18. The University of Alabama at Birmingham, 50 Best Online Colleges For 2016

The University of Alabama at Birmingham, a public university founded in 1969, enrolls more than 18,500 students worldwide. A member of the University of Alabama System, the University of Alabama at Birmingham consists of 12 academic divisions offering 140 programs of study leading to a variety of undergraduate, graduate (including doctoral), and professional degrees. The UAB Health System, one of the nation’s largest academic medical centers, has an affiliation with the university. Through UAB Online, the University of Alabama at Birmingham offers a host of fully online programs, as well as distance accessible and blended programs. UAB Online’s online programs include seven bachelor’s degrees in health care management and business topics such as marketing and finance, as well as nearly 20 master’s degrees such as sociology, elementary education, and civil structural engineering. Students also can complete a handful of doctoral programs in education topics through UAB Online. Online students have access to 24/7 technical support and library resources.

Students can complete most online courses 100-percent online, but some instructors do require an orientation, on-campus presentations, or proctored exams. Students should check with the university if on-campus visits are not possible due to distance. The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education recognizes the University of Alabama-Birmingham as a research university with very high research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranked the University of Alabama-Birmingham #149 in National Universities in its 2015 edition of Best Colleges and #143 in Best Education Schools. The university also tied for #182 in the magazine’s list of Best Global Universities. Forbes ranked the University of Alabama-Birmingham #196 in Research Universities, while Princeton Review included the university in its 2015 list of Best 379 Colleges. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools provides University of Alabama-Birmingham with accreditation. The respected Association to Advance College Schools of Business also provides accreditation to University of Alabama-Birmingham’s Collat School of Business.