate
Campus No
Troy University Troy AL www.troy.edu Certificates
Associates
Bachelors
Masters
Doctorate
Campus No
Tuskegee University Tuskegee AL www.tuskegee.edu Bachelors
Masters
Doctorate
Campus No
United States Sports Academy Daphne AL www.ussa.edu Bachelors
Masters
Doctorate
Hybrid No
University Academy of Hair Design Tuscaloosa AL www.uahairdesign.com Certificates
Campus No
University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham AL www.uab.edu Certificates
Bachelors
Masters
Doctorate
Campus No
University of Alabama in Huntsville Huntsville AL www.uah.edu Certificates
Bachelors
Masters
Doctorate
Campus No
University of Alabama System Office Tuscaloosa AL www.uasystem.edu Certificates
Bachelors
Masters
Doctorate
No
University of Mobile Mobile AL www.umobile.edu Associates
Bachelors
Masters
Doctorate
Campus No
University of Montevallo Montevallo AL www.montevallo.edu Bachelors
Masters
Campus No
University of North Alabama Florence AL www.una.edu Bachelors
Masters
Campus No
University of South Alabama Mobile AL www.southalabama.edu Certificates
Bachelors
Masters
Doctorate
Campus No
University of West Alabama Livingston AL www.uwa.edu Associates
Bachelors
Masters
Doctorate
Online No
Winonah's International School of Cosmetology Hoover AL www.winonah.net Certificates
Campus No

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