Colleges Near Bessemer, Alabama
Looking for information about the best colleges and universities serving Bessemer? Here's your guide to the top schools offering degrees to students in the area, including institutions located within 20 miles of Bessemer, Alabama.
There are at least 12 colleges serving the area, including 7 private colleges and universities, 2 public colleges and universities, and 1 community college offering 2-year degrees.
The Best Adult Colleges & Careers Guide provides a breakdown of the colleges serving Bessemer, with details about cost, enrollment, student type and degree offerings. Click here to learn more about the guide.
Bessemer, Alabama Colleges by the Numbers
Associate, bachelor's, masters, and doctoral degree completions at institutions near Bessemer, Alabama have been growing over the past 5 years. In 2023, students completed 10,227 doctorates at colleges and universities near Bessemer. That was an increase of 8% from completions reported in 2019.
Schools with Degree Completions
Est. Total Completions in 2023
Est. Completions (Last 5 Years)
Sponsored
Top School For Adults & Online Students
Franklin University is a top choice for transfer students, online learners and adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
5,117
Completions By Degree
2,171
Est. Online Degree Offerings
100%
Private Colleges & Universities Offering Degrees Near Bessemer, Alabama
There are at least 7 schools offering degrees near Bessemer, Alabama, and 7 are four-year private colleges or universities where about 14,610 undergraduate students were enrolled. In 2023, a total of 4,988 degrees were completed at private colleges and universities, including 2,672 that were offered online.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Franklin offers more than 50 online bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctoral programs in the Bessemer, Alabama area. Franklin University is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are adults and all programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Franklin University. In 2023, 1,429 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 88 associate degrees, 616 master's degrees, and 38 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
5,117
Completions By Degree
2,171
Est. Online Degree Availability
100%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Miles College is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and some programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Miles College. In 2023, 145 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 0 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
1,257
Completions By Degree
145
Est. Online Degree Availability
49%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Strayer University-Alabama is a non-accredited for profit 4-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are adults and all programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Strayer University-Alabama. In 2023, 108 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 54 associate degrees, 62 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
1,237
Completions By Degree
224
Est. Online Degree Availability
100%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Brown Mackie College-Birmingham is a non-accredited for profit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are adults and no programs completed were offered online. Associate degrees are the most popular at Brown Mackie College-Birmingham. In 2023, 114 associate degrees were completed. In addition, 10 bachelor's degrees, 0 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
280
Completions By Degree
124
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Samford University is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and minimal programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Samford University. In 2023, 899 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 349 master's degrees, and 426 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
3,668
Completions By Degree
1,674
Est. Online Degree Availability
12%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Virginia College-Birmingham is a non-accredited for profit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are adults and no programs completed were offered online. Associate degrees are the most popular at Virginia College-Birmingham. In 2023, 288 associate degrees were completed. In addition, 71 bachelor's degrees, 9 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
2,083
Completions By Degree
368
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Birmingham-Southern College is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and no programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Birmingham-Southern College. In 2023, 282 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 0 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
968
Completions By Degree
282
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Completions by Program Area
Public Colleges & Universities Near Bessemer, Alabama
There are 2 four-year public colleges located near Bessemer, Alabama. About 14,904 students were enrolled in undergraduate programs, and about 6,954 degrees were completed at public colleges near Bessemer. Tuition shown reflects in-state rates.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
University of Alabama at Birmingham is an institutionally accredited public 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and some programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at University of Alabama at Birmingham. In 2023, 2,982 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 2,678 master's degrees, and 692 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
12,776
Completions By Degree
6,352
Est. Online Degree Availability
46%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
University of Montevallo is an institutionally accredited public 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and minimal programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at University of Montevallo. In 2023, 453 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 149 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
2,128
Completions By Degree
602
Est. Online Degree Availability
14%
Completions by Program Area
Community Colleges Near Bessemer, Alabama
There is 1 community college near Bessemer, Alabama where students can earn 2-year associate degrees. In 2023, about 2,554 students were enrolled in undergraduate courses at community colleges near Bessemer, and about 322 associate degrees were completed.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Lawson State Community College is an institutionally accredited 2-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are a mixture of traditional and adult aged and minimal programs completed were offered online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
2,554
Completions By Degree
322
Est. Online Degree Availability
2%
Completions by Program Area
Affordable Colleges Near Bessemer, Alabama
Wondering what you can expect to pay for a degree near Bessemer, Alabama? According to undergraduate tuition data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, the average tuition at Bessemer-area's 4-year nonprofit schools is $20,796. The average tuition at similar 4-year for-profit schools near Bessemer is $13,920, while tuition at 2-year online colleges and universities is N/A.
4-Year Nonprofit
4-Year For-Profit
2-Year
Accredited Colleges Serving Bessemer, Alabama
Earning a college degree is an investment — and earning a degree from an institutionally accredited university is one of the best ways to ensure your education is of high quality. Institutionally accredited universities are held to rigorous standards by state and regional bodies and undergo regular reviews to verify that their processes and academic programs meet the proper standards.
Wondering if a certain college or university offering degree programs in Bessemer, Alabama is institutionally accredited? View a list of institutionally accredited colleges and universities serving Bessemer, Alabama here. We've made it easy to find your school by breaking down the list by school type.
- Franklin University
- Birmingham-Southern College
- Miles College
- Samford University
- Lawson State Community College
Bessemer, Alabama Job Market & Opportunities
What happens after you earn your college degree in Bessemer? What's the Bessemer, Alabama job market outlook? Get a snapshot of jobs and careers, including annual job openings, median earnings and more.
In 2023, there were about 645,961 jobs in the Bessemer, Alabama area. From 2022-2023, job growth in Bessemer was below the national average, at 2%. There were 78,597 job openings in the area. In terms of earnings, workers in Bessemer do better than the national average, with an average hourly pay of $21.6.