There are 60 colleges and universities in the U.S. state of Alabama. The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa is the largest university in the state with 38,100 enrolled for fall 2019.[1] Jefferson State Community College in Birmingham, Alabama is the largest two-year college, with an enrollment of just over 8,000. The smallest institution is Heritage Christian University, a Churches of Christ-affiliated seminary, with an enrollment of 86 students. The oldest institution is Athens State University in Athens founded in 1822.[2] There are also 8 four-year and 3 two-year historically black colleges and universities which is more than any other state.[3]
The majority of Alabama's colleges and universities are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS),[4] although several are accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE),[5] the Council on Occupational Education (COE),[6] or the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC).
The University of Alabama at Birmingham, the University of South Alabama, the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine, and the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine feature the only medical schools in the state.[7] The University of Alabama School of Law, the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, and the Thomas Goode Jones School of Law at Faulkner University are American Bar Association-accredited law schools.[8] The Birmingham School of Law and Miles Law School (unaffiliated with Miles College) are state accredited law programs.[9]
There are four institutions of higher learning in Alabama that are listed among Tier 1 national universities by U.S. News & World Report - The University of Alabama (UA), Auburn University (AU), the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), and The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH).
These four universities are also classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity: "The University of Alabama, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, and Auburn University as of February 2022.
Institutions
Out-of-state institutions
| Institution | Location(s)[10] | Control | Accreditation[10] | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia College Missouri | Redstone Arsenal[76] | Private | HLC | |
| Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine | Auburn | Private | AOA's COCA | VCOM-Auburn is located on the Auburn University campus.[77] |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University | Huntsville, Fort Novosel, Mobile | Private | SACS | ERAU has four instructional sites in Alabama: one in Huntsville,[78] one at Fort Novosel,[79] and two in Mobile.[80][81] |
| Florida Institute of Technology | Huntsville[82] | Private | SACS | |
| Southeastern University | Birmingham, Cullman, Florence, Huntsville | Private (Assemblies of God) | SACS | Students are able to pursue a degree from Southeastern University while dually-enrolled at Highlands College in Birmingham.[83] Additionally, SEU has instructional sites at four churches in Birmingham, Cullman, Florence, and Huntsville.[84] |
| United States Army Command and General Staff College | Redstone Arsenal[85] | Public (Army) | HLC |
Additionally, several for-profit colleges and universities based in other states have campuses in Alabama:
- Fortis Institute has campuses in Birmingham, Dothan, Foley, Mobile, and Montgomery
- Herzing University has a campus in Birmingham
- Remington College has a campus in Mobile
- South University has a campus in Montgomery
- Strayer University has campuses in Birmingham, Decatur, Huntsville, and Montgomery
Defunct institutions
| Institution | Location(s) | Control | Type | Founded | Closed | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama Presbyterian College | Anniston | Private | Baccalaureate college | 1906 | 1918 | [86] |
| Concordia College Alabama[c] | Selma | Private (Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod) | Baccalaureate college | 1922 | 2018 | [87] |
| Daniel Payne College | Birmingham | Private (AME) | Baccalaureate college | 1889 | 1979 | [88] |
| Judson College | Marion | Private (Southern Baptist Convention) | Baccalaureate college | 1838[89] | 2021 | [90] |
| Southeastern Bible College | Birmingham | Private (Interdenominational) | Special-focus institution (Bible college) | 1934[91] | 2017 | [92] |
| Southern Benedictine College | Cullman | Private (Catholic) | Baccalaureate college | 1929 | 1979 | [93] |
| Virginia College | Birmingham[ai] | Private (for-profit) | Baccalaureate/Associate's college | 1983 | 2018 | [95] |
