Located in the Deep South, Alabama offers a subtropical climate, beautiful natural scenery, and fascinating history and culture. As one of the most geographically diverse states in the US, Alabama also has strong cultural and historical connections on the global scale. Having 61 colleges & universities in Alabama and over 500 foreign direct investment companies, Alabama is an ideal study abroad location for international students and scholars.
There are both public and private universities in Alabama, including both two-year and four-year institutions. The majority of the international students in Alabama come from countries such as India, China, and Japan. If you are looking for a good public or private university, this guide to good universities in Alabama offers a complete overview of the state's higher education options.
Why Choose Universities in Alabama?
The majority of Alabama's four-year, degree-granting institutions are publicly funded, and many of the top colleges are located in Montgomery, which is the state capital. Apart from this, here are some key reasons to choose Alabama colleges and universities.
- World-class academic programs: A variety of undergraduate, postgraduate, and English language programs are offered by the best universities in Alabama, in areas ranging from medicine, business, and computer science to biotechnology, nursing, engineering, and public health.
- Placement Opportunities: In Alabama, the average annual salary is 55,473 USD. Consequently, graduating from colleges in Alabama can help you advance your career, as a person's starting salary doubles after 10 years of industry experience.
- Beautiful & urban campus: There is a wide range of facilities available on the campus of universities in Alabama, ranging from accommodations and dining to sports facilities, libraries, and laboratories. Furthermore, additional recreational facilities, such as a track and field facility and a renovated soccer stadium, are being considered in most universities.
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List Of Colleges & Universities In Alabama
In Alabama, there are 69 colleges and universities with 293,051 students enrolled. To get started with your college search, review the top universities in Alabama below:
- Auburn University
- The University of Alabama
- Samford University
- Tuskegee University
- Jacksonville State University
- University of Mobile
- Huntingdon College
1. Auburn University
Auburn University, which is a public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research institution, is the second-largest university in Alabama. Founded in 1856, it is one of the state's premier public universities. In addition to online programs and on-campus programs, the school offers undergraduate and graduate programs in over 150 majors which lists it among the top colleges in Alabama.
University Type |
Public |
Establishment Year |
1856 |
QS Ranking 2024 |
1001-1200 |
Popular Programs |
Business, Management, Marketing; Engineering; Biological & Biomedical Sciences; Communication & Journalism |
Intakes |
Spring, Fall & Summer |
Estimated Fee Structure (per year) |
Bachelor's Degree: 31,956 USD Master’s Degree: 31,220 USD MBA: 62,790 USD |
Admission Requirements |
ACT: 29 SAT: 1330 TOEFL: 550 IELTS: 6.5 GMAT: 605 GRE: 300 |
2. The University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is an accredited public four-year university that was founded in 1831. As one of the largest and oldest higher education public colleges in Alabama, it is the flagship institution of the University of Alabama System. A variety of fully online bachelor's, master's, and graduate programs are available at this institution, including social work, political science, criminal justice, and public health programs.
University Type |
Public |
Establishment Year |
1820 |
QS Ranking 2024 |
1001-1200 |
Popular Programs |
Science, Technology, Math, Aerospace Engineering, Liberal Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences |
Intakes |
Fall, Spring and Summer |
Estimated Fee Structure (Complete Course) |
Bachelor's Degree: 31,090 USD Master’s Degree: 10,597 USD MBA: 28,560 USD |
Admission Requirements |
ACT: 21 SAT: 990 TOEFL: 71 IELTS: 6 GMAT: 620 - 680 GRE: 300 |
3. Samford University
Samford University is a Christian university that has been operating since 1841 and is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in the nation. Over 183 undergraduate degree programs and 65 graduate degree programs are offered at the university. As one of the best private colleges in Alabama, there are 118 undergraduate and graduate student organizations on campus.
University Type |
Private |
Establishment Year |
1841 |
Popular Programs |
Philosophy Major (B.A.), Physics Major (B.A.), Political Science Major (B.A.), Environmental Science (B.S.), Psychology Major (B.A.) and more |
Intakes |
Fall, Spring and Summer |
Estimated Fee Structure (Complete Course) |
Bachelor's Degree: 28,788 USD Master’s Degree: 13,146 USD MBA: 34,632 USD |
Admission Requirements |
IELTS: 5.5 TOEFL: 61 PTE: 42 ACT: 29 SAT: 1380 |
4. Tuskegee University
Tuskegee University was established in 1881 as a private, land-grant institution. The institution is a historically black college and consists of five colleges and three schools offering over 50 degrees at every level from the bachelor's to the doctorate. A number of African American professionals, including veterinarians, engineers, and aerospace scientists, have graduated from Tuskegee University, making it one of the best universities in Alabama.
University Type |
Private |
Establishment Year |
1881 |
QS Ranking 2024 |
- |
Popular Programs |
Animal Sciences, General; Mechanical Engineering; Biology/Biological Sciences, General; Aerospace, Aeronautical & Astronautical/Space Engineering |
Intakes |
Fall, Spring and Summer |
Estimated Fee Structure (Complete Course) |
Bachelor's Degree: 22,614 USD Master’s Degree: 23,398 USD MBA: 19,690 USD |
Admission Requirements |
TOEFL: 62 IELTS: 5.0 ACT: 21 GRE: 300 SAT: 1010 |
5. Jacksonville State University
In 1883, Jacksonville State University was founded as a public institution. It has six colleges that offer undergraduate and graduate degrees. More than 40 academic programs are available at the university. The university calls itself "the friendliest campus in the south" to attract prospective students.
University Type |
Public |
Establishment Year |
1883 |
QS Ranking 2024 |
- |
Popular Programs |
BS, BA, BSN, MS, MFA, MBA/PGDM & MBA |
Intakes |
Fall, Spring and Summer |
Estimated Fee Structure (Complete Course) |
Bachelor's Degree: 20,840 USD Master’s Degree: 20,200 USD MBA: 39,291 USD |
Admission Requirements |
ACT: 20 SAT: 1030 GPA: 2 TOEFL: 61 IELTS: 5.5 Duolingo: 85 PTE: 45 |
6. University of Mobile
Established in 1961, the University of Mobile is a private Baptist institution of higher education located in Mobile, Alabama. As a Christian college, there is an equal balance of academics and religious experiences that are provided to students, including courses in biblical studies.
University Type |
Private |
Establishment Year |
1961 |
Popular Programs |
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse; Business Administration and Management & Music |
Intakes |
Fall, Spring and Summer |
Estimated Fee Structure (Complete Course) |
Bachelor's Degree: 32,830 USD Master’s Degree: 11,640 USD MBA: 19,690 USD |
Admission Requirements |
ACT: 21 TOEFL: 550 IELTS: 6.0 |
7. Huntingdon College
In 1854, Huntingdon College was founded as a private Methodist liberal arts college. It has a small student population with just over 900 undergraduates. There are four colleges and 11 academic departments and a wide variety of degree options to choose from at this Christian school.
University Type |
Private |
Establishment Year |
1854 |
QS Ranking 2024 |
- |
Popular Programs |
Business, Sport and Fitness Management, Kinesiology and Exercise Science, Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Administration, Psychology & Biology |
Intakes |
Fall, Spring and Summer |
Estimated Fee Structure (Complete Course) |
Bachelor's Degree: 28,793 USD Master’s Degree: 22,800 USD MBA: 20,400 USD |
Admission Requirements |
SAT: 1003 ACT: 19 Duolingo: 100 IELTS: 6.0 TOEFL: 75 |
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Now that you have gone through the Alabama universities list, it will be a bit easier to choose the preferred university to pursue further education. For more information on universities in Alabama for international students, it's highly recommended to get quick consultation with Yocket Counsellors and gain expert advice to study in US.