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Step 1
Decide if you want to pursue a 4-year degree or a 2-year associate degree. For a work environment without a 4-year degree, consider Bishop State Community College in Mobile with its 4 campuses and Work Keys Service Center that helps students in job profiling, skills assessment and instructional support. For a more traditional liberal arts program, consider a public school like University of Montevallo where students pursue degrees in this small town just outside Mobile.
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Step 2
Consider whether you want to go to a school with a large enrollment, one with a small student body and a more personal relationship with faculty and fellow students or something in-between. University of Nothern Alabama touts small classes with plenty of faculty-student interaction and degree programs in business, education, arts/sciences and nursing. Or choose one of the state's larger schools like the 3-college system of Troy University and its multiple campuses.
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Step 3
Look at the cost of paying for a college education in Alabama, taking into account the difference between attending a state or private university. Larger state schools like Auburn University offer a vast array of scholarships in a multitude of study areas. There are numerous scholarships available from federal, state and private agencies if you require financial assistance.
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Step 4
Examine your areas of interest to determine if you would like to attend one of the many specialized universities and colleges Alabama has to offer. Consider Marion Military Institute in Marion if interested in a career of service to your country. Students interested in a theology program could attend Southeastern Bible College in Birmingham. Men and women interested in a profession in sports have an alternative for higher learning in the United States Sports Academy in Daphne.
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Step 5
Think about the level of cultural diversity or historical ties you would like in the university you attend. Alabama is rich with institutions of higher learning that are steeped in Black culture and history. Tuskegee University's first president was Dr. Booker T. Washington, while Talladega University is the state's oldest and historically Black school.
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Step 6
Plan a visit to several schools before making your decision. Schedule your visits by region depending on what part of the state you would like to live in while in college. Choose from one of Alabama's 4 geographically-different regions--mountain region to the north, metropolitan region in central Alabama, the river region in the southeast section and the state's gulf region in the lower western corner.
