The University of Alabama’s online graduate offerings use different learning and completion structures. This profile concerns the Tuscaloosa university, with library/information and communication/media programs researched here.
Choose the academic work, then the university route
The general MLIS, the MA in Communication Studies and the MA in Journalism & Media Studies are distinct credentials. Information-service work, organizational communication and journalism/media study can overlap, but the required core and final work determine the learning. Start with a concrete activity you want to perform and ask how the curriculum develops it, rather than choose among them by a generic promise of leadership.
Understand the route and completion work
Concentrations and completion choices are not counted as separate master’s degrees. The MLIS has options involving different professional questions. The current Communication Studies specialization is a curated 30-credit sequence with a final capstone; Journalism & Media Studies describes a project or examinations rather than a thesis. Ask what each route requires, how it is supervised and what prior preparation supports it.
Check the actual online commitments
The MLIS cohort is an important format example: the university describes live virtual meetings, often in evening scheduling. It should not be labeled unrestricted asynchronous study. For the other degrees, confirm the exact course interaction, deadlines and any physical or practical requirements. A remote location for coursework does not answer every question about time, support or completion work.
Prepare for the correct admissions process
Use the current program and Graduate School instructions together. A program welcoming different undergraduate majors can still require academic evidence and supporting materials. A nondegree summer option should not be assumed to guarantee later admission or the application of every credit. Obtain the formal decision required for your route before reducing time or cost in a comparison.
Compare a complete financial scenario
The researched library and journalism pages display a tuition-per-hour figure, but a tuition rate alone is not a complete degree price. Verify the applicable academic year, mandatory fees, materials and any practical or travel expenses. Keep the 36-credit MLIS, 30-credit Communication Studies route and 31-credit Journalism & Media Studies route on their own correct bases.
Accreditation and professional scope
UA Online’s state-authorization information identifies SACSCOC as its accreditation agency. Check institutional status and any programmatic scope separately. If your intended role involves school-library or another professional credential, use the exact pathway disclosure and the relevant authority’s requirements. Do not extend one state’s pathway description to every jurisdiction or to every concentration.
Use the official program pages to confirm current requirements before applying. Keep unresolved price, preparation, attendance and professional questions with your shortlist. A directory profile is a research aid; the university and relevant professional authorities make their own decisions.
The federal figures below describe the matched institution and reported fields of study. They are separate from our reviewed online master’s program facts.
Matched federal reporting entity: The University of Alabama (100751)
The University of Alabama The curated institution and the selected federal reporting entity match by exact name/campus,existing ID where present,and official domain. Metric populations and years still require separate interpretation.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Retrieved November 2, 2026 22:21 UTC. Latest available figures may describe different reporting years and cohorts.
Federal institution ID
100751
Location
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0100
Graduate enrollment, institution-wide
6,457
Undergraduate enrollment
33,227
Undergraduate annual tuition, in-state
$12,484
Undergraduate annual tuition, out-of-state
$35,342
Undergraduate annual tuition is not the price of an online master’s degree. Federal admission, completion, debt and earnings measures describe defined cohorts, not an individual’s future result. Missing or suppressed values are not zero.
Choose a category or search field names, definitions and reported values. All returned fields remain available in the paginated explorer and complete downloads, including missing values. “Latest” can combine different reporting years. The retrieval date is not the cohort year.
58 matching data elements · Page 1 of 2.
College Scorecard fields, values and definitions
Data element
Reported value
Source field
Institution name Definition and coverage
Institution name
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: AcadYr 2025-26, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
Dictionary declares a string/autocomplete field; preserve leading zeroes and original text.
The University of Alabama
school.name
City Definition and coverage
City
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: AcadYr 2025-26, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
Dictionary declares a string/autocomplete field; preserve leading zeroes and original text.
Tuscaloosa
school.city
State postcode Definition and coverage
State postcode
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: AcadYr 2025-26, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
Dictionary declares a string/autocomplete field; preserve leading zeroes and original text.
AL
school.state
ZIP code Definition and coverage
ZIP code
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: AcadYr 2025-26, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
Dictionary declares a string/autocomplete field; preserve leading zeroes and original text.
35487-0100
school.zip
Accreditor for institution Definition and coverage
Accreditor for institution
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: PEPS as of 08/27/2026. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
Dictionary declares a string/autocomplete field; preserve leading zeroes and original text.
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
school.accreditor
URL for institution's homepage Definition and coverage
URL for institution's homepage
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: AcadYr 2025-26, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
The dictionary identifies a URL. Preserve it as source text; validate separately before rendering a link.
www.ua.edu/
school.school_url
URL for institution's net price calculator Definition and coverage
URL for institution's net price calculator
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: AcadYr 2025-26, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
The dictionary identifies a URL. Preserve it as source text; validate separately before rendering a link.
https://ua.aidcalc.cloud/netprice.htm
school.price_calculator_url
Predominant degree awarded (recoded 0s and 4s) Definition and coverage
Predominant degree awarded (recoded 0s and 4s)
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: AY 2015-16. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
No dedicated unit column exists in the source dictionary and a reliable unit was not assigned from its wording. Preserve the raw value and full label; do not infer a unit from integer/float alone.
3
school.degrees_awarded.predominant_recoded
Predominant undergraduate degree awarded Definition and coverage
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: AY2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
Explicit dictionary VALUE/LABEL code table; codes are not quantities.
4 — Graduate degree
school.degrees_awarded.highest
Schools that are on Heightened Cash Monitoring 2 by the Department of Education Definition and coverage
Schools that are on Heightened Cash Monitoring 2 by the Department of Education
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: FSA as of March 1, 2026. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
No dedicated unit column exists in the source dictionary and a reliable unit was not assigned from its wording. Preserve the raw value and full label; do not infer a unit from integer/float alone.
0
school.under_investigation
Flag for main campus Definition and coverage
Flag for main campus
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: AcadYr 2025-26, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
Explicit dictionary VALUE/LABEL code table; codes are not quantities.
1 — Main campus
school.main_campus
Number of branch campuses Definition and coverage
Number of branch campuses
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: AcadYr 2025-26, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
Count or enrollment identified by the dictionary label; the label specifies students, borrowers, awards or institutions.
1
school.branches
Control of institution (IPEDS) Definition and coverage
Control of institution (IPEDS)
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: AcadYr 2025-26, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
Explicit dictionary VALUE/LABEL code table; codes are not quantities.
1 — Public
school.ownership
FIPS code for state Definition and coverage
FIPS code for state
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: AcadYr 2025-26, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
Explicit dictionary VALUE/LABEL code table; codes are not quantities.
Not reported (null)
school.state_fips
Region (IPEDS) Definition and coverage
Region (IPEDS)
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: AcadYr 2025-26, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
Explicit dictionary VALUE/LABEL code table; codes are not quantities.
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: AcadYr 2025-26, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
Explicit dictionary VALUE/LABEL code table; codes are not quantities.
12 — City: Midsize (population of at least 100,000 but less than 250,000)
school.locale
Degree of urbanization of institution Definition and coverage
Degree of urbanization of institution
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: NA. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
Explicit dictionary VALUE/LABEL code table; codes are not quantities.
Not reported (null)
school.degree_urbanization
Carnegie Classification — basic Definition and coverage
Carnegie Classification — basic
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: AcadYr 2023-24, reported in IPEDS DCY2023-24. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
Explicit dictionary VALUE/LABEL code table; codes are not quantities.
15 — Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
school.carnegie_basic
Carnegie Classification — undergraduate profile Definition and coverage
Carnegie Classification — undergraduate profile
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: AcadYr 2023-24, reported in IPEDS DCY2023-24. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
Explicit dictionary VALUE/LABEL code table; codes are not quantities.
Carnegie Classification — size and setting Definition and coverage
Carnegie Classification — size and setting
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: AcadYr 2023-24, reported in IPEDS DCY2023-24. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
Explicit dictionary VALUE/LABEL code table; codes are not quantities.
16 — Four-year, large, primarily residential
school.carnegie_size_setting
Flag for Historically Black College and University Definition and coverage
Flag for Historically Black College and University
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: AcadYr 2025-26, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
Explicit dictionary VALUE/LABEL code table; codes are not quantities.
0 — No
school.minority_serving.historically_black
Flag for predominantly black institution Definition and coverage
Flag for predominantly black institution
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: NA. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
Explicit dictionary VALUE/LABEL code table; codes are not quantities.
Not reported (null)
school.minority_serving.predominantly_black
Flag for Alaska Native Native Hawaiian serving institution Definition and coverage
Flag for Alaska Native Native Hawaiian serving institution
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: NA. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
Explicit dictionary VALUE/LABEL code table; codes are not quantities.
Not reported (null)
school.minority_serving.annh
Flag for tribal college and university Definition and coverage
Flag for tribal college and university
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: OPE FY2026. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
Explicit dictionary VALUE/LABEL code table; codes are not quantities.
0 — No
school.minority_serving.tribal
Flag for Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution Definition and coverage
Flag for Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: NA. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
Explicit dictionary VALUE/LABEL code table; codes are not quantities.
Not reported (null)
school.minority_serving.aanipi
Flag for Hispanic-serving institution Definition and coverage
Flag for Hispanic-serving institution
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: NA. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
Explicit dictionary VALUE/LABEL code table; codes are not quantities.
Not reported (null)
school.minority_serving.hispanic
Flag for Native American non-tribal institution Definition and coverage
Flag for Native American non-tribal institution
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: NA. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
Explicit dictionary VALUE/LABEL code table; codes are not quantities.
Not reported (null)
school.minority_serving.nant
Flag for men-only college Definition and coverage
Flag for men-only college
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: College Navigator CY2026. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
Explicit dictionary VALUE/LABEL code table; codes are not quantities.
0 — No
school.men_only
Flag for women-only college Definition and coverage
Flag for women-only college
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: College Navigator CY2026. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
Explicit dictionary VALUE/LABEL code table; codes are not quantities.
0 — No
school.women_only
Religous affiliation of the institution Definition and coverage
Religous affiliation of the institution
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: AcadYr 2025-26, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
Explicit dictionary VALUE/LABEL code table; codes are not quantities.
Not reported (null)
school.religious_affiliation
Flag for distance-education-only education Definition and coverage
Flag for distance-education-only education
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: AcadYr 2025-26, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
Explicit dictionary VALUE/LABEL code table; codes are not quantities.
0 — Not distance-education only
school.online_only
Flag for currently operating institution, 0=closed, 1=operating Definition and coverage
Flag for currently operating institution, 0=closed, 1=operating
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: PEPS as of 08/27/2026. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
Explicit dictionary VALUE/LABEL code table; codes are not quantities.
1 — Currently certified as operating
school.operating
Net tuition revenue per full-time equivalent student Definition and coverage
Net tuition revenue per full-time equivalent student
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: FY2024 (numerator) and AY2023-24 (denominator), reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
Monetary measure described in the official dictionary/technical documentation. Population, time window, debt basis and any inflation reference remain in the field definition/cohort note.
14144
school.tuition_revenue_per_fte
Instructional expenditures per full-time equivalent student Definition and coverage
Instructional expenditures per full-time equivalent student
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: FY2024 (numerator) and AY2023-24 (denominator), reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
No dedicated unit column exists in the source dictionary and a reliable unit was not assigned from its wording. Preserve the raw value and full label; do not infer a unit from integer/float alone.
9728
school.instructional_expenditure_per_fte
Average faculty salary Definition and coverage
Average faculty salary
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: AcadYr 2024-25 salaries of Fall 2024 faculty, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
No dedicated unit column exists in the source dictionary and a reliable unit was not assigned from its wording. Preserve the raw value and full label; do not infer a unit from integer/float alone.
11419
school.faculty_salary
Proportion of faculty that is full-time Definition and coverage
Proportion of faculty that is full-time
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: Fall 2024, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
Dictionary label identifies a share/rate. Numeric scale is not automatically converted to percent by this registry.
0.7904
school.ft_faculty_rate
Institution name aliases Definition and coverage
Institution name aliases
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: AcadYr 2025-26, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
Dictionary declares a string/autocomplete field; preserve leading zeroes and original text.
Not reported (null)
school.alias
Level of institution Definition and coverage
Level of institution
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: AcadYr 2025-26, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
Explicit dictionary VALUE/LABEL code table; codes are not quantities.
1 — 4-year
school.institutional_characteristics.level
Open admissions policy indicator Definition and coverage
Open admissions policy indicator
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: Fall 2024, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
Explicit dictionary VALUE/LABEL code table; codes are not quantities.
2 — No
school.open_admissions_policy
Code corresponding to accreditor (as captured from PEPS) Definition and coverage
Code corresponding to accreditor (as captured from PEPS)
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: PEPS as of 08/27/2026. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
Dictionary declares a string/autocomplete field; preserve leading zeroes and original text.
SACSCC
school.accreditor_code
Date that institution was first approved to participate in Title IV aid programs Definition and coverage
Date that institution was first approved to participate in Title IV aid programs
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: PEPS as of 08/27/2026. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
Dictionary declares a string/autocomplete field; preserve leading zeroes and original text.
12/1/1965
school.title_iv.approval_date
Title IV eligibility type Definition and coverage
Title IV eligibility type
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: AcadYr 2025-26, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
Explicit dictionary VALUE/LABEL code table; codes are not quantities.
1 — Participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs
school.title_iv.eligibility_type
Control of institution, per PEPS Definition and coverage
Control of institution, per PEPS
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: PEPS as of 08/27/2026. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
Explicit dictionary VALUE/LABEL code table; codes are not quantities.
1 — Public
school.ownership_peps
Value of school's endowment at the beginning of the fiscal year Definition and coverage
Value of school's endowment at the beginning of the fiscal year
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: FY2024, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
No dedicated unit column exists in the source dictionary and a reliable unit was not assigned from its wording. Preserve the raw value and full label; do not infer a unit from integer/float alone.
1369440098
school.endowment.begin
Value of school's endowment at the end of the fiscal year Definition and coverage
Value of school's endowment at the end of the fiscal year
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: FY2024, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
No dedicated unit column exists in the source dictionary and a reliable unit was not assigned from its wording. Preserve the raw value and full label; do not infer a unit from integer/float alone.
1565891763
school.endowment.end
DOL approved training provider indicator Definition and coverage
DOL approved training provider indicator
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: DOL as of May 24, 2021. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
Explicit dictionary VALUE/LABEL code table; codes are not quantities.
1 — Matched to the DOL list
school.dolflag
Control of institution (PEPS) Definition and coverage
Control of institution (PEPS)
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: PEPS as of 08/27/2026. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
Dictionary declares a string/autocomplete field; preserve leading zeroes and original text.
Not reported (null)
school.peps_ownership
Address of institution Definition and coverage
Address of institution
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: AcadYr 2025-26, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
Dictionary declares a string/autocomplete field; preserve leading zeroes and original text.
739 University Blvd
school.address
Institutional sector derived from the ownership structure (CONTROL) and the predominant level of award conferred (PREDDEG) Definition and coverage
Institutional sector derived from the ownership structure (CONTROL) and the predominant level of award conferred (PREDDEG)
Published dictionary most-recent cohort mapping: AY2024-25 and AcadYr2025-26, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26. This mapping is not confirmation of the API’s update date.
Explicit dictionary VALUE/LABEL code table; codes are not quantities.
Downloads include every data element returned for this institution and data selection, across all categories and credential levels. Explorer filters do not truncate the downloads. CSV text that could be interpreted as a spreadsheet formula is escaped; JSON preserves the original data values.
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