Establishment and History: The University of Alabama (UA), often called Alabama, UA, the Capstone, or Bama, is a public research university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Established in 1820 and opened to students in 1831, it holds the distinction of being the oldest and largest of Alabama's public universities and is the flagship institution of the University of Alabama System.
Research Classification: UA is classified as an "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity" institution by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, 1 indicating its commitment to significant research endeavors.
Academic Divisions: The university offers a broad spectrum of programs across 12 academic divisions, leading to bachelor's, master's, education specialist, and doctoral degrees. Notably, UA houses the only publicly supported law school in the state. It also offers unique doctoral programs in fields like anthropology, communication and information sciences, metallurgical engineering, music, Romance languages, and social work, which are not available elsewhere in Alabama.
Historical Significance: The university played a role during the American Civil War and the civil rights movement, marking significant periods in its history.
"Capstone" Nickname: In 1913, UA President George H. Denny referred to the university as the "capstone of the public school system in the state," which became its enduring nickname.
Student Achievements: As of June 2024, UA has produced a significant number of prestigious scholars, including 65 Goldwater Scholars, 16 Rhodes Scholars, and 16 Truman Scholars.
Enrollment: For the fall semester of 2024, UA recorded a total enrollment of 40,846 undergraduate, professional, and graduate students. This diverse student body includes residents from all 67 Alabama counties, all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and 95 foreign countries. A notable 42.3% are legal Alabama residents, while 57.7% come from elsewhere. The student body is also majority female, with 57.5% women and 42.5% men.
Commitment to In-State Students: UA demonstrates a strong commitment to students from Alabama, with a record-breaking number of in-state freshmen (3,434) enrolled in 2024, marking the largest such cohort in its history and the sixth consecutive year of in-state increases.
National Recognition: UA consistently receives high rankings from U.S. News & World Report in various programs, including its School of Law and Manderson Graduate School of Business MBA Program. It has also been recognized as a top producer of Fulbright U.S. Students and included in TIME magazine's list of Best Colleges for Future Leaders 2025.