There are four institutions of higher learning in Alabama that are listed among Tier 1 national universities by U.S. News & World Report - The University of Alabama (UA), Auburn University (AU), the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), and The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH).
These four universities are also classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity: "The University of Alabama, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, and Auburn University as of February 2022.
Students are able to pursue a degree from Southeastern University while dually-enrolled at Highlands College in Birmingham.[82] Additionally, SEU has instructional sites at four churches in Birmingham, Cullman, Florence, and Huntsville.[83]
^Air University is a professional military education institution of the United States Air Force. It is unclear how many Air University students are based in Alabama.
^In addition to the main campus in Tanner, Calhoun Community College has locations in Huntsville and at the Limestone Correctional Facility.[10] It also offers programs, along with Athens State University, at the Alabama Center for the Arts in Decatur[15]
^Created in 1965 as a merger of two institutions founded in 1947 and 1963[22]
^Columbia Southern University is an online-only institution. It is unclear how many students are based in Alabama.
^The Community College of the Air Force enrolls over 370,000 students at sites in 36 states, the District of Columbia, and six foreign locations. It is unclear how many are located in Alabama.[27]
^Founded in 1972 in Texas, moved to Alabama in 1979[27]
^The Community College of the Air Force is accredited by SACS through its parent organization, Air University.[28]
^In addition to the main campus in Enterprise, Enterprise State has two Alabama Aviation College locations in Andalusia and Ozark
^In addition to the main campus in Montgomery, Faulkner University has instructional sites in Hoover, Huntsville, and Mobile.[30]
^Gadsden State has campus locations in Gadsden and Anniston, and also has an instructional site in Centre.[10]
^Created in 1985 as a merger of three institutions founded in 1925, 1960, and 1965[32]
^All students at J.F. Ingram State Technical College are incarcerated adults
^"Member, Candidate and Applicant List"(PDF). Commission on Colleges, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. January 2011. Archived from the original(PDF) on July 22, 2011. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
^"Membership Directory"(PDF). Council on Operational Education. November 2010. Archived from the original(PDF) on July 25, 2011. Retrieved August 5, 2011.
^Sloan-Ragland, Elizabeth; Jerome Saintjones (November 22, 2010). "Alabama A&M University (AAMU)". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Auburn University. Archived from the original on September 14, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
^Brooks, F. Erik (June 7, 2011). "Alabama State University (ASU)". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Auburn University. Archived from the original on November 5, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
^Olliff, Martin T. (July 12, 2011). "Auburn University (AU)". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Auburn University. Archived from the original on July 26, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
^"History". Bevill State Community College. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
^"History". Archived from the original on 2020-10-01. Retrieved 2020-08-16.
^Jordan, Herb (November 30, 2010). "Bishop State Community College (BSCC)". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Auburn University. Archived from the original on November 5, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
^Maloney, Christopher (June 14, 2011). "Enterprise State Community College". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Auburn University. Archived from the original on November 5, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
^ abSmith-Foster, Kay (March 29, 2011). "Gadsden State Community College". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Auburn University. Archived from the original on November 5, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
^"History". H. Councill Trenholm State Technical College. Archived from the original on July 26, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
^"History". Heritage Christian University. Archived from the original on September 2, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
^"History". Archived from the original on July 20, 2021. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
^Newton, Merlin (October 27, 2009). "Huntingdon College". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Auburn University. Archived from the original on April 6, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
^"About Us". Huntsville Bible College. Archived from the original on March 27, 2012. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
^Dubey, Marty (April 20, 2011). "J. F. Drake State Technical College". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Auburn University. Archived from the original on November 5, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
^"Institutional History"(PDF). 2009–2010 General Catalog. J. F. Ingram State Technical College. Archived from the original(PDF) on March 27, 2012. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
^Finley, Angie Ayers (July 26, 2010). "Jacksonville State University (JSU)". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Auburn University. Archived from the original on November 5, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
^"A Storied Past, A Promising Future"(PDF). Lawson State Community College 2009 President's Annual Report. Lawson State Community College. p. 4. Archived(PDF) from the original on October 4, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
^LeMaire, Renée (October 7, 2010). "Lurleen B. Wallace Community College". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Auburn University. Archived from the original on November 5, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
^"About MMI". Marion Military Institute. Archived from the original on August 15, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
^Drezner, Noah D. (February 18, 2010). "Miles College". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Auburn University. Archived from the original on November 3, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
^ ab"History of NW–SCC". Northwest–Shoals Community College. Archived from the original on October 1, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
^Lundy-Wagner, Valerie (December 2, 2009). "Oakwood University". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Auburn University. Archived from the original on November 5, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
^Stuart, Alesia K. (July 18, 2011). "Reid State Technical College". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Auburn University. Archived from the original on November 5, 2011. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
^Flynt, Sean (April 26, 2011). "Samford University". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Auburn University. Archived from the original on November 5, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
^Fallin, Jr., Wilson (April 7, 2011). "Selma University". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Auburn University. Archived from the original on November 3, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
^ ab"Campus History". Shelton State Community College. Archived from the original on July 5, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
^"History". Snead State Community College. Archived from the original on July 26, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
^Padgett, Charles Stephen (July 23, 2010). "Spring Hill College". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Auburn University. Archived from the original on September 12, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
^DuPree, Nancy; Robert DuPree (April 13, 2010). "Stillman College". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Auburn University. Archived from the original on November 5, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
^Gary, Shannon (March 16, 2011). "Talladega College". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Auburn University. Archived from the original on November 5, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
^Kaylor, Jr., Noel Harold (July 23, 2010). "Troy University". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Auburn University. Archived from the original on November 5, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
^Gary, Shannon (April 13, 2011). "Tuskegee University". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Auburn University. Archived from the original on September 6, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
^"History". United States Sports Academy. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
^Center, Jr., Clark E. (January 24, 2011). "University of Alabama (UA)". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Auburn University. Archived from the original on July 26, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
^"History". University of Alabama in Huntsville Website. University of Alabama in Huntsville. Archived from the original on May 31, 2023. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
^Dean, Kathy (April 8, 2010). "University of Mobile". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Auburn University. Archived from the original on September 14, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
^Arneson, Rosemary H. (May 16, 2011). "University of Montevallo". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Auburn University. Archived from the original on November 5, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
^Lindley, Alex (January 25, 2011). "University of North Alabama (UNA)". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Auburn University. Archived from the original on November 5, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
^Kirkland, Scotty E. (May 9, 2011). "University of South Alabama (USA)". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Auburn University. Archived from the original on November 5, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
^Jones, Tina Naremore (December 10, 2009). "University of West Alabama (UWA)". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Auburn University. Archived from the original on November 5, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
^Buchanan, Sally (May 12, 2010). "George C. Wallace Community College". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Auburn University. Archived from the original on November 5, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
^"History". Wallace Community College Selma. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
^Holmes, Kristen (March 22, 2011). "Wallace State Community College". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Auburn University. Archived from the original on November 5, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
^"Not found". Columbia College. Archived from the original on 2021-10-22. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
^Garrison, Greg (February 21, 1997). "New lease on life: Students returning to Payne". The Birmingham News. p. 1H.
^Wells, Elizabeth Crabtree (November 29, 2010). "Judson College". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Auburn University. Archived from the original on November 5, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
^Waldrep, B. Dwain (July 23, 2010). "Southeastern Bible College". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Auburn University. Archived from the original on November 5, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
^"About". Virginia College. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
^Hubbs, G. Ward (April 2, 2010). "Birmingham–Southern College (BSC)". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Auburn University. Archived from the original on November 5, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.