University of Alabama Finance & Accounting Programs
University of Alabama appears in our ranking of the Top 10 Master’s in Financial Planning Online Degree Programs.
Finance and accounting programs at the University of Alabama are offered through the Department of Economics, Finance, and Legal Studies for finance and the Culverhouse School of Accountancy for accounting. Degree programs include a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. There are also graduate degree programs available. Students with an interest in becoming an accountant, auditor, payroll administrator, or forensic accountant may want to pursue an accounting degree. Students who want to become a commercial banker, financial manager, or insurance officer may want to look at a finance degree.
Both degree plans offer students many career options, as well as the opportunity to enter graduate school for advanced study and the opportunity to earn higher wages after graduation. For undergraduate students, the Bachelor of Accounting program requires 18 credits in accounting like Introduction to Taxation, Cost Analysis for Planning & Control, and Financial Reporting & Analysis of Business Activities. Students may choose from specializations that include Accounting or Professional Accounting. Students who want to continue into a graduate degree program in accounting will choose the Professional Accounting option as this concentration will help the student reach the required credit hours to sit for the CPA exam.
For students who choose the finance route instead, required classes in the undergraduate program include Intermediate Microeconomics, Money & Capital Markets, and Investments. One of the interesting options afforded students in finance is the dual major program in Finance and Mathematics. Students will take several math classes when they choose the dual major that include Applied Differential Equations, Theory of Probability, and Introduction to Linear Algebra. There are also several specializations open to students in the Finance program that include Banking & Financial Services, International Finance, Quantitative Finance, and Actuarial Science.
Once a student has earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance, he or she may move onto one of the graduate programs from the Manderson Graduate School at the University of Alabama. Specialized masters programs include a Master of Science in Finance, as well as graduate degrees in Accounting and Tax Accounting. The Master of Business Administration degree program is also available to students with interest in a Finance concentration. One of the benefits of specialized graduate accounting and finance degrees at the University of Alabama is that students may enroll in these programs at the Tuscaloosa campus or online, which is convenient for students who are residents of Alabama.
About the University of Alabama
Established in 1820 and opened in 1831, the University of Alabama is a large university of more than 38,000 students in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The university is the flagship institution of the state’s university system and is a space-grant and sea-grant university. The school is the largest and oldest public institution in the state and also houses the only public law school in Alabama. Students may pursue degrees from the bachelor’s to doctoral levels, and the university is also one of the only in the state where students can earn doctoral degrees in anthropology, metallurgical engineering, social work, and music. The school’s official colors are crimson and white, and the urban campus covers 1,970 acres. The school has graduated more than 50 Goldwater Scholars and 15 Rhodes scholars.
University of Alabama Accreditation Details
The regional accreditor for the University of Alabama is the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, which means the university can award undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees. The university is also affiliated with several organizations like the Oak Ridge Associated Universities, the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities, and the Universities Research Association. Some of the many programs at the university that are accredited by national organizations include the Art History degree, which is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art & Design and the Advertising degree, which is accredited by the Accreditation Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. The Accounting degree is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), and the Banking & Finance degree is also accredited by the AACSB.
University of Alabama Application Requirements
The admissions staff at the University of Alabama reveals that it looks for students who are committed to their academic careers and who will thrive in the “robust exchange” of ideas. Freshmen applicants must take several required courses in high school to qualify for admission like four credits of English, four credits of social science, and three credits of math. To apply, students will need to submit the official application, as well as meet a variety of deadlines to complete their admission. For example, students must apply for scholarships through the university’s website, as well as complete a housing contract and submit a $300 deposit for a dorm room. Students must also register for orientation, submit their FAFSA form for financial aid, and submit a Medical History Form and Proof of Immunization to the university’s health center.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition at the University of Alabama is $10,780 for in-state students and $29,230 for out-of-state students. When estimated fees, room, and board are included, the estimated cost of attendance is $24,982 per year for Alabama residents and $43,432 per year for out-of-state residents. The university also estimates indirect costs like books, transportation, miscellaneous costs, and loan fees to add $5,760 to the total for in-state students and $6,600 to the total for out-of-state students. For graduate students, the tuition rate for 9 through 15 credits for Alabama residents is $5,390 per semester, and the tuition rate for non-residents is $14,615 per semester. For students who enroll in part-time graduate study, tuition is charged at a rate of $845 per credit for in-state students and $1,780 per credit for out-of-state students. Some programs have different rates. For example, law school students at the University of Alabama will pay $11,805 per semester if they’re a resident or $20,935 if they’re a non-resident.
Financial aid for students at the University of Alabama is available through student loans, Work-Study awards, grants, and scholarships. The university participates in several grant programs that students may qualify for based on their financial need. For example, students may qualify for the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) program, as well as Alabama’s Promise program, which helps graduates of Alabama high schools pay for college. Available student loans include Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans and Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans for students, as well as Federal PLUS loans for parents. Students in the finance and accounting programs at the University of Alabama must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress to keep receiving financial aid each semester.
