Best Online Colleges in Alabama

Nationally accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education, Heritage Christian University offers online associate and bachelor's degrees in biblical studies. Online learners may also pursue a master's degree in divinity or ministry, with concentrations available in areas such as theological history, ministerial care, and ministerial counseling.

Although the bulk of coursework in the program can be completed through the university's web-based learning management system, graduate students should prepare to visit campus at least twice during their studies. In addition to a mandatory orientation session, all master's students must take their final comprehensive exams in person.

Undergraduate applicants must have a high school diploma and share at least three personal references. Those under the age of 31 must also submit scores from the ACT or SAT. Graduate applicants must submit transcripts, letters of recommendation, and entrance exam scores, as well as a personal statement outlining their academic qualifications and goals. Online students are not eligible for institutional scholarships.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 13-to-1, Samford University creates intimate learning environments for its enrollment of approximately 5,700 students. The high availability of faculty expertise helps prepare learners for academic and professional success. As a result, 96% of undergraduate alumni report finding a job or continuing their education within six months of earning their bachelor's.

The university hosts fully online graduate programs in areas such as design studies, healthcare administration, public health, and educational leadership. A bachelor's degree completion program in organizational leadership also serves adult learners looking to develop enhanced managerial skills. As a Christian university, all online programs at Samford also feature cocurricular spiritual growth opportunities.

First-year applicants must submit high school transcripts, ACT or SAT scores, an academic letter of recommendation, and a 250-word personal essay. Prospective students with a strong record of academic achievement may apply for several merit-based financial awards. The Crosland Scholarship, for example, offers up to $15,000 in support each year.

Founded in 1835, the University of West Alabama currently serves the educational needs of more than 20,000 students annually. The university continues to expand its reach around the world, offering more than 50 online degrees in areas like early childhood development, adult continuing education, experimental psychology, and conservation biology.

More than 80% of online students at UWA receive some form of financial aid. For example, current and aspiring teachers working towards an online degree in education can receive a $50-per-credit scholarship. Military personnel, veterans, and their families may qualify for a scholarship of up to $100 per credit. In addition, the university's Community College Connect Scholarship provides $1,500 in aid to students who hold an associate degree from a partner college in the state.

Applying to an online bachelor's program at UWA requires a high school diploma or GED certificate, but the university does not require prospective students to take the ACT or SAT. Master's applicants must have a bachelor's degree and can transfer up to nine credits from another accredited graduate school.

Since launching its first distance learning program in 1993, Amridge University has steadily transitioned into a fully online university. At this Christian institution, students can pursue online degrees in more than 40 fields of study, including human resource leadership, marriage and family therapy, criminal justice, and information systems management.

Over 90% of students at the university receive some form of financial aid, including a variety of institutional scholarships. First-time undergraduates pay discounted tuition as long as they maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA in their college-level coursework, as do law enforcement and emergency services personnel. Amridge also awards scholarships to homeschooled students, transfer applicants, and learners who elect to pursue their degree on an accelerated basis.

To apply to the university as an undergraduate, you must hold a high school diploma or GED certificate. First-year applicants must also submit ACT or SAT scores. Master's applicants must have a bachelor's degree, and prospective doctoral students must share an academic writing sample.

As the third-oldest Jesuit college in the United States, Spring Hill College prepares students to excel academically and be of service to others. In addition to the college's 381-acre campus in Mobile, SHC allows students to earn a bachelor of science in business and professional studies remotely. This online degree features concentrations in supply chain management, management and marketing, computer information systems, and sport management.

In addition, the college offers hybrid versions of some graduate degrees, combining online instruction with traditional classroom learning.

To qualify for unconditional admission, you need at least 12 college credits earned with a minimum 2.5 GPA from another regionally accredited institution. Students with only a high school diploma, as well as those who do not meet all GPA and college credit requirements, may still receive conditional admission.

Active-duty military personnel and their spouses receive a tuition discount of nearly 40%. Online learners may also apply for academic and service-based scholarships that provide up to $28,000 in aid each year.

Faulkner University offers 23 fully online degrees in fields like health and rehabilitation psychology, justice administration, and computer and information science. All undergraduate and graduate classes at the university are taught from a Christian worldview and emphasize the importance of faith, fellowship, and service.

Online associate programs at Faulkner provide both a liberal arts foundation for continued study and preparation for entry-level professional roles. Through the university's executive master of business administration program, graduate students can earn their MBA in a year, taking one five-week-long course at a time.

Undergraduate applicants typically need to submit high school transcripts and ACT or SAT scores. The university offers regular admission to prospective students who receive a score of at least 18 on the ACT or at least 970 on the SAT. All applicants must also demonstrate good character and agree to uphold the university's code of conduct.

Although the majority of the college's offerings are only available on campus, Talladega College does host an online master's program in computer information systems and an online bachelor's degree completion program in organizational management. Some of the classes in these online programs feature synchronous instruction, meaning students must log in at set times each week to participate in discussions and activities.

The FASTtrack program in organizational management serves adults ages 23 and older who have previously earned at least 45 college-level credits from another regionally accredited institution. Applicants must also hold a minimum GPA of 2.0 in their prior college coursework. Once enrolled, students can advance through coursework at their own pace, potentially earning their degree in as few as two years. Admission into the college's online graduate program requires a bachelor's degree.

While all incoming undergraduate students receive automatic consideration for several academic scholarships, Talladega does not offer institutional awards to master's students.

The mission of Oakwood University is to equip students with the tools they need to serve God and humanity. To expand the reach of that mission, the university offers four online degree completion programs that allow adult students to earn their bachelor's in as little as 18 months. Undergraduate majors currently available online include information technology, organizational management, church leadership, and general studies.

Outside of these degree programs, the university hosts a growing number of individual online courses in areas such as accounting, microeconomics, computer applications, and New Testament studies.

To enter a degree completion program at Oakwood, you must be at least 25 years old and hold a minimum of 30 transferable credits from another accredited institution. While applicants must submit official copies of their college transcripts, the university does not require prospective students to take the ACT or SAT.

Judson College -- a Christian college located in Marion -- boasts a student-to-faculty ratio of 9-to-1, helping all learners receive direct access to highly trained and expert instructors. This commitment to developing supportive learning environments has led to 96% of Judson alumni finding work or entering a graduate program within one year of earning their degree.

While only female students can enroll in Judson's on-campus programs, the college's online offerings are open to both men and women. Distance education students can pursue bachelor's degrees in fields like business administration, elementary education, psychology, and religious studies. Online learners work at their own pace and have 2-4 months to complete each of their classes.

Applicants must have a high school diploma or GED certificate. Prospective students who hold an associate degree may transfer up to 64 credits towards a bachelor's. While Judson does not limit the number of credits that can be transferred from another four-year institution, students must complete at least 32 credits at the college to earn an undergraduate degree.

Founded in 1875, Alabama A&M University is a historically black institution dedicated to academic excellence. The university makes four of its degrees available online in an asynchronous format, giving students the freedom to study at their convenience. Along with an online bachelor's degree in management, AAMU offers online master's degrees in computer science, early childhood education, and educational leadership.

Undergraduate applicants must submit high school transcripts and ACT or SAT scores. Prospective students must have a high school GPA of 2.0 or above, as well as an ACT score of at least 18 or an SAT score of at least 1290. Graduate applicants must have a bachelor's degree, a satisfactory score on the GRE, and two letters of recommendation.

The university's Normalite Opportunity Scholarship provides $8,100 in funding each year to full-time undergraduate students who live outside of Alabama, including those pursuing a degree online.