University of Alabama

university-of-alabamaThe University of Alabama appears in our ranking of the 20 Best Online Schools for Doctorate Degrees.

Degrees Available at the University of Alabama

The University of Alabama offers its programs within 13 divisions with opportunities for bachelor’s, master’s, education specialist, and doctoral degrees. Colleges within the university include the College of Arts & Sciences, the College of Community Health Sciences, the College of Environmental Sciences, and the School of Social Work. Programs are also offered by the College of Education and the Capstone College of Nursing.

The freshman retention rate for students at the University of Alabama is 87 percent, which is higher than the national average. Some of the popular programs students pursue include those in business, engineering, communication, family & consumer sciences, and health professions. About 33 percent of the classes have fewer than 20 students enrolled, and the overall student-faculty ratio is 22:1.

High school students who have yet to earn a diploma are eligible to take classes at the University of Alabama through the UA Early College program. The university offers dual credit and dual enrollment options. Dual credit means that students can earn credit for high school class requirements and college degree requirements at the same time.

On the other hand, dual enrollment means that students are enrolled concurrently in high school and separate college classes. Students can participate in the university’s dual credit agreement as long as the student’s high school has an agreement with the university. Students must submit their plan of enrollment each semester to a counselor each time they register for classes.

For undergraduate students, the University of Alabama offers more than 70 majors in areas like accounting, chemistry, English, interior design, geology, and marine science. Some of the degrees students may consider as first-time freshmen include the Bachelor of Science in Public Health, the Bachelor of Arts in Theatre, the Bachelor of Music in Music Composition, or the Bachelor of Arts in News Media.

For graduate school, the university offers degrees in areas like nursing, social work, education, communication, and community health. Graduate degrees are offered by departments like the Department of Anthropology, the Department of Mathematics, the School of Music, and the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

The university also offers several programs for online and distance education students through its Bama by Distance program. Topics available for study online include education, engineering, human environmental sciences, and nursing. Additional online areas of concentration include commerce, business administration, and law.

About the University of Alabama

The University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa) was established in 1820 and is considered one of the oldest and largest public universities in the state. The Tuscaloosa location is the flagship of the state’s university system. The university has status as a sea-grant and space-grant institution, and its motto is “The Capstone of Higher Education.” There are more than 1,900 faculty members employed by the university, and more than 38,000 students enrolled for classes.

The campus in Tuscaloosa covers 1,970 acres, and the university has an endowment of more than $880 million. Several scholars have graduated from the university, including more than 30 Hollings Scholars, 15 Rhodes Scholars, and more than 55 Goldwater Scholars. The university’s popular sports teams are known as the Crimson Tide, and they’re part of the Southeastern Conference in NCAA Division I games.

The University of Alabama Accreditation Details

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools has granted the University of Alabama institutional accreditation. The association is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and is one of several regional accrediting agencies across the United States. Some of the programs and degrees at the university have been additionally approved by various programmatic agencies. Approvals include those from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the National Association of Schools of Theatre.

Other accreditations include those from the National Association of Schools of Music, the National Association of Schools of Dance, and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. Programs are also approved by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the American Psychological Association, the American Bar Association, and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

University of Alabama Application Requirements

Admission requirements for students at the University of Alabama include standard features like standardized test scores, evidence of a high school diploma or equivalent, and transcripts. The university describes its application process as competitive and suggests that students who have a minimum 3.0 GPA and receive a minimum score of 21 on the ACT or 1060 on the SAT have a good chance of acceptance.

During the application process, students should submit the official application, a $40 application fee, and all additional required documents by February 1, which is the priority application deadline. Students must submit a nonrefundable freshman enrollment deposit upon gaining acceptance to secure a place in the incoming class. Housing also requires that the student signs a housing contract, and accepted students must also register for the official orientation.

Tuition and Financial Aid

The University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa) charges different rates for in-state and out-of-state students, with Alabama residents paying a tuition of $10,780 and out-of-state residents paying $30,250. The university also charges an estimated $800 in fees each year, and students should expect to pay around $9,000 for room and $4,636 for meals while enrolled.

The university also estimates books at $1,000 and recommends that students budget additional money for transportation and miscellaneous expenses. In all, in-state students should expect a cost-of-attendance of $30,886, and out-of-state students should expect a cost-of-attendance of $51,236. For graduate students, in-state applicants should expect to pay $10,780 for tuition and fees, and out-of-state students should expect to pay $30,405 for tuition and fees.

Students may gain access to a variety of financial aid types when they attend the University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa) and submit a FAFSA form with the federal government. Students must submit their FAFSA each year to maintain their financial aid award eligibility. During each year of study, students must maintain satisfactory academic progress toward completion of their degree to continue receiving financial aid awards.

Grants like the Federal Pell Grant and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant may be available to students who enroll at the university, and Alabama residents may also be eligible for the Alabama’s Promise program and the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Award. The scholarship application deadline at the University of Alabama is December 15.