Best Online Master’s Programs in Alabama 2024

Badge for BEST ONLINE MASTER'S IN ALABAMA

By Dr. James Barham
Reviewed By Academic Influence Staff

Updated: Nov 22, 2023

Find the best online colleges in Alabama ranked by the academic success of faculty and alumni associated with the colleges and universities and their online degree programs. Faculty and alumni with influential ideas are the foundation of respectable online degree programs employers can trust.

Top 10 Online Master's Programs in Alabama

University of Alabama
Auburn University
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Samford University
University of Alabama in Huntsville
Tuskegee University
University of South Alabama
Jacksonville State University
Troy University
Faulkner University

University of Alabama
Auburn University
Tuskegee University
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Samford University
University of Alabama in Huntsville
University of South Alabama
Troy University
Spring Hill College
Jacksonville State University

Heritage Christian University 100%
University of North Alabama 96%
Troy University 95%
Auburn University at Montgomery 92%
University of Alabama at Birmingham 87%
Samford University 83%
Faulkner University 82%
University of Alabama 80%
University of Alabama in Huntsville 78%
Jacksonville State University 78%

Auburn University 20 to 1
Alabama A&M University 19 to 1
University of Alabama 19 to 1
Jacksonville State University 19 to 1
University of North Alabama 18 to 1
University of Alabama at Birmingham 18 to 1
University of West Alabama 18 to 1
University of Alabama in Huntsville 17 to 1
Troy University 16 to 1
University of South Alabama 16 to 1

Samford University $36,725
Faulkner University $23,920
Tuskegee University $22,614
Spring Hill College $21,732
University of Montevallo $12,090
Heritage Christian University $11,632
University of Alabama $11,100
Auburn University $10,392
University of North Alabama $10,200
University of Alabama in Huntsville $10,120

Samford University $21,265
Tuskegee University $20,378
Faulkner University $15,325
University of Alabama $11,100
Amridge University $10,800
University of Alabama in Huntsville $10,632
University of Montevallo $10,512
Auburn University $10,386
Alabama A&M University $10,128
Jacksonville State University $9,840

Herzing University
Huntsville Bible College
Heritage Christian University
Amridge University
Athens State University
University of West Alabama
University of Montevallo
Spring Hill College
University of North Alabama
Alabama A&M University

Huntsville Bible College
Heritage Christian University
Amridge University
Athens State University
University of West Alabama
University of Montevallo
Herzing University
Alabama A&M University
Auburn University at Montgomery
University of North Alabama

Tuskegee University 30%
Auburn University 44%
University of Montevallo 60%
University of South Alabama 65%
Alabama A&M University 68%
University of West Alabama 69%
Spring Hill College 73%
Jacksonville State University 78%
University of Alabama in Huntsville 78%
University of Alabama 80%

Huntsville Bible College 7 to 1
Tuskegee University 7 to 1
Heritage Christian University 8 to 1
University of Montevallo 12 to 1
Spring Hill College 12 to 1
Amridge University 12 to 1
Faulkner University 13 to 1
Athens State University 14 to 1
Samford University 14 to 1
Auburn University at Montgomery 15 to 1

Huntsville Bible College $4,730
Athens State University $7,230
Auburn University at Montgomery $8,232
Alabama A&M University $8,610
University of South Alabama $8,616
University of Alabama at Birmingham $8,832
Amridge University $9,000
University of West Alabama $9,100
Troy University $9,312
Jacksonville State University $9,990

Huntsville Bible College $4,464
Heritage Christian University $4,482
University of North Alabama $6,600
University of West Alabama $6,678
Spring Hill College $7,329
Auburn University at Montgomery $7,812
Athens State University $8,352
University of Alabama at Birmingham $8,424
University of South Alabama $8,424
Troy University $8,550

Table of Contents

Featured Programs

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

Online master’s degrees offered by respected colleges and universities are generally respected by employers. The main thing to consider about your online master’s choices is whether the school name is well known and respected. In many cases, employers won’t know your degree was earned online. But even if they do, a degree from a respected college is automatically to your benefit.

We rank the colleges and universities in this list by the influence of their alumni and faculty. For master’s degree students, including online master’s degree students, having faculty who are influential in your field matters a lot. It’s a big indicator that you have the chance to get a quality education. And, knowing that you will join an alumni association with some impressive people is nice, too.

Frequently Asked Questions About Online Master’s Degrees

An online master’s degree costs about $40,000 for the average grad student. However, the cost of your online master’s degree will depend on the type of grad school you attend. In 2018-2019, the average cost for a year of tuition in a public grad school was $12,171. The average cost for a year of tuition in private, non-profit grad school was $27,776. An online master’s degree will usually cost about the same as a traditional master’s degree. Some schools will charge 5-10% more for online courses. This added cost pays for the technology and specialized training needed for online instruction. But getting a master’s degree online can also help you save money. The costs above don’t include expenses like housing, transportation, or certain campus fees. As an online grad student, you can save a lot of money by avoiding these added expenses. Many online master’s degree programs are also accelerated. Most master’s degree programs are designed to be completed in two years. But you may be able to earn your online master’s degree in as little as 12-18 months. Earning an accelerated online master’s degree can save you money on tuition.

If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require some adjustment. While you’ll generally learn the same content and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, the medium will likely require you to manage much of this experience independently. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, your ability to harness the technology at your fingertips, and your ability to focus on the lectures, lessons, and assignments at hand. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take it upon yourself to build relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online college, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript or resume differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

While some employers may express concern about making the adjustment from online education to in-person workplace collaboration, many other employers will view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st Century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

The advantages of online classes are many. First and foremost, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities-educational experiences that you can complete on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will require some adjustment.

While there is much that can be supplanted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing which can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual classroom setting. As you make the adjustment to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face is overcoming this difference in order to the get the most out of your classes. Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.

How do we determine Alabama's best online master's degree programs?

Methodology

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great! If you are serious about finding the best colleges and universities for a bachelor’s degree, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching and whether their graduates are themselves advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence in their fields of study.

Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Concentrated Influence provides a ranking that is freer from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

To rank the influence of schools, we first determine the influence of scholars and professionals based on the number of citations and publications they have had over the past 10 years. In addition to publications and citations, we consider the web links to and from these sources, and the page views of those sources. We then match the influential people to their alma maters and institutions of employment, so that their influence is attributed to those schools. Our machine-learning Influence Ranking algorithm produces a numerical score of academic achievements, merits, and citations across Wikipedia, wikidata, Crossref, Semantic Scholar and an ever-growing body of data. If you are interested in exploring how and why we rank by influence, explore our methodology in more depth.

Best Online Master’s Program in Alabama 2023

Alabama’s Best Grad Programs in Your Area Interest

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Best Online Master’s Programs in Alabama 2024

Top 10 Online Master's Programs in Alabama

Featured Programs

Colleges and Universities in Alabama

What are Alabama’s Colleges & Universities?

Best Online Master’s Program in Alabama 2023

Career Outlook for degree at University of Alabama

Online Master’s Degrees

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Career Outlook for degree at University of Alabama in Huntsville

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Career Outlook for degree at Tuskegee University

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Career Outlook for degree at Faulkner University

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Career Outlook for degree at Auburn University at Montgomery

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Career Outlook for degree at Alabama A&M University