University Headquarters (HQ) is an industry-leading, independent educational organization that provides independent college rankings using a proprietary formula to create first class, unbiased rankings. The team at University HQ strives to provide accurate and trustworthy rankings that highlight the best online programs in Alabama.
Featured Online Programs
Online colleges in Alabama are proliferating all the time. Those that already offer courses online are increasingly adding full online degrees and programs to their college education offerings. Alabama's college students can now receive a high-quality education completely online, including online graduate degrees, online bachelor’s degrees, and online associate degrees. With a flexible online college degree program, Alabama's college students can more easily enter the state's hottest industries such as manufacturing, professional services, education, and more.
Given that the economic and employment pictures in Alabama are only improving as the nation recovers from the COVID pandemic, students with online degrees will be all the more competitive in the marketplace. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the state total non-farm employment rose 3.2% in the twelve months ending September 2021. Though the state may yet see difficulties moving forward, its robust infrastructure of online colleges and online degree programs will help to keep its economy strong and resilient.
Online education is on the rise nationwide, and Alabama is certainly no exception. While traditional classroom education still leads the pack, online education is narrowing the gap every semester. This is due to a number of factors, but the fact that nearly all students migrated to online classes for at least a portion of the COVID pandemic emergency is likely chief among them.
Currently, nearly 70,000 students are in online-only degree programs. Of those, 44,000 are in undergraduate or bachelor’s degree programs and 26,000 are enrolled in online master's degree programs. Those who are taking a portion of their course load online number nearly 63,000, with the vast majority of those coming from undergraduate online programs. However, online programs still has a ways to go in order to support the needs for online students. There are still over 170,000 Alabama students who are not currently enrolled in any online courses, including 153,000 undergraduate and 19,000 graduate students.
Top 10 Online Associate & Community Colleges in Alabama
Herzing University-Birmingham
Score: 73.31
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $13,420
- Out-of-State: $13,420
- Net Price: $21,953
- Acceptance Rate: 94%
- Retention Rate: 50%
- Graduation Rate: 30%
- Total Enrollment: 578
- Undergrad Students: 570
- Graduate Students: 8
- Grads Salary: $72,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Bevill State Community College
Score: 67.85
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,678
- Out-of-State: $8,234
- Net Price: $7,439
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 66%
- Graduation Rate: 36%
- Total Enrollment: 3,703
- Undergrad Students: 3,703
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $40,700
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,980
- Out-of-State: $8,790
- Net Price: $9,619
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 66%
- Graduation Rate: 45%
- Total Enrollment: 5,965
- Undergrad Students: 5,965
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $36,700
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
George C Wallace State Community College-Selma
Score: 62.62
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,680
- Out-of-State: $8,490
- Net Price: $1,291
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 57%
- Graduation Rate: 37%
- Total Enrollment: 1,860
- Undergrad Students: 1,860
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $27,200
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
Lurleen B Wallace Community College
Score: 61.21
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,980
- Out-of-State: $8,790
- Net Price: $3,823
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 64%
- Graduation Rate: 34%
- Total Enrollment: 1,929
- Undergrad Students: 1,929
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $30,400
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
John C Calhoun State Community College
Score: 59.77
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $5,060
- Out-of-State: $8,870
- Net Price: $6,308
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 64%
- Graduation Rate: 36%
- Total Enrollment: 8,163
- Undergrad Students: 8,163
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $34,200
- Student-to-faculty: 20:1
Gadsden State Community College
Score: 57.06
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,032
- Out-of-State: $7,080
- Net Price: $4,777
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 65%
- Graduation Rate: 25%
- Total Enrollment: 4,352
- Undergrad Students: 4,352
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $34,200
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Southern Union State Community College
Score: 56.07
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,980
- Out-of-State: $8,790
- Net Price: $7,769
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 68%
- Graduation Rate: 24%
- Total Enrollment: 4,386
- Undergrad Students: 4,386
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $39,100
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
Northwest-Shoals Community College
Score: 55.78
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $5,071
- Out-of-State: $8,881
- Net Price: $4,113
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 64%
- Graduation Rate: 27%
- Total Enrollment: 4,032
- Undergrad Students: 4,032
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $28,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
Bishop State Community College
Score: 52.69
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $5,280
- Out-of-State: $9,090
- Net Price: $3,418
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 61%
- Graduation Rate: 22%
- Total Enrollment: 2,968
- Undergrad Students: 2,968
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $29,900
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
Top 20 Online Undergraduate Colleges in Alabama
Auburn University
Score: 80.23
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,536
- Out-of-State: $33,944
- Net Price: $25,271
- Acceptance Rate: 44%
- Retention Rate: 93%
- Graduation Rate: 81%
- Total Enrollment: 31,764
- Undergrad Students: 25,379
- Graduate Students: 6,385
- Grads Salary: $76,000
- Student-to-faculty: 20:1
University of Alabama in Huntsville
Score: 77.78
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,770
- Out-of-State: $24,662
- Net Price: $18,588
- Acceptance Rate: 78%
- Retention Rate: 80%
- Graduation Rate: 63%
- Total Enrollment: 9,237
- Undergrad Students: 7,169
- Graduate Students: 2,068
- Grads Salary: $83,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Tuskegee University
Score: 76.5
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $23,440
- Out-of-State: $23,440
- Net Price: $35,596
- Acceptance Rate: 30%
- Retention Rate: 76%
- Graduation Rate: 67%
- Total Enrollment: 2,570
- Undergrad Students: 2,100
- Graduate Students: 470
- Grads Salary: $86,000
- Student-to-faculty: 7:1
The University of Alabama
Score: 74.81
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,900
- Out-of-State: $33,200
- Net Price: $20,592
- Acceptance Rate: 80%
- Retention Rate: 87%
- Graduation Rate: 73%
- Total Enrollment: 38,644
- Undergrad Students: 32,458
- Graduate Students: 6,186
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Score: 73.02
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,832
- Out-of-State: $21,864
- Net Price: $16,834
- Acceptance Rate: 87%
- Retention Rate: 82%
- Graduation Rate: 64%
- Total Enrollment: 21,639
- Undergrad Students: 13,032
- Graduate Students: 8,607
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
Talladega College
Score: 72.6
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $15,650
- Out-of-State: $15,650
- Net Price: $12,360
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 76%
- Graduation Rate: 35%
- Total Enrollment: 903
- Undergrad Students: 835
- Graduate Students: 68
- Grads Salary: $90,000
- Student-to-faculty: 22:1
University of South Alabama
Score: 71.45
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,676
- Out-of-State: $18,652
- Net Price: $15,664
- Acceptance Rate: 65%
- Retention Rate: 69%
- Graduation Rate: 48%
- Total Enrollment: 13,438
- Undergrad Students: 8,480
- Graduate Students: 4,958
- Grads Salary: $76,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
Jacksonville State University
Score: 71.05
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,426
- Out-of-State: $22,716
- Net Price: $11,953
- Acceptance Rate: 78%
- Retention Rate: 66%
- Graduation Rate: 52%
- Total Enrollment: 9,632
- Undergrad Students: 8,310
- Graduate Students: 1,322
- Grads Salary: $72,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
Spring Hill College
Score: 70.36
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $23,270
- Out-of-State: $23,270
- Net Price: $21,018
- Acceptance Rate: 73%
- Retention Rate: 81%
- Graduation Rate: 62%
- Total Enrollment: 1,046
- Undergrad Students: 933
- Graduate Students: 113
- Grads Salary: $67,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
University of North Alabama
Score: 70.18
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,990
- Out-of-State: $22,190
- Net Price: $9,837
- Acceptance Rate: 96%
- Retention Rate: 76%
- Graduation Rate: 52%
- Total Enrollment: 9,830
- Undergrad Students: 7,214
- Graduate Students: 2,616
- Grads Salary: $68,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
Samford University
Score: 70
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $38,144
- Out-of-State: $38,144
- Net Price: $31,803
- Acceptance Rate: 83%
- Retention Rate: 91%
- Graduation Rate: 78%
- Total Enrollment: 5,682
- Undergrad Students: 3,672
- Graduate Students: 2,010
- Grads Salary: $67,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Troy University
Score: 68.28
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,792
- Out-of-State: $19,584
- Net Price: $13,187
- Acceptance Rate: 95%
- Retention Rate: 75%
- Graduation Rate: 46%
- Total Enrollment: 14,156
- Undergrad Students: 10,768
- Graduate Students: 3,388
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
University of Montevallo
Score: 66.98
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $13,710
- Out-of-State: $26,730
- Net Price: $17,421
- Acceptance Rate: 60%
- Retention Rate: 73%
- Graduation Rate: 55%
- Total Enrollment: 2,586
- Undergrad Students: 2,172
- Graduate Students: 414
- Grads Salary: $60,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
Oakwood University
Score: 65.31
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $21,838
- Out-of-State: $21,838
- Net Price: $19,373
- Acceptance Rate: 68%
- Retention Rate: 77%
- Graduation Rate: 47%
- Total Enrollment: 1,470
- Undergrad Students: 1,431
- Graduate Students: 39
- Grads Salary: $64,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
Auburn University at Montgomery
Score: 63.29
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,436
- Out-of-State: $20,092
- Net Price: $13,163
- Acceptance Rate: 92%
- Retention Rate: 70%
- Graduation Rate: 36%
- Total Enrollment: 5,109
- Undergrad Students: 3,754
- Graduate Students: 1,355
- Grads Salary: $67,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
University of West Alabama
Score: 62.04
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,990
- Out-of-State: $20,090
- Net Price: $13,786
- Acceptance Rate: 69%
- Retention Rate: 69%
- Graduation Rate: 38%
- Total Enrollment: 5,860
- Undergrad Students: 2,427
- Graduate Students: 3,433
- Grads Salary: $61,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
Columbia Southern University
Score: 61.92
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $5,808
- Out-of-State: $5,808
- Net Price: $12,366
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 42%
- Graduation Rate: 33%
- Total Enrollment: 15,948
- Undergrad Students: 11,330
- Graduate Students: 4,618
- Grads Salary: $77,000
- Student-to-faculty: 28:1
Alabama A&M University
Score: 61.17
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,024
- Out-of-State: $18,634
- Net Price: $14,600
- Acceptance Rate: 68%
- Retention Rate: 59%
- Graduation Rate: 27%
- Total Enrollment: 6,007
- Undergrad Students: 5,206
- Graduate Students: 801
- Grads Salary: $70,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
Heritage Christian University
Score: 59.14
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,982
- Out-of-State: $11,982
- Net Price: $5,020
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 100%
- Graduation Rate: 20%
- Total Enrollment: 143
- Undergrad Students: 82
- Graduate Students: 61
- Grads Salary: $52,000
- Student-to-faculty: 8:1
Herzing University-Birmingham
Score: 57.35
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $13,420
- Out-of-State: $13,420
- Net Price: $21,953
- Acceptance Rate: 94%
- Retention Rate: 50%
- Graduation Rate: 30%
- Total Enrollment: 578
- Undergrad Students: 570
- Graduate Students: 8
- Grads Salary: $72,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1