University of Alabama at Birmingham College Portrait
University of Alabama at BirminghamBirmingham, AL 35294
205-934-4011
University of Alabama at Birmingham
UAB is a place where students, faculty, and researchers can -- and do -- change the world every day. In the classroom, the lab, and the world, they strengthen the university and the community around us.
Every day, students and faculty at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) make discoveries, break new ground, change lives, and bring new ideas into the world. The UAB campus offers a dynamic environment for education and enrichment in the heart of a lively city, rich with opportunity. Students learn in the classroom and out in the world with the guidance of some of the top professors in their fields. We invite you to learn more about UAB today!
Living in the Blazer Community
UAB's brainpower draws from our diversity -- diversity of ideas, of backgrounds, of specialties, of perspectives. Our campus is filled with individuals; our success is driven by their collaboration.
Here, students come first. Exciting opportunities for experiential learning prepare you for graduate education or a career -- in the lab or the music studio, during an internship, study away, or service-learning project. Students benefit from a real-world environment in a university renowned for science, health, technology and the arts and humanities, on a campus that values diversity. More than 2,000 students live in our residence halls, sharing living space and learning space within walking distance of everything UAB has to offer. Qualified students in all disciplines can challenge themselves through our Honors Academy. Students in our close academic community get personal attention from our top faculty and through our many academic support services. The low cost of tuition makes UAB a real value. It all happens in Birmingham -- recently named one of the most livable cities in America -- where museums and concerts, beautiful parks and must-see attractions are minutes away.
The Big Picture: How many students were on campus in Fall 2010?
More Information
| Total Students | 17,543 | |
|---|---|---|
Undergraduate Snapshot
| Total Undergraduate Students | 11,028 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Women | 6,420 | 58% |
| Men | 4,608 | 42% |
| Race/Ethnicity | ||
| American Indian / Alaskan Native | 35 | <1% |
| Asian | 455 | 4% |
| African American / Black | 2,905 | 26% |
| Hispanic | 220 | 2% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 8 | <1% |
| White | 6,682 | 61% |
| Two or More Races | 129 | 1% |
| International | 209 | 2% |
| Race/Ethnicity Not Reported | 385 | 3% |
| Where do UAB undergraduates call home? | |
|---|---|
| Alabama | 92% |
| Other US States & Territories | 7% |
| Other Countries | 2% |
| Residency Unknown | <1% |
| How old are UAB undergraduates? | |
| Average Age | 24 |
| Percent of Undergraduates Age 25 or Older | 26% |
New Student Applications (Fall 2010)
New Freshmen High School Background and Test Scores
Test(s) Required for Admission: SAT or ACT recommended
| Test Scores of Enrolled New Freshmen | ACT |
|---|---|
| Composite | 21 - 27 |
| Math | 19 - 26 |
| English | 21 - 28 |
50% of admitted students have test scores within the ranges listed, 25% have scores above, and 25% have scores below.
| High School Background of Enrolled New Freshmen | ||
|---|---|---|
| Percent in top 25% of High School Graduating Class | 52% | |
| Percent in top 50% of High School Graduating Class | 77% | |
| Percent of New Freshmen who submitted HS GPA | 71% | |
| Average High School GPA (4-point scale) | 3.5 | |
| Percent who submitted High School GPA | 99% | |
Sticker Price: How much does it cost on average?
Typical Undergraduate Costs for 2009-10 without Financial Aid (Full-Time, In-State Students)
Total Typical Cost of Attendance: $21,319
Cost of attendance figures for the next academic year are normally available by mid March of the year preceding the next academic year.Out-of-State & Other Costs
More Information
The cost to attend University of Alabama at Birmingham varies based on the individual circumstances of students and may be reduced through grants and scholarships.
How much would I pay?
Financial Aid: How much help is there to pay?
Scholarships & Grants
- <1% of 2009-10 full-time undergraduates received need-based grants or scholarships; the average award for the year was $0. Scholarships and grants are financial aid that does not need to be repaid and is sometimes referred to as gift aid.
Annual Need-Based Loans
- <1% of 2009-10 full-time undergraduates received need-based work-study and/or loans (not including parent loans); the average loan for the year was $0. Loans need to be repaid. Typically, repayment starts once you are no longer enrolled full-time. Please refer to page 12 of the Funding Education Beyond High School guide on the US Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website for more information about Financial Need.
Percent of Full-time Beginning Students Receiving Each Type of Financial Aid
NOTE: Students may receive aid from more than one source.
UAB Classes & Instructors
| Classroom Environment | |
|---|---|
| Students per Faculty | 17 to 1 |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 30 students | 66% |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 50 students | 86% |
| Total Full-Time Instructional Faculty | 862 |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Female | 45% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Persons of Color | 22% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Have the Highest Academic Degree Offered in Their Field of Study | <1% |
More Information
Campus-based Housing
65% of new freshmen live in campus-based housing or residence halls.
20% of all undergraduates live on campus
More Information
Campus Safety
UAB is located in Birmingham's safest precinct, and UAB's fully accredited Police Department has earned a reputation for excellence in crime prevention, problem resolution, responsiveness and community involvement. Well-trained and well-prepared officers have close relationships with other law-enforcement agencies and work with the University to provide a multitude of security services and prevention programs, including Campus Escort.
Campus Crime Statistics
Carnegie Classification of Institutional Characteristics
The Carnegie Classification's were created "to reference the great diversity of colleges and universities in the United States, and ... enable [people] to identify groups of roughly comparable institutions." For information on the Carnegie Classifications system, please visit their website: http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org/
- Basic Type
- Research Universities (very high research activity)
- Size and Setting
- Large four-year, primarily nonresidential
- Enrollment Profile
- Majority undergraduate
- Undergraduate Profile
- Medium full-time four-year, selective, higher transfer-in
- Undergraduate Instructional Program
- Balanced arts & sciences/professions, high graduate coexistence
- Graduate Instructional Program
- Doctoral, STEM dominant
NOTE: Institutional classifications based on the Carnegie 2005 edition.
More Information
Student Activities and Involvement at UAB
Making each student’s experience the best possible is a UAB priority. In order to evaluate levels of student engagement and satisfaction and identify ways to strengthen its programs, UAB regularly asks students to participate in national surveys such as the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) and a Student Satisfaction Inventory (SSI). Students also have opportunities to voice their opinions through a graduating student survey, regular evaluations of teaching, and reviews of specific areas such as advising and learning communities. The results of these assessment activities are used to strengthen academic programs, academic support services, and student life activities.
Institutions participating in the VSA program measure student involvement on campus using one of four national surveys. Results from the one survey are reported for a common set of questions selected as part of VSA. Following are the selected results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The questions have been grouped together in categories that are known to contribute to student learning and development. The results reported below are based on the responses of seniors who participated in the survey.
Group Learning Experiences
- 91% percent of seniors worked with classmates on assignments outside of class.
- 56% of seniors tutored or taught other students
- 18% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week participating in co-curricular activities such as student organizations and intramural sports
Active Learning Experiences
- 78% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week preparing for class
- 20% of seniors worked on a research project with a faculty member
- 44% of seniors participated in an internship, practicum, or field experience
- 56% of seniors participated in community service or volunteer work
- 6% of seniors participated in study abroad
- 90% of seniors made at least one class presentation last year
Institutional Commitment to Student Learning and Success
- 94% of seniors believe this institution provides support for student success
- 67% of seniors rated the quality of academic advising at this institution as good or excellent
- 52% of seniors reported that this institution provided help in coping with work, family and other non-academic responsibilities
- 95% of seniors reported working harder than they thought they could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations
Student Interaction with Campus Faculty and Staff
- 52% of seniors believed that the campus staff were helpful, considerate, or flexible
- 74% of seniors believed that faculty are available, helpful, or sympathetic
- 96% of seniors reported that faculty members provided prompt feedback on their academic performance
- 70% of seniors discussed readings or ideas with faculty members outside of class
Experiences with Diverse Groups of People and Ideas
- 70% of seniors reported that they often tried to understand someone else's point of view
- 87% of seniors reported their experience at this institution contributed to their understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds
- 68% of seniors often had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity
Student Satisfaction
- 76% of seniors would attend this institution if they started over again
- 82% of seniors rated their entire educational experience as good or excellent
- 79% of seniors reported that other students were friendly or supportive
Evaluation of Experiences
Survey Administration Process
Survey Information
Majors and Degrees
| Degrees awarded at University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 1,921 |
| Master's | 1,297 |
| Doctoral | 487 |
| Total | 3,705 |
More Information
| Areas of Study with the largest number of bachelor's degrees awarded in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | 13% |
| Biology/Biological Sciences, General | 8% |
| Psychology, General | 8% |
| Speech Communication and Rhetoric | 6% |
| Accounting | 6% |
| Links to degree programs at University of Alabama at Birmingham |
|---|
Bachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral |
Future Plans of 2009-10 Bachelor's Degree Recipients
Survey Administration Process
Student Success & Progress Rate
A 74% four-year success and progress rate means that 74% of students starting in Fall 2004 either graduated or are still enrolled at a higher education institution four years later.
More Information
Counts for the Fall 2004 entering class shown in the graph above.
- 1,542 First-Time, Full-Time Students
- 767 Full-Time Transfer Students
Success & Progress Rate Table
Retention of Freshman Class
First-time students in Fall 2009 that returned for their second year: 92%
Student Learning at University of Alabama at Birmingham
All colleges and universities use multiple approaches to measure student learning. Many of these are specific to particular disciplines, many are coordinated with accrediting agencies, and many are based on outcomes after students have graduated.
Ensuring that students are successful in their academic programs is important at UAB. Each academic program develops learning outcomes and routinely evaluates them; information is recorded in an institutional database and used to improve programs. In addition, students’ performance on licensure and certification exams is tracked. Programs at UAB, including those in art, music, business, education, engineering, chemistry, public health, psychology, public administration, social work, and all health fields, are accredited by the appropriate professional organization. Advisory committees of outstanding individuals provide input for programs in a number of fields, ensuring that they are current and preparing students for success in the workplace. Maintaining the highest standards for student learning is one of UAB’s highest priorities.
Learning Assessment Examples
Pilot Project to Measure Core Learning Outcomes
Colleges and universities participating in the College Portrait measure the typical improvement in students' abilities to think, reason, and write using one of three tests. This is part of a pilot project to better understand and compare what students learn between their freshman and senior years at different colleges and universities.
Information on UAB students' participation in the Proficiency Profile is under development.