Alabama Computer Science Schools

According to the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, the state is an emerging hub for the IT industry, as companies can access talent — including graduates of Alabama IT schools — forge partnerships with higher education institutions, and can benefit from lower costs of living than in other states. Alabama’s IT companies employ about 15,000 people and generate over $1 billion in annual revenue. In addition, the Bureau of Labor Statistics discovered that out of all 50 states, in 2018 Alabama had one of the highest concentrations of computer programming jobs and location quotients.

These can be exciting statistics for adults enrolled in computer science degree programs in Alabama. Upon graduation, they are likely to find meaningful employment in Alabama’s competitive IT sector, in industries like finance and insurance, healthcare and defense, among others, which are located in the state’s larger cities like Huntsville, Birmingham, Montgomery, and Tuscaloosa.

Alabama’s Technology Education Initiatives

Alabama is home to a number of government and nonprofit education initiatives that are designed to promote and support the growth of IT sector as well as IT degree programs in Alabama. Here’s a look at several of them:

• State law to require the availability of computer science courses: In 2019 Alabama legislators enacted HB216, which requires that every middle and high school offer at least one computer science course. Alabama has now aligned its high school graduation requirements with higher education admission requirements so that computer science can count toward both.
• Raising awareness of the importance of STEM education: Alabama STEM Education, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that hosts seminars, events, and educational forums to raise awareness of the importance of STEM education in the state. Its “Raise the Bar” program allows underserved, low-income high school students to participate in a 10-week basic engineering and computer programming training curriculum, which incorporates robotics.
• Increasing the number of students graduating from STEM disciplines: STEM Forward by the University of Alabama strives to provide K-16 STEM education resources, remove barriers to equitable access to STEM opportunities, and encourage participation in STEM on and off campus. It works to increase the number of STEM graduates so that the local and national workforce needs can be met.
• Introducing young people to STEM: Southern Research’s STEM Education Outreach Center is designed to inspire creativity and innovation in students and educators. Through activities like field trips and summer learning programs like the Drone Academy, students can become exposed to STEM careers they may have never considered before. Teachers can enjoy professional development workshops and summer internships.

Southern New Hampshire University

• Some of the nation’s most affordable tuition rates, from a private, nonprofit, NEASC accredited university
• Qualified students with 2.5 GPA and up may receive up to $20K in grants & scholarships
• Multiple term start dates throughout the year. 24/7 online classroom access
• Offering over 200 online degree programs

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Purdue University Global

• Experience world-class education online with more than 175 programs at associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels.
• Apply eligible work experience and prior college credits toward up to 75% of your undergraduate degree.
• You have the option of trying out a Purdue Global undergraduate program for an introductory 3-week period. There’s no cost beyond the application fee.
• Competency-based ExcelTrack™ programs may allow you to earn your degree faster and for less money

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Best Computer Science and IT Colleges in Alabama

More than 40 higher education institutions in Alabama offer associate, bachelor’s, or advanced degrees in computer science and information technology fields. Students seeking education programs to prepare for a new career in technology — or to grow in their current tech job — can find both campus-based and online computer science programs in Alabama. Based on our analysis of the data, here are the best colleges and universities in Alabama that offer tech-related degree programs.

Spotlight on Computer Sciences Schools in Alabama

Computer science schools can be found throughout Alabama. A few schools with noteworthy programs include:

• University of Alabama at Birmingham: At the UAB, students may pursue a Bachelor of Science in Digital Forensics. This new degree is offered by the Department of Computer Science and the Department of Criminal Justice. It focuses on helping students understand the procedures and processes necessary to discover, recover, and present information that has been stored in all types of digital devices and used during illegal activities.
• University of Alabama in Huntsville: UAH offers a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with a concentration in Entertaining Computing. This unique degree involves courses such as Game Engines and Level Development, Artificial Intelligence for Games and Stimulation, and Mobile Computing Apps.
• University of North Alabama and University of Alabama: Students at UNA and UA may earn bachelor’s degrees in computer science as well as engineering in five years through the schools’ Dual Degree Engineering program. Computer science students can pair their C.S. degree with mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering or computer engineering.
• Tuskegee University: This institution, one of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities, offers a graduate-level opportunity through their master’s program in information systems and security management. Students with a background in the law, social sciences, or business can tailor this M.S. program to their individual backgrounds.

IT Salaries and Career Outlook in Alabama

Many companies are in need of employees who have graduated from IT programs in Alabama. Graduates who are able to work as information security analysts, web developers and computer user support specialists are expected to be in high-demand in the coming years.

Companies such as Equifax, a data solutions company, Diamond Fortress Technologies, an up-and-coming biometrics security company, and Google, with offices in Huntsville and Douglas, are all likely to be hiring these types of IT professionals.

2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov.

Computer Science Scholarships for Alabama Students

Paying for a campus-based or one of the online IT programs may be intimidating, but many state- and program-specific scholarships exist to help eligible students defray costs. Be sure to check your target school to see what might be available. Here are some examples of tech-related scholarships specifically for students at IT schools in Alabama:

• Tuskegee University’s Computer Science Scholars Program: Incoming freshmen who have declared a major in computer science, information systems, or information technology, may qualify for an award of up to $5,000.
• University of South Alabama’s School of Computing Scholarships: More than two dozen opportunities exist for eligible computer science students at the undergraduate and graduate levels, including transfer students. A few examples are the Warren H. Nicholson Endowed Scholarship in Computing, the Feinstein Scholarship in CIS, and the Cisco and Venture Technologies Endowed Scholarship.
• Cyber Private Public Partnership (Cyber P3) Scholarships, for eligible full-time and part-time students enrolled in cybersecurity-related degree programs at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, is just one of the award options available. Another one is the Boeing Computer Science Annual Scholarship.
• Jacksonville State University’s EMCETS Scholars: The Mathematical, Computing, and Information Sciences department offers multiple scholarships to both undergrads and grads. Recipients can also receive mentoring, academic assistance, and participate in career-related experiences.

Alabama Professional Organizations and Resources

IT professionals and students enrolled in computer science programs in Alabama may benefit from the networking and learning activities held by the following professional organizations and resources:

• Alabama Information Technology Association: AITA is dedicated to growing and supporting the information technology industry in Alabama and raising awareness of IT issues. Its members are developers, computer hardware and software consultants, venture capital firms, and telecommunications companies.
• Alabama Technology in Motion: ATiM provides training and modeling for educators on integrating digital literacy and computer science into the curriculum via the Alabama Course of Study.
• Association for Computing Machinery: ACM known as the world’s largest scientific and educational computing society. The ACM chapter at the University of Alabama holds meetings with guest speakers and an annual programming contest.