Private colleges, unlike large public institutions, can be a great option for students wanting a more intimate campus experience, more personal attention from excellent professors, and more immediate access to support services. Here is our list of the best private colleges in Alabama.
Online students and traditional students alike have a lot of options in the state of Alabama. The 54 colleges and universities in Alabama allow students to pursue associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in many fields all over the state, as well as through a variety of excellent online degree programs. Some of the most notable degree areas include law, nursing, biology, history, engineering, and religious studies.
Students in Alabama can study any of these subjects either online or through online courses. If you’re looking for educational flexible education, Alabama has over 20 colleges and universities offering online degree programs.
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Students hoping to obtain a four-year degree at a larger university can attend one of the two largest - as well as rivalry - schools, the University of Alabama and Auburn University. Both schools’ tuition is about $11,000, though the University of Alabama’s student population, at nearly 36,000 students, is larger than Auburn’s.
Students also have the option of attending one of Alabama’s 18 private higher education institutes, many of which have religious affiliations. Tuition costs vary widely, from $4,000 per year to $36,000 per year. Student populations also vary widely, from less than 100 students to as many as 15,000 students.
Additionally, students who need more flexibility can take advantage of the satellite campuses, like at the University of North Alabama. Alabama also has a larger number of online college offerings. With 70 online degree programs offered at the University of Alabama alone, in-state residents have a lot of degree options, both for a traditional and online education.
For die-hard football fans and lovers of sweet tea, obtaining a higher education degree in Alabama can seem like an obvious choice. The Yellowhammer State, however, is also home to a unique mixture of coastal, mountainous, and swamp environments, making it a great choice for students who love soaking up the outdoors.
And if you’re looking for a mix of the campus experience and online education, many schools in Alabama have hybrid programs. With a hybrid program, you can take both online courses and classes on campus.
Public and private colleges and universities operate under different business models. Public colleges and universities are owned by the state and receive both state and federal funding to operate. Private colleges and universities are private companies with private funding. If you’re looking at the pros and cons of private vs. public colleges, consider that many public colleges provide diverse course offerings, influential professors, and an excellent return on your investment.
Public colleges are schools that receive most of their funding from tax revenues. As a result, the cost of a bachelor’s degree at a public university is often lower than the equivalent cost at a private college — especially for students attending a public school in their home state. Attending a college in-state is usually the cheapest option. Private universities and colleges can be very competitive with their funding opportunities, so do not simply believe that private colleges are always going to be more expensive. According to National Center for Educational Statistics, the average annual cost (tuition, fees, room and board for full-time students) at a public university was slightly over $20,000. In contrast, private universities cost, on average, nearly $43,000 annually. But in the end, the cost of college comes down to each student’s academic and financial situation.
This list is composed entirely of private colleges and universities that offer bachelor’s degrees. We’ve identified 14 private universities in Alabama. To be included in the list below of the best private universities in Alabama, schools must be fully accredited, private, non-profit institution, and must offer a broad range of bachelor’s degrees.
Tuition + fees
$35K
Acceptance
84%
Graduation
79%
Student body
5K
Median SAT/ACT
1150/26
Samford University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$23K
Acceptance
34%
Graduation
57%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
952/21
Tuskegee University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$23K
Acceptance
65%
Graduation
19%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1097/20
Faulkner University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$20K
Acceptance
66%
Graduation
70%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1105/25
Birmingham–Southern College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$21K
Acceptance
72%
Graduation
56%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1075/22
Spring Hill College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$13K
Graduation
24%
Student body
1K
Miles College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$20K
Acceptance
72%
Graduation
49%
Student body
1K
Oakwood University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
33%
Student body
14K
Columbia Southern University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$28K
Acceptance
69%
Graduation
44%
Student body
<1K
Median SAT/ACT
1080/21
Huntingdon College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
76%
Graduation
15%
Student body
<1K
Stillman College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$14K
Graduation
25%
Student body
1K
Talladega College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$25K
Acceptance
64%
Graduation
51%
Student body
1K
University of Mobile’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$10K
Graduation
44%
Student body
<1K
Amridge University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Many of our 2022 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2021. That’s because we took a fundamentally different apporach. For 2021 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.
Check out our directory of private colleges throughout the U.S. for a look at the top private schools in every state.