Best Research Universities in Alabama 2026

Badge for BEST IN ALABAMA RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES

Interested in attending a STEM school in Alabama? Our ranking of top research universities for bachelor’s degrees displays schools that will best prepare you for STEM careers.

Colleges and Universities 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.

Find college admissions consultants in your state.

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.


What are Alabama’s Colleges & Universities?


Alabama’s Best Overall

Related: Differences between research universities and teaching colleges

Alabama's Best Colleges and Universities Badge
Download Badge

A research university is a great option for students interested in obtaining STEM degrees. Research universities invest heavily in research, which consequently provides meaningful and extensive opportunities for its students and faculty to participate in research. We’ve identified 7 research universities in Alabama. To be included in our ranking, schools must be a fully accredited universities and must must offer doctoral degrees across the range of STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math).

Back to Top

Best Research Universities in Alabama 2023

  1. #1

    University of Alabama

    Tuscaloosa , AL

    Tuition + fees

    $12K

    Acceptance

    77%

    Graduation

    74%

    Student body

    44K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1285/27

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Alabama

    Cost of Degree: $11,900
    Expenses: $21,482
    Starting Salary: $66,081
    Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    University of Alabama’s Online Degrees

    BS in Food and Nutrition
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Format: Fully online
    BS in Early Childhood Education
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Format: Fully online
    BS in Hospitality Management
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Format: Fully online
    BS in Human Development and Family Studies
    Degree Concentrations
    • Child Life
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Format: Fully online
    BS in Human Environmental Sciences
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Format: Fully online
    BS in Human Environmental Sciences, Consumer Sciences
    Degree Concentrations
    • Consumer Affairs
    • Family Financial Planning and Counseling
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Format: Fully online
    BS/BA in Interdisciplinary Studies
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Format: Fully online
    BA in Criminology and Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Format: Fully online
    BS in Nursing
    • Required Credits: 25/ 125
    • Format: Fully online
    BS in Mechanical Engineering
    • Required Credits: 128
    BS in Commerce and Business Administration
    Degree Concentrations
    • General Business
    • Management
    • Accounting
    • Marketing
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Format: Fully online
    BA in Social Work
    • Required Credits: 120
    BS in Public Health
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Format: Fully online
  2. #2

    Auburn University

    Auburn , AL

    Tuition + fees

    $13K

    Acceptance

    46%

    Graduation

    82%

    Student body

    37K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1325/28

    Career Outlook for degree at Auburn University

    Cost of Degree: $12,536
    Expenses: $22,762
    Starting Salary: $73,273
    Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Auburn University’s Online Degrees

    BSBA in Accountancy
    Degree Concentrations
    • Second Degree
    • Format: Fully online
    BSBA in None
    • Format: Fully online
  3. Tuition + fees

    $10K

    Acceptance

    88%

    Graduation

    66%

    Student body

    25K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1330/26

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Alabama at Birmingham

    Cost of Degree: $8,832
    Expenses: $20,547
    Starting Salary: $59,631
    Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Online Degrees

    BS in Community Health and Human Services
    Degree Concentrations
    • Human Services
    • Community Health
    • Required Credits: 121
    • Format: Fully online
    BS in Accounting
    Degree Concentrations
    • Financial Management Concentration
    • Investments and Institutions Concentration
    • Real Estate Concentration
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: 4 years
    • Format: Fully online
    BS in Health Care Management
    Degree Concentrations
    • Concentration Tracks
    • Clinical Manager
    • Pre-professional
    • LongTerm Care Administration
    • Fast Tracks
    • Health Informatics
    • Healthcare Quality and Safety
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Format: Fully online
    BS in Human Resource Management
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Format: Fully online
    BS in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 120-125
    • Format: Fully online
    BS in Industrial Distribution
    Degree Concentrations
    • Engineering or Medical Equipment and Supplies
    • Format: Fully online
    BS in Management
    Degree Concentrations
    • International Business Dynamics
    • Management Planning and Control
    • Operations Management
    • Project Managemen
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Format: Fully online
    BS in Information Systems
    Degree Concentrations
    • Data Analytics
    • Cybersecurity Management
    • Operations Management
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Format: Fully online
    BS in Nursing
    • Required Credits: 125
    BS in Psychology
    • Required Credits: 121
    • Format: Fully online
    BS in Finance
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Format: Fully online
    BS in Marketing
    Degree Concentrations
    • Marketing Management
    • Retail Marketing Management
    • Digital Marketing
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Format: Fully online
  4. Tuition + fees

    $12K

    Acceptance

    69%

    Graduation

    62%

    Student body

    10K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1310/27

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Alabama in Huntsville

    Cost of Degree: $11,878
    Expenses: $18,000
    Starting Salary: $72,098
    Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is University of Alabama in Huntsville known for?

    University of Alabama in Huntsville’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

    University of Alabama in Huntsville’s Online Degrees

    BS in Nursing
    • Required Credits: 26
    • Completion Time: 12 months
    • Format: Fully online
    BS/BA in Professional Studies
    Degree Concentrations
    • Engineering Technology
    • Organizational Studies
    • Leadership Strategies and Dynamics
    • Technology
    • Science and Society
    • General Studies
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Format: Fully online
  5. #5

    Samford University

    Birmingham , AL

    Tuition + fees

    $42K

    Acceptance

    82%

    Graduation

    78%

    Student body

    6K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1160/25

    Career Outlook for degree at Samford University

    Cost of Degree: $38,144
    Expenses: $19,312
    Starting Salary: $66,982
    Cost Recoup Time: 15 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Samford University’s Online Degrees

    BA in Liberal Studies
    • Required Credits: 128
    • Format: Fully online
    BA in Organizational Leadership
    • Required Credits: 128
    • Format: Fully online
  6. Tuition + fees

    $10K

    Acceptance

    71%

    Graduation

    55%

    Student body

    16K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1080/23

    Career Outlook for degree at University of South Alabama

    Cost of Degree: $9,676
    Expenses: $16,133
    Starting Salary: $53,069
    Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    University of South Alabama’s Online Degrees

    BA/BS in Interdisciplinary Studies
    Degree Concentrations
    • Administrative Sciences
    • Appliied Arts
    • Applied Sciences
    • Community Services
    • Human Services
    • Liberal Studies
    • Professional Development
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Format: Fully online
    BS in Nursing
    • Required Credits: 59
    • Format: Fully online
  7. #7

    Columbia Southern University

    Orange Beach , AL

    Tuition + fees

    $6K

    Graduation

    30%

    Student body

    30K

    Career Outlook for degree at Columbia Southern University

    Cost of Degree: $5,808
    Starting Salary: $66,855
    What is Columbia Southern University known for?

    Columbia Southern University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Columbia Southern University’s Online Degrees

    BSBA in Business Administration
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Format: Fully online
    BS in Occupational Safety And Health
    Degree Concentrations
    • Construction Safety
    • Fire Science
    • Oil And Gas
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Format: Fully online
    BS in Information Systems And Cybersecurity
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Format: Fully online
    BS in Criminal Justice Administration
    Degree Concentrations
    • Arson Investigation
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Format: Fully online
    BS in Fire Administration
    Degree Concentrations
    • Fire Investigation
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Format: Fully online
    BS in Homeland Security
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Format: Fully online
    BS in Healthcare Administration
    Degree Concentrations
    • Emergency Medical Services Management
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Format: Fully online
    BS in Environmental Management
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Format: Fully online
Back to Top

Find the Best Research Universities in Alabama for Your Area of Interest

2021 Ranking Archive

Many of our 2024 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2023. That’s because we took a fundamentally different approach. For 2024 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.

  1. Auburn University
  2. University of Alabama
  3. University of Alabama at Birmingham
  4. University of Alabama in Huntsville
  5. Samford University

This guide identifies Alabama’s leading research universities for 2026, explaining how they compare on doctoral offerings, research activity, grant support, and disciplinary strengths. Rather than a single metric, the selections prioritize institutions that sustain significant graduate programs, host active research centers, and demonstrate consistent scholarly output—information that helps prospective graduate students, faculty job-seekers, and research partners evaluate fit by field and resources.

Check out our directory of research universities throughout the U.S. for a look at the top research institutions in every state.

Do you have a question about this topic? Ask it here