Alabama for College Students
Alabama's college-town identities are genuinely distinct: Tuscaloosa (University of Alabama), Auburn (Auburn University), and Birmingham (UAB, embedded in a major urban metro) each offer a different college experience, with both flagship institutions posting record Fall 2025 enrollment.
Exploring the idea of moving?
We can connect you with a local real estate professional who knows the area -- no pressure, just a starting point.
Learn moreTuscaloosa: the University of Alabama's genuine, record-scale college-town identity
The University of Alabama anchors Tuscaloosa's real, large-scale college-town experience, backed by a record 42,360 students for Fall 2025 (up 3.7% year-over-year, its fifth consecutive record year), including a record 362 National Merit Scholars.
Auburn: a second, genuinely large flagship college-town identity
Auburn University anchors Auburn/Opelika's own real, distinct college-town identity, with just over 35,000 total students for Fall 2025 and a record-large, academically strong entering class (6,112 first-year undergraduates, average ACT 28.8, average GPA 4.11).
UAB offers a genuinely different, urban-campus college experience in Birmingham
UAB embeds its student population within Birmingham's major urban metro rather than a standalone college town -- a genuinely different experience from Tuscaloosa's or Auburn's setting, with the added distinction of UAB's hospital system being ranked Alabama's #1 hospital for 12 consecutive years, a real draw for students in health-sciences-adjacent programs specifically.
Key takeaways
- The University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa) posted a fifth consecutive record enrollment year for Fall 2025 (42,360 students).
- Auburn University enrolled just over 35,000 students for Fall 2025, with a record-large, academically strong entering class.
- UAB offers a genuinely different, urban-campus experience in Birmingham, with a real draw for health-sciences students given UAB Hospital's 12-consecutive-year #1 Alabama ranking.
Want to know what your budget actually buys here?
Tell us a bit about what you're looking for and we'll connect you with someone local who can walk you through real numbers.
Get local guidanceRead the full Alabama overview for the complete picture, or explore individual cities and towns we've researched.
Planning a move?
Tell us what you're looking for and we'll connect you with a local expert who can help you make it happen.
Talk to a local expert