The University of Alabama: A Comprehensive Overview of its Location and Campus

The University of Alabama (UA), also known as Alabama, the Capstone, or Bama, stands as a public research university in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States. Founded in 1831 as the state’s flagship university, The University of Alabama is steeped in tradition and success. Legends have been made in our academic halls, on our athletic fields and courts, and in our endeavors to shape a better world through our teaching, research and service.

Whether you’re planning a trip to tour campus or coming to town for a game, we look forward to welcoming you to Tuscaloosa and The University of Alabama campus.

Historical Context and Establishment

Established in 1820 and opened to students in 1831, the University of Alabama is the oldest and largest of the public universities in Alabama as well as the University of Alabama System. In 1818, the United States Congress authorized the newly created Alabama Territory to set aside a township for the establishment of a "seminary of learning". When Alabama was admitted to the Union in 1819, a second township was added to the land grant, bringing it to a total of 46,000 acres (186 km2). The General Assembly of Alabama established the seminary on December 18, 1820, named it "The University of the State of Alabama," and created a board of trustees to manage the construction and operation of the university. The site the board chose for the campus was, at the time, outside the city limits of the erstwhile state capital, Tuscaloosa. William Nichols, the architect of the Alabama State Capitol building in Tuscaloosa, was chosen to design the campus. The university's charter was presented to the first university president in the nave of Christ Episcopal Church. UA opened its doors to students on April 18, 1831, with Alva Woods as president.

Academic Offerings and Recognition

The university offers programs of study in 12 academic divisions leading to bachelor's, master's, education specialist, and doctoral degrees. The only publicly supported law school in the state is at UA. Known for its innovative and interdisciplinary approach to education at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, the University of Alabama at Birmingham is an internationally renowned research university and academic medical center with over $600 million in research awards annually, as well as Alabama’s largest employer, with some 49,000 employees, and has an annual economic impact exceeding $12.1 billion on the state. The University of Alabama in Huntsville is a highly accomplished academic institution and a research intensive university with five programs ranked in the top 20 in the nation for federally-financed research, according to the National Science Foundation. The College of Arts and Sciences is the university's college for the liberal arts, fine arts, and sciences. It is the largest of the university's 12 colleges, with approximately 7,900 undergraduate students and 1,100 graduate students. There are 11 other academic divisions at the University of Alabama. Eight divisions (Arts and Sciences, Business, Communication and Information Sciences, Education, Engineering, Human Environmental Sciences, Nursing, and Social Work) grant undergraduate degrees. Degrees in those eight divisions at the master's, specialist, and doctoral level are awarded through the Graduate School. The law school offers JD and LL.M. degree programs. The College of Community Health Sciences provides advanced studies in medicine and related disciplines and operates a family medicine residency program.

UA began offering engineering classes in 1837. It was one of the first universities in the nation to offer an engineering degree. Ten of the university's twelve academic units offer degree programs across a combined total of 117 areas of study.

Location and Setting

Tuscaloosa lies about an hour southwest of Birmingham, situated along the banks of the Black Warrior River in west-central Alabama. UA is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama - a vibrant, multicultural community a few hours from several major cities. The University of Alabama will be traveling to your area. When it’s time to unwind from the hustle of the day, Tuscaloosa provides residents and visitors the spaces to relax, explore and have fun. The area offers a wide range of outdoor spaces highlighting Alabama’s natural beauty.

Tuscaloosa: A Vibrant College Town

And while our University is among the best in the nation, it’s not the only great thing about Tuscaloosa, Alabama, which USA Today ranked as one of the Top 30 college towns in America. The Druid City features a vibrant downtown with several music venues, art galleries and some of the best restaurants in the state. Tuscaloosa, or “T-Town” as it is affectionately referred to, has become one of Alabama’s most vibrant cities, offering visitors countless possibilities for dining, shopping, outdoor adventures, nightlife, cultural events and more. A city of about 100,000 people, Tuscaloosa rises to the occasion on fall Saturdays when the population more than doubles to champion the Crimson Tide at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Downtown Tuscaloosa

Historic downtown Tuscaloosa is home to some of Alabama's best restaurants, cafes and entertainment venues. From intimate specialty coffee shops to big shows at the Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater, downtown has something for everyone.

The Riverwalk

The Riverwalk is a local favorite for a morning jog on the path, or unwinding under the shade of the trees as you watch the Black Warrior River roll by. The area also has several restaurants, shops and parks lining the path.

Recreation

The Tuscaloosa area is rich with opportunity for those who love to have fun in the great outdoors.

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Campus Overview

From a small campus of seven buildings in the wilderness on the main road between Tuscaloosa and Huntsville (now University Boulevard) in the 1830s, UA has grown to a massive 1,970-acre (800 ha) campus in the heart of Tuscaloosa. There are 297 buildings on campus containing some 10,600,000 square feet (980,000 m2) of space. In 2010, the school added 168 acres to its campus by purchasing the land formerly belonging to Bryce Hospital.

Notable Campus Locations

Our prominent campus is nationally renowned for its beauty, immaculate upkeep, award-winning student housing and first-class academic buildings and laboratories. Learn more about the University’s history through stopovers at noteworthy locations such as Malone-Hood Plaza, Autherine Lucy Hall, Manderson Landing, Denny Chimes, Bryant Museum, the Walk of Champions and Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Other UA must-sees include our contemporary facilities, including Drummond Lyon Hall, Julia Tutwiler Hall, Hewson Hall and Stran-Hardin Arena.

Campus tours begin in the new Catherine and Pettus Randall Welcome Center, providing an immersive exploration of UA. Discover The University of Alabama, where tradition meets innovation. Campus tours showcase our stunning grounds, top-tier academic facilities and living spaces. Coming to campus for an event or without a scheduled tour? EXPLORE UA VIRTUALLYImmerse yourself in a virtual campus tour guided by our Capstone Men & Women.

Libraries

The Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library, which sits on the Main Quad, is the oldest and largest of the university libraries. government documents. The library opened in 1939. The Angelo Bruno Business Library, in the Business Quad, is named after the co-founder of the Bruno's grocery chain who gave the university $4 million to create a library focusing on commerce and business studies. Opened in 1994, the 64,000-square-foot (5,900 m2), three-story facility holds more than 170,000 volumes. Bruno Library also houses the 9,500-square-foot (880 m2) Sloan Y. Bashinsky Sr. The Eric and Sarah Rodgers Library for Science and Engineering, in the Science and Engineering Quad, is named after two popular, long-time professors of engineering and statistics, respectively. It opened in 1990, combining the Science Library collection in Lloyd Hall and the Engineering Library collection in the Mineral Industries Building (now known as H.M. Comer Hall). Rodgers Library was designed with help from IBM to incorporate the latest in informatics. McLure Education Library was founded in 1954 in a remodeled student union annex (across the street from the old Student Union, now Reese Phifer Hall) and named in 1974 after John Rankin McLure, the longtime dean of the College of Education. The William Stanley Hoole Special Collections Library, which holds the university's collection of rare and historical documents and books, is in Mary Harmon Bryant Hall. Other libraries on campus are independent of the University Libraries. The 66,000-square-foot (6,100 m2) Bounds Law Library, at the Law Center, holds more than 300,000 volumes. Established in 1978, the Health Sciences Library, at the University Medical Center, serves students at the College of Community Health Sciences. Its 20,000-volume collection includes clinical medicine, family practice, primary care, medical education, consumer health, and related health care topics. Located in Farah Hall (home of the Department of Geography) the Map Library and Place Names Research Center holds over 270,000 maps and 75,000 aerial photographs. The William E.

Museums and Collections

The university maintains the University of Alabama Arboretum in eastern Tuscaloosa and the Dauphin Island Sea Lab on Dauphin Island, just off the Alabama Gulf Coast. The Alabama Museum of Natural History at Smith Hall exhibits Alabama's rich natural history. The oddest artifact there could be the Sylacauga meteorite, the largest known extraterrestrial object to strike a human being who survived. The Paul W. Bryant Museum houses memorabilia and exhibits on the history of UA athletic programs, most notably the tenure of football coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. Athletic trophies and awards are displayed at the Mal Moore Athletic Facility. The Sarah Moody Gallery of Art at Garland Hall hosts revolving exhibitions of contemporary art, including from the university's own permanent collection. A cemetery next to the Math and Science Education Building includes the graves of two enslaved persons who were owned by faculty members before the Civil War.

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Campus Culture Facilities

Campus culture facilities include the Allen Bales Theatre, the Marion Gallaway Theatre, the English Building auditorium, and the Frank M. Moody Music Building, which houses the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra as well as three resident choirs.

Athletics

Alabama Athletics has a legendary reputation for excellence and championship programs. A bucket list item for any trip to Tuscaloosa should be to experience everything T-town has to offer on a game day! Whether that includes tailgating on the Quad and welcoming the football team to Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium with a “Roll Tide!” at the Walk of Champions, or cheering on the basketball and gymnastics teams in the storied Coleman Coliseum, you are sure to make memories while supporting your Alabama Crimson Tide. If you want to be even closer to the action, come check out softball at Rhoads Stadium, where sold out crowds have given UA the home-field advantage, or historic Foster Auditorium, home to the volleyball team. Fans have witnessed SEC titles at its women’s soccer complex as well as NCAA postseason baseball at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The University of Alabama varsity football program (nicknamed the Crimson Tide), inaugurated in 1892, ranks as one of the ten best in US history.

Student Life and Governance

In fall 2023, the university had an enrollment of 39,623 students, The record enrollment included 3,184 freshmen from Alabama, representing every county in the state. This marked UA's fifth consecutive year with an in-state increase and the largest number of in-state freshmen since 2010. UA has one of the largest Greek systems in the nation with over 12,000 active students. The Student Government Association is the primary student advocacy organization at UA. Since its founding in 1914, a secretive coalition of fraternities and sororities, commonly known as "The Machine", has wielded enormous influence over the Student Government Association. Occurrences of harassment, intimidation, and even criminal activities aimed at opposition candidates have been reported. Many figures in local, state, and national politics have come out of the SGA at the University of Alabama. Esquire devoted its April 1992 cover story to an exposé of The Machine.

The University of Alabama is an autonomous institution within the University of Alabama System and governed by the Board of Trustees of The University of Alabama and headed by the chancellor of The University of Alabama. The state legislature created the board to govern the university's operations. Its responsibilities include setting policy for the university, determining the university's mission and scope, and assuming responsibility for the university to the public and the legislature. The board is self-perpetuating and composed of 15 members and two ex officio members. The Constitution of the State of Alabama dictates the board's makeup and requires the board to include three members from the congressional district that contains the Tuscaloosa campus and two members from every other congressional district in Alabama. The president of the University of Alabama is the principal executive officer of the university and is appointed by the chancellor with approval of the board of trustees. Stuart R.

Admissions and Rankings

In fall 2021, Alabama received 42,421 applications for first-time freshman enrollment, from which 33,472 applications were accepted (78.9%) and 7,593 freshmen enrolled, a yield rate (the percentage of accepted students who choose to attend the university) of 22.7%. The university started test-optional admissions with the Fall 2021 incoming class and has extended this through Fall 2024. Of the 63% of enrolled freshmen in 2021 who submitted ACT scores, the middle 50 percent composite score was between 21 and 31. The University of Alabama is a college-sponsor of the National Merit Scholarship Program and sponsored 189 Merit Scholarship awards in 2020. The University of Alabama is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities - Very high research activity". It is a large, four-year primarily residential university accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Full-time, four-year undergraduates comprise a large amount of the university enrollment. The undergraduate instructional program emphasizes professional programs of study as well as the liberal arts, and there is a high level of co-existence between the graduate and undergraduate program. The university has a very high level of research activity and has a "comprehensive doctoral" graduate instructional program in the liberal arts, humanities, social sciences. In August 2020, the UA Department of Advertising and Public Relations was named the Most Outstanding Education Program by PRWeek during the 2020 PRWeek Awards. As of 2021 The Princeton Review ranked University of Alabama first in the nation as a party school and first for having lots of Greek life.

Directions to the Catherine & Pettus Randall Welcome Center at Bryce Main

From Highway 82 (Westbound from Montgomery)

After crossing the intersection of Skyland Boulevard and McFarland Boulevard, continue three miles to the Campus Drive exit off Highway 82 West. Stay straight on the exit and continue down the hill to Campus Drive East. At the bottom of the hill, turn left onto Campus Drive East. Continue on Campus Drive East for half a mile. At the four way stop, turn right onto Bryce Lawn Drive. Proceed down Bryce Lawn Drive until you reach Bryce Main. Enter the traffic circle and take the first exit into the Welcome Center Visitor Parking Lot. Parking is free but does require a parking pass to be displayed on the front dash of your vehicle. If you did not receive a parking pass, please check-in inside Bryce Main to receive a parking pass.

From Highway 82 (Eastbound from Golden Triangle Airport/Columbus, MS)

You will travel a total of 5.1 miles and go through 9 traffic lights from the intersection of Highway 82 and Highway 69. From the intersection of Highway 82 and Highway 69, continue on Highway 82 through Northport. Continue on Highway 82 East/McFarland Boulevard for approximately 3.9 miles. After crossing the Black Warrior River on the Woolsey Finnel Bridge, take the third exit after crossing the bridge onto Campus Drive. Continue down the hill at the exit. Turn left onto Campus Drive East. Continue on Campus Drive East for half a mile. At the four way stop, turn right onto Bryce Lawn Drive. Proceed down Bryce Lawn Drive until you reach Bryce Main. Enter the traffic circle and take the first exit into the Welcome Center Visitor Parking Lot. Parking is free but does require a parking pass to be displayed on the front dash of your vehicle. If you did not receive a parking pass, please check-in inside Bryce Main to receive a parking pass.

From Interstate 359 (Northbound)

Continue north on Interstate 359. The Tuscaloosa Police Department will be on your left. Interstate 359 will become Highway 69, which will lead you into downtown Tuscaloosa. Continue on Interstate 359 North/Highway 69 North for approximately four miles to downtown Tuscaloosa. Turn right onto University Boulevard. Continue 1.6 miles on University Boulevard. Turn left onto Hackberry Lane at the traffic signal at the intersection of University Boulevard and Hackberry Lane. Gallalee Hall will be on your left. Continue on Hackberry Lane for 0.4 miles. Turn right onto Campus Drive East at the first traffic signal. At the next four way stop, turn left onto Bryce Lawn Drive. Proceed down Bryce Lawn Drive until you reach Bryce Main. Enter the traffic circle and take the first exit into the Welcome Center Visitor Parking Lot. Parking is free but does require a parking pass to be displayed on the front dash of your vehicle. If you did not receive a parking pass, please check-in inside Bryce Main to receive a parking pass.

From Highway 69 (Southbound)

Continue on Highway 69 South from your location of origin to the intersection of Highway 69 and Highway 82. From the intersection of Highway 82 and Highway 69, continue on Highway 82 through Northport. Continue on Highway 82 East/McFarland Boulevard for approximately 3.9 miles. After crossing the Black Warrior River on the Woolsey Finnel Bridge, take the third exit after crossing the bridge onto Campus Drive. Continue down the hill at the exit. Turn left onto Campus Drive East. Continue on Campus Drive East for half a mile. At the four way stop, turn right onto Bryce Lawn Drive. Proceed down Bryce Lawn Drive until you reach Bryce Main. Enter the traffic circle and take the first exit into the Welcome Center Visitor Parking Lot. Parking is free but does require a parking pass to be displayed on the front dash of your vehicle. If you did not receive a parking pass, please check-in inside Bryce Main to receive a parking pass.

From Interstate 20/59 (Eastbound/Northbound from South Mississippi & Louisiana)

Take Exit 71B onto Interstate 359 North/Highway 69 North. Continue on Interstate 359 North/Highway 69 North for approximately four miles to downtown Tuscaloosa. Turn right onto University Boulevard. Continue 1.6 miles on University Boulevard. Turn left onto Hackberry Lane at the traffic signal at the intersection of University Boulevard and Hackberry Lane. Gallalee Hall will be on your left. Continue on Hackberry Lane for 0.4 miles. Turn right onto Campus Drive East at the first traffic signal. At the next four way stop, turn left onto Bryce Lawn Drive. Proceed down Bryce Lawn Drive until you reach Bryce Main. Enter the traffic circle and take the first exit into the Welcome Center Visitor Parking Lot. Parking is free but does require a parking pass to be displayed on the front dash of your vehicle. If you did not receive a parking pass, please check-in inside Bryce Main to receive a parking pass.

From Interstate 20/59 (Westbound/Southbound from Atlanta & Birmingham Airports)

Take Exit 73 to McFarland Blvd, keep right and merge onto McFarland Blvd/US 82 West. Continue on McFarland Blvd for three miles to the Campus Drive exit. Stay straight on the exit and continue down the hill to Campus Drive East. At the bottom of the hill, turn left onto Campus Drive East. Continue on Campus Drive East for half a mile. At the four way stop, turn right onto Bryce Lawn Drive. Proceed down Bryce Lawn Drive until you reach Bryce Main. Enter the traffic circle and take the first exit into the Welcome Center Visitor Parking Lot. Parking is free but does require a parking pass to be displayed on the front dash of your vehicle. If you did not receive a parking pass, please check-in inside Bryce Main to receive a parking pass.

From Highway 43 (Southbound from Northwest Alabama & North Mississippi)

Take US 43 South. Continue through the intersection of US 43 and Mitt Lary Road to US 82 East/McFarland Blvd. Turn left onto US 82 East/McFarland Blvd. Continue on Highway 82 East/McFarland Boulevard for 4.5 miles. After crossing the Black Warrior River on the Woolsey Finnel Bridge, take the third exit after crossing the bridge onto Campus Drive. Continue down the hill at the exit. Turn left onto Campus Drive East. Continue on Campus Drive East for half a mile. At the four way stop, turn right onto Bryce Lawn Drive. Proceed down Bryce Lawn Drive until you reach Bryce Main. Enter the traffic circle and take the first exit into the Welcome Center Visitor Parking Lot. Parking is free but does require a parking pass to be displayed on the front dash of your vehicle.

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