Colleges Near Orange Beach, Alabama
Looking for information about the best colleges and universities serving Orange Beach? Here's your guide to the top schools offering degrees to students in the area, including institutions located within 40 miles of Orange Beach, Alabama.
There are at least 7 colleges serving the area, including 3 private colleges and universities, 1 public college or university, and 2 community colleges offering 2-year degrees.
The Best Adult Colleges & Careers Guide provides a breakdown of the colleges serving Orange Beach, with details about cost, enrollment, student type and degree offerings. Click here to learn more about the guide.
Orange Beach, Alabama Colleges by the Numbers
Associate, bachelor's, masters, and doctoral degree completions at institutions near Orange Beach, Alabama have been declining over the past 5 years. In 2024, students completed 13,715 doctorates at colleges and universities near Orange Beach. That was a decrease of 3% from completions reported in 2020.
Schools with Degree Completions
Est. Total Completions in 2024
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
5,111
Completions By Degree
2,605
Est. Online Degree Offerings
100%
Private Colleges & Universities Offering Degrees Near Orange Beach, Alabama
There are at least 3 schools offering degrees near Orange Beach, Alabama, and 3 are four-year private colleges or universities where about 18,300 undergraduate students were enrolled. In 2024, a total of 10,250 degrees were completed at private colleges and universities, including 10,250 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 Orange Beach, 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 2024, 1,602 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 98 associate degrees, 840 master's degrees, and 65 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
5,111
Completions By Degree
2,605
Est. Online Degree Availability
100%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
United States Sports University is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are a mixture of traditional and adult aged and all programs completed were offered online. Master's degrees are the most popular at United States Sports University. In 2024, 24 master's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 16 bachelor's degrees, and 12 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
136
Completions By Degree
52
Est. Online Degree Availability
100%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Columbia Southern University is an institutionally accredited for profit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are adults and all programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Columbia Southern University. In 2024, 3,579 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 1,826 associate degrees, 2,156 master's degrees, and 32 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
13,053
Completions By Degree
7,593
Est. Online Degree Availability
100%
Completions by Program Area
Public Colleges & Universities Near Orange Beach, Alabama
There is 1 four-year public college located near Orange Beach, Alabama. About 9,042 students were enrolled in undergraduate programs, and about 4,236 degrees were completed at public colleges near Orange Beach. Tuition shown reflects in-state rates.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
University of West Florida is an institutionally accredited public 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and all programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at University of West Florida. In 2024, 2,227 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 531 associate degrees, 1,426 master's degrees, and 52 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
9,042
Completions By Degree
4,236
Est. Online Degree Availability
100%
Completions by Program Area
Community Colleges Near Orange Beach, Alabama
There are 2 community colleges near Orange Beach, Alabama where students can earn 2-year associate degrees. In 2024, about 8,825 students were enrolled in undergraduate courses at community colleges near Orange Beach, and about 1,763 associate degrees were completed.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Pensacola State 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 most programs completed were offered online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
6,725
Completions By Degree
1,456
Est. Online Degree Availability
70%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Bishop State Community College is an institutionally accredited 2-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and some programs completed were offered online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
2,100
Completions By Degree
307
Est. Online Degree Availability
47%
Completions by Program Area
2-Year Private For-Profit Schools Near Orange Beach, Alabama
There is at least 1 two-year private for-profit school offering associate degrees near Orange Beach, Alabama. According to 2024 data from Lightcast™, in 2024, a total of 71 associate degrees were completed at those institutions. Tuition shown reflects in-state rates.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Fortis Institute-Pensacola is an institutionally accredited 2-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 Fortis Institute-Pensacola. In 2024, 71 associate degrees were completed. In addition, 0 bachelor's degrees, 0 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
657
Completions By Degree
71
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Completions by Program Area
Affordable Colleges Near Orange Beach, Alabama
Wondering what you can expect to pay for a degree near Orange Beach, Alabama? According to undergraduate tuition data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, the average tuition at Orange Beach-area's 4-year nonprofit schools is $14,239. The average tuition at similar 4-year for-profit schools near Orange Beach is $5,808, while tuition at 2-year online colleges and universities is N/A.
4-Year Nonprofit
4-Year For-Profit
2-Year
Accredited Colleges Serving Orange Beach, 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 Orange Beach, Alabama is institutionally accredited? View a list of institutionally accredited colleges and universities serving Orange Beach, Alabama here. We've made it easy to find your school by breaking down the list by school type.
- Franklin University
- United States Sports University
- Pensacola State College
- Bishop State Community College
- Columbia Southern University
Orange Beach, Alabama Job Market & Opportunities
What happens after you earn your college degree in Orange Beach? What's the Orange Beach, Alabama job market outlook? Get a snapshot of jobs and careers, including annual job openings, median earnings and more.
In 2024, there were about 612,193 jobs in the Orange Beach, Alabama area. From 2023-2024, job growth in Orange Beach was above the national average, at 2.1%. There were 77,171 job openings in the area. In terms of earnings, workers in Orange Beach do worse than the national average, with an average hourly pay of $20.51.