Best Universities in Alabama

University of Alabama

The University of Alabama, founded in 1831, is a public research university located in Tuscaloosa. It offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs and is known for its strong academic reputation, vibrant campus life, and successful athletic programs.

U.S. News Ranking:

Ranked #153 in National Universities (2022)

Number of Students:

Approximately 38,000 students

Degrees Offered:

UA offers over 200 academic programs across various disciplines.

Acceptance Rate:

Approximately 53%

Average SAT Score:

The average SAT score for admitted students is around 1270.

Most Popular Extracurricular Activities:

  1. Greek Life
  2. Student Government Association
  3. Honor Societies
  4. Community Service Organizations
  5. Intramural Sports

Famous Alumni:

  1. Joe Namath (Former NFL Quarterback)
  2. Harper Lee (Author of “To Kill a Mockingbird”)
  3. Sela Ward (Actress)
  4. Deontay Wilder (Professional Boxer)
  5. Mark Ingram Jr. (NFL Running Back)

Top Employers:

  1. Mercedes-Benz U.S. International
  2. Regions Financial Corporation
  3. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama
  4. Boeing
  5. BBVA USA

Auburn University

Auburn University, founded in 1856, is a public research university located in Auburn. It offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs and is known for its strong emphasis on engineering, business, and agriculture.

U.S. News Ranking:

Ranked #97 in National Universities (2022)

Number of Students:

Approximately 30,000 students

Degrees Offered:

Auburn offers over 140 academic programs across various disciplines.

Acceptance Rate:

Approximately 81%

Average SAT Score:

The average SAT score for admitted students is around 1280.

Most Popular Extracurricular Activities:

  1. Greek Life
  2. Student Government Association
  3. Engineering Clubs
  4. Community Service Organizations
  5. Intramural Sports

Famous Alumni:

  1. Tim Cook (CEO of Apple Inc.)
  2. Octavia Spencer (Academy Award-winning Actress)
  3. Bo Jackson (Former NFL and MLB Player)
  4. Jimmy Wales (Co-founder of Wikipedia)
  5. Charles Barkley (NBA Hall of Famer)

Top Employers:

  1. Boeing
  2. IBM
  3. Alabama Power Company
  4. Southern Company
  5. Huntsville Hospital

University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), founded in 1969, is a public research university located in Birmingham. It offers a diverse range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs and is known for its strong medical and health sciences programs.

U.S. News Ranking:

Ranked #153 in National Universities (2022)

Number of Students:

Approximately 22,000 students

Degrees Offered:

UAB offers over 170 academic programs across various disciplines.

Acceptance Rate:

Approximately 92%

Average SAT Score:

The average SAT score for admitted students is around 1200.

Most Popular Extracurricular Activities:

  1. Medical and Health Sciences Organizations
  2. Volunteer Programs
  3. Research Clubs
  4. Honor Societies
  5. Intramural Sports

Famous Alumni:

  1. Courtney Cox (Actress)
  2. Terrence R. Wilcutt (NASA Astronaut)
  3. Emmylou Harris (Singer-songwriter)
  4. Randall Woodfin (Mayor of Birmingham)
  5. Deidre Downs (Miss America 2005)

Top Employers:

  1. UAB Health System
  2. Regions Financial Corporation
  3. BBVA USA
  4. Southern Company
  5. Children’s of Alabama

Samford University

Samford University, founded in 1841, is a private Christian university located in Homewood. It offers a variety of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs and is known for its strong emphasis on liberal arts education and Christian values.

U.S. News Ranking:

Ranked #147 in National Universities (2022)

Number of Students:

Approximately 5,700 students

Degrees Offered:

Samford offers over 170 academic programs across various disciplines.

Acceptance Rate:

Approximately 83%

Average SAT Score:

The average SAT score for admitted students is around 1210.

Most Popular Extracurricular Activities:

  1. Religious Organizations
  2. Honor Societies
  3. Community Service Clubs
  4. Performing Arts Groups
  5. Intramural Sports

Famous Alumni:

  1. Tim Cook (CEO of Apple Inc.)
  2. Bobby Bowden (Former College Football Coach)
  3. Eric Motley (Author and Politician)
  4. Marlin K. Jensen (General Authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
  5. Charles Barkley (NBA Hall of Famer)

Top Employers:

  1. Regions Financial Corporation
  2. Children’s of Alabama
  3. BBVA USA
  4. UAB Health System
  5. Southern Company

University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH)

The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), founded in 1950, is a public research university located in Huntsville. It offers a variety of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs and is known for its strong emphasis on engineering, science, and technology.

U.S. News Ranking:

Ranked #187 in National Universities (2022)

Number of Students:

Approximately 10,000 students

Degrees Offered:

UAH offers over 80 academic programs across various disciplines.

Acceptance Rate:

Approximately 81%

Average SAT Score:

The average SAT score for admitted students is around 1280.

Most Popular Extracurricular Activities:

  1. Engineering and Science Clubs
  2. Research Organizations
  3. Honor Societies
  4. Outdoor Adventure Club
  5. Intramural Sports

Famous Alumni:

  1. Jan Davis (NASA Astronaut)
  2. Loretta Spencer (Former Mayor of Huntsville)
  3. Michael Griffin (Former NASA Administrator)
  4. Lonnie Johnson (Inventor of the Super Soaker)
  5. Leroy Chiao (NASA Astronaut)

Top Employers:

  1. NASA
  2. Boeing
  3. Northrop Grumman
  4. Dynetics
  5. HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology

Troy University

Troy University, founded in 1887, is a public university located in Troy. It offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs, with a focus on liberal arts, business, education, and health sciences.

U.S. News Ranking:

Ranked #293-#381 in National Universities (2022)

Number of Students:

Approximately 20,000 students

Degrees Offered:

Troy offers over 170 academic programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Acceptance Rate:

Approximately 91%

Average SAT Score:

The average SAT score for admitted students is around 1100.

Most Popular Extracurricular Activities:

  1. Greek Life
  2. Student Government Association
  3. Community Service Organizations
  4. Performing Arts Groups
  5. Intramural Sports

Famous Alumni:

  1. DeMarcus Ware (Former NFL Player)
  2. Lambert Wilson (Actor)
  3. Lamar Bruni Vergara (Former Mayor of Laredo, Texas)
  4. John Lewis (Civil Rights Leader)
  5. Demario Davis (NFL Linebacker)

Top Employers:

  1. Regions Financial Corporation
  2. Baptist Health
  3. Southeast Alabama Medical Center
  4. Pike County Board of Education
  5. Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Birmingham-Southern College

Birmingham-Southern College, founded in 1856, is a private liberal arts college located in Birmingham. It offers a variety of undergraduate programs and is known for its strong emphasis on personalized education, experiential learning, and community engagement.

U.S. News Ranking:

Ranked #146 in National Liberal Arts Colleges (2022)

Number of Students:

Approximately 1,300 students

Degrees Offered:

Birmingham-Southern College offers undergraduate programs in various liberal arts disciplines.

Acceptance Rate:

Approximately 57%

Average SAT Score:

The average SAT score for admitted students is around 1230.

Most Popular Extracurricular Activities:

  1. Community Service Organizations
  2. Performing Arts Groups
  3. Honor Societies
  4. Outdoor Adventure Club
  5. Intramural Sports

Famous Alumni:

  1. Ralph Cook (CEO of Cook Industries)
  2. John H. Buchanan Jr. (Former U.S. Congressman)
  3. Howell Raines (Former Executive Editor of The New York Times)
  4. Courtland Cox (Civil Rights Activist)
  5. Hugh McColl Jr. (Former CEO of Bank of America)

Top Employers:

  1. Regions Financial Corporation
  2. Children’s of Alabama
  3. BBVA USA
  4. Southern Company
  5. UAB Health System

University of South Alabama

The University of South Alabama, founded in 1963, is a public research university located in Mobile. It offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs and is known for its strong emphasis on health sciences, engineering, and coastal research.

U.S. News Ranking:

Ranked #281-#389 in National Universities (2022)

Number of Students:

Approximately 15,000 students

Degrees Offered:

USA offers over 100 academic programs across various disciplines.

Acceptance Rate:

Approximately 78%

Average SAT Score:

The average SAT score for admitted students is around 1150.

Most Popular Extracurricular Activities:

  1. Student Government Association
  2. Greek Life
  3. Community Service Organizations
  4. Engineering Clubs
  5. Intramural Sports

Famous Alumni:

  1. Michael C. Dow (Former Mayor of Mobile)
  2. Luis Gonzales (Former MLB Player)
  3. Gordon Cooper (NASA Astronaut)
  4. Byron De La Beckwith (Convicted Assassin of Medgar Evers)
  5. Mike Millegan (Former CEO of CenturyLink)

Top Employers:

  1. University of South Alabama Health System
  2. Airbus
  3. Austal USA
  4. Mobile County Public Schools
  5. Infirmary Health

Jacksonville State University

Jacksonville State University, founded in 1883, is a public university located in Jacksonville. It offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs, with a focus on education, business, nursing, and the arts.

U.S. News Ranking:

Ranked #293-#381 in National Universities (2022)

Number of Students:

Approximately 8,500 students

Degrees Offered:

JSU offers over 100 academic programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Acceptance Rate:

Approximately 55%

Average SAT Score:

The average SAT score for admitted students is around 1100.

Most Popular Extracurricular Activities:

  1. Greek Life
  2. Student Government Association
  3. Community Service Organizations
  4. Performing Arts Groups
  5. Intramural Sports

Famous Alumni:

  1. Ruby Gulley (First Female Mayor of Huntsville)
  2. Leroy May (Former NFL Player)
  3. Randy Owen (Lead Singer of Alabama)
  4. Howard Ballard (Former NFL Player)
  5. Condredge Holloway (Former CFL Player)

Top Employers:

  1. Regional Medical Center
  2. Anniston Army Depot
  3. Jacksonville City Schools
  4. Honda Manufacturing of Alabama
  5. Wells Fargo

Alabama A&M University

Alabama A&M University, founded in 1875, is a public historically black university located in Normal. It offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs, with a focus on agriculture, engineering, business, and the sciences.

U.S. News Ranking:

Ranked #293-#381 in National Universities (2022)

Number of Students:

Approximately 6,000 students

Degrees Offered:

Alabama A&M offers over 50 academic programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Acceptance Rate:

Approximately 90%

Average SAT Score:

The average SAT score for admitted students is around 950.

Most Popular Extracurricular Activities:

  1. Student Government Association
  2. Greek Life
  3. Community Service Organizations
  4. Marching Band
  5. Intramural Sports

Famous Alumni:

  1. John Stallworth (Former NFL Player)
  2. F. Drake (NASA Engineer)
  3. Rubin “Hurricane” Carter (Professional Boxer)
  4. Fred D. Gray (Civil Rights Attorney)
  5. Rod Doss (Publisher of The Birmingham Times)

Top Employers:

  1. Huntsville Hospital
  2. Redstone Arsenal
  3. Boeing
  4. NASA
  5. Madison County Schools

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