2024 Hardest Colleges to Get Into in Alabama

If you're looking for an academically rigorous school in the Yellowhammer State, find out the hardest colleges to get into in Alabama.

2024 Hardest Colleges to Get Into in Alabama
Adam Jones

The “Heart of Dixie” is home to more than 30 four-year public and private, not-for-profit colleges that award, at a minimum, bachelor’s degrees. Indeed, Alabama ranks among the states with the most colleges in the country. With so many colleges to choose from in Alabama, it can be very difficult to decide on which schools to apply to. 

While there are different criteria when researching colleges that you should consider, if you have a strong academic record in high school as well as other critical factors going for you, such as good SAT or ACT scores, participation in extracurricular activities, and demonstrated leadership skills, then you might want to apply to more selective colleges in Alabama. And out of Alabama’s vast number of schools, there are several colleges and universities that are very competitive in their acceptance rates due to their well-established academic rigor and programs.

Thus, in order to find out the hardest colleges to get into in Alabama, BrokeScholar analyzed all the schools in the state that are four-year institutions, including both public colleges and private, not for-profit colleges, that award bachelor’s degrees or higher. Sourcing the latest data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) as well as from individual college websites, we analyzed and ranked all colleges in Alabama in terms of how difficult they are to gain acceptance to. 

Read on to find out the answer to what are the hardest colleges to get into in Alabama.

Table of Contents

What Are the Hardest Colleges to Get into in Alabama?

The top-10 list of the hardest colleges to get into in Alabama is an even mix of private, not-for-profit colleges and public colleges. The hardest college to get into in Alabama has an undergraduate acceptance rate of only 30%. It’s also a very famous HBCU college.

Of the top-10 hardest colleges to get into in Alabama, the one with the highest admission rate is still only 69%, well below the average undergraduate acceptance rate for Alabama as a whole.

Below you’ll find a list of the 10 hardest colleges to get into in Alabama, listed in order of lowest acceptance rate to highest acceptance rate. Also included in the breakdown below are the costs of tuition and required fees (though required fees do not include room and board).

College

Undergraduate Acceptance Rate

Percent Admitted Who Enrolled

Undergraduate Population

In-State Tuition and Required Fees

Out-of-State Tuition and Required Fees

Tuskegee University

30%

15%

2,100

$22,614

$22,614

Auburn University

44%

24%

25,379

$12,176

$32,960

Birmingham-Southern College

57%

14%

975

$21,250

$21,250

University of Montevallo

60%

59%

2,172

$13,710

$26,730

Stillman College

65%

13%

744

$11,392

$11,392

University of South Alabama

65%

20%

8,480

$9,116

$17,732

Huntingdon College

66%

15%

812

$28,350

$28,350

Alabama A&M University

68%

28%

5,206

$10,024

$18,634

Oakwood University

68%

38%

1,431

$20,040

$20,040

University of West Alabama

69%

14%

2,427

$10,990

$20,090

Although Tuskegee University tops the list of the hardest colleges to get into in Alabama, No. 2 Auburn University beats it in terms of graduation rate: 67% versus 81%, respectively. Interestingly, the school with the highest rate of those admitted who then enrolled is University of Montevallo: Of the 60% of applicants admitted, a full 59% proceeded to attend the college.

The Bottom Line on the Hardest Colleges to Get Into in Alabama

In the realm of higher education, the prestige and competitiveness of Alabama's top institutions can't be understated. Earning a spot in one of these esteemed colleges is a testament to a student's dedication, academic prowess, and extracurricular achievements. However, once that acceptance letter is in hand, the reality of tuition, room and board, and other expenses can become a daunting prospect for many families. This underscores the vital importance of scholarships in today's educational landscape. Scholarships not only provide the financial relief many students need, but they also recognize and reward academic and personal accomplishments.

Moreover, in an era where every penny counts, student discounts offer another avenue to ease the burden of college costs. From textbooks to transportation and from dining to digital services, student discounts can significantly reduce the out-of-pocket expenses that quickly add up. As students aspire to join the ranks of Alabama's hardest colleges to get into, it's essential they also arm themselves with the knowledge of financial aid and discounts available. By combining academic ambition with financial savvy, students can truly make the most of their college experience in Alabama.

Andrew DePietro

Author: Andrew DePietro

Senior Researcher, and Content Strategist

Andrew DePietro is a finance writer covering topics such as entrepreneurship, investing, real estate and college for BrokeScholar, Forbes, CreditKarma, and more.