Best Colleges in Alabama

Why Should I Consider Studying in Alabama?

There are many benefits to studying in Alabama. It’s worth noting that it is home to many prestigious universities, including Auburn University and the University of Alabama. Not only are these universities well-known academically, but they offer an exciting student life. The outdoors is certainly another reason to consider studying in Alabama, not only are there countless hiking trails but also a spread of beach options, Alabama has a little bit of everything.

Living in Alabama is also relatively affordable, so saving some money while studying can be a great option there. There are also numerous cultural attractions, including theaters and museums freckled throughout the state and annually there are an assortment of massive festivals for the arts and music that come through major cities.

Finally, the state is also a very welcoming place, and serves as an outstanding place for students to build a sense of community given how hospitable Alabamians generally are. With strong academic programs and top notch student atmospheres, there are many reasons why Alabama is a phenomenal state to study.

Alabama Higher Education By The Numbers

Colleges in Alabama

Alabama has the 28th most colleges in the country with 80 colleges based there. For some perspective, that's 8 times as many colleges as the state with the fewest. 51% of Alabama's colleges are private and 49% of its colleges are public. (41 private colleges & 39 public colleges). It has the 18th most public colleges and the 31st most private colleges in the United States of America.

Our favorite colleges in Alabama are Auburn University, Samford University, and The University of Alabama. The University of Alabama has more students than any other public colleges in Alabama's top 25 colleges (42,096). Columbia Southern University has more students than any other private colleges in our top 25 (36,519).

Students in Alabama

The average state has 508,837 college students. Alabama has 24% fewer. There are 313,242 public college students and 72,670 private college students in Alabama. It has fewer public college students than 19 states and fewer private college students than 26 states. Its 385,912 total students make it the 24th most popular location in the United States of America. 19% of Alabama's students go to private institutions which is the 21st lowest percentage in the US.