University of Alabama at Birmingham

Yes, UAB is online. According to the NCES, 19% of undergraduates and 44% of graduate students participate in distance-only education. These distance learners enroll throughout UAB's dozens of online programs in fields such as engineering, healthcare, technology, education, and business. 

Examples of online bachelor's degrees include psychology, public health, management, and industrial distribution. Online master's degrees include accounting, biotechnology, criminal justice, and elementary education.

Yes, UAB's online degrees are legitimate because an accredited institution confers them. Employers also respect online degrees at UAB for this reason. 

To provide the most trustworthy options, OnlineU only includes accredited online institutions on its site.

UAB is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, master's and doctorate degrees, and certificates. The SACSCOC is an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The accreditation it confers to UAB means it finds UAB's financial practices sound and that its academic programming meets federal quality standards.

According to the school's website, UAB is known for being an "internationally renowned public doctoral research facility and academic health center." It has an R1 Carnegie designation for having very high research activity. Interestingly, UAB is also known for its organ transplant program. UAB doctors complete over 400 transplant procedures yearly, including heart, liver, kidney, lung, and islet cell transplants. Additionally, its state-of-the-art Women & Infants Center has Alabama's only Level IV neonatal intensive care unit. 

According to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, UAB's bachelor's degrees in general engineering, electrical engineering, computer information science, and mechanical engineering provide the highest earnings. Graduates in these fields earn median annual salaries that range from approximately $78,500 to $109,000. 

Additionally, OnlineU's proprietary Salary Score ranks colleges by how much their alumni earn compared to graduates with the same degree nationwide. Out of 100 total points, UAB has a bachelor's Salary Score of 33, 42 for its master's degrees, and 41 for its doctorates.

Getting into UAB is fairly easy due to its high acceptance rate. It accepts 89% of applicants, according to College Scorecard. While it considers entrance exams during the application process, they aren't required. This makes higher education at UAB more accessible than some other universities. 

It's unclear what minimum GPA prospective students need for enrollment. However, if you have a low GPA, consider taking an entrance exam — such as the SAT or ACT — to help boost your chances of acceptance. They may also help you qualify for UAB's scholarships. 

Admitted students who submit test scores have combined SAT scores between 1173 and 1388 and ACT scores between 23 and 30.

Although individual degree programs may have additional requirements, UAB's admission requirements for first-year students generally include the following:

• An application 
• A $40 application fee
• Official high school transcripts or GED
• Official college transcripts, if transferring credits
• Official military transcripts, if applicable
• SAT/ACT scores, though optional

If you're still exploring schools, we've identified some of the most popular online colleges to help with your search.