Address: 739 University Blvd, 35487 Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States
Business (Culverhouse College), Communication, Engineering
The institution that became the University of Alabama was chartered by the Alabama General Assembly in 1820 as The University of the State of Alabama. Its first classes met in Tuscaloosa on 18 April 1831, with Alva Woods as president, and Tuscaloosa remains home to its main campus and its School of Law.
The Civil War left a lasting mark on the campus: Union troops burned most of it in 1865, and only a few buildings survived, among them the President’s Mansion and the Gorgas House. Autherine Lucy enrolled in 1956 and was removed after a few days, and the university was desegregated in 1963 when Vivian Malone and James Hood enrolled.
Today the university is a public research university rated R1 (very high research activity) in the Carnegie Classification. It enrolled more than 42,000 students in fall 2025. Its nickname “The Capstone” dates from a 1913 speech by president George H. Denny, who called the university the capstone of the state’s public school system. On 27 April 2011 a tornado that struck Tuscaloosa killed six University of Alabama students.
Domains taught:
AI and Machine Learning, Data Analytics, Engineering, Life Sciences, Manufacturing, Software Engineering
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master, MBA
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Flagship of UA System. Strong connections with automotive industry in Alabama (Mercedes-Benz, etc.). Successful athletics programs are a major focus.
Research:
A research university with strengths in manufacturing and automotive engineering, water resources, communication disorders, and public health.
Famous Alumnis:
Joe Namath, Harper Lee, Sela Ward, Rece Davis, Bear Bryant (coach, not alumnus)
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
7000
Current students***:
39000
Foreign students***:
5%
Cumulative former students***:
200000
Pros
Strong school spirit and renowned athletics programs, good business and communication schools, beautiful historic campus.
Cons
Located in a smaller Southern city, some programs less nationally prominent than top-tier SEC schools, campus culture can be very focused on athletics.
Best For
Students seeking a large public university experience with strong programs in business, communication, or engineering, often valuing a spirited campus life and major college athletics.
University of Georgia: a public university in Athens whose listed strengths include journalism (Grady College) and public administration, close to Alabama's communication focus.
University of Tennessee, Knoxville: a public university in Knoxville with supply chain management and nuclear engineering among its specialties.
University of South Carolina: a public university in Columbia, known for international business and public health programmes.
University of Kentucky: a public university in Lexington that combines pharmacy, health sciences and agriculture.
University of Arkansas: a public university in Fayetteville with agriculture and business (Walton College) among its specialties.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
Carleton University in Canada has journalism and communication among its specialties, a field Alabama also teaches.
Queensland University of Technology in Australia offers business, law, science and engineering.
University of Canterbury in New Zealand covers arts, business, education and engineering.
University of Cape Town in South Africa combines medicine, commerce and engineering in one broad institution.
Dublin City University in Ireland pairs engineering and computer science with other professional fields.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
When was the University of Alabama chartered, and when did it start teaching?
The state legislature created it in 1820, and instruction began on 18 April 1831 under president Alva Woods. It is the state's oldest public university.
Where is the University of Alabama located?
Its main campus is in Tuscaloosa. The School of Law is also in Tuscaloosa.
What happened to the campus during the Civil War?
Union troops burned most of the campus in 1865, leaving only a handful of buildings such as the President's Mansion and the Gorgas House.
When did the University of Alabama become desegregated?
Racial desegregation came in 1963, when Vivian Malone and James Hood enrolled; Autherine Lucy had briefly enrolled in 1956 before being expelled.
What research classification does the university hold?
The Carnegie Classification lists it as R1, a doctoral university with very high research activity.
How large is the student body?
More than 42,000 students were enrolled in fall 2025. For the current figure, consult the official enrolment statistics published by the university.
Why is the university called "The Capstone"?
The name comes from a 1913 speech by president George H. Denny, who described the university as the capstone of the state's public school system.
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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