University of Alabama at Birmingham

Gaining admission to the University of Alabama at Birmingham is relatively accessible, while its overall standing has improved steadily over the past decade. In the 2027 U.S. News rankings, the university placed 137th among national universities, rising from 159th in 2018. For the 2025 admissions cycle, the university accepted 88.2% of its applicants, an acceptance rate that is higher than 77% of peer schools in its comparison group of 30 similarly ranked public research universities. This open admission profile means that most qualified applicants can expect an offer of admission. At the same time, the yield rate stood at 20.1%, which is higher than 47% of peer schools in the same group. Because roughly one in five admitted students decides to enroll, the institution experiences standard matriculation pull typical of large regional public universities. For prospective applicants, these figures confirm that admissions selectivity is modest, making the school an accessible target for candidates seeking a nationally ranked public research institution.

Undergraduate applicants presenting standardized test scores generally possess solid academic credentials, particularly in quantitative subjects. For the 2025 admitted class, the university's median SAT composite score was 1340, which is higher than 92% of peer schools across 25 reporting public research universities with similar rankings. Most enrolled students who tested submitted the ACT rather than the SAT, where the middle 50% composite score spanned from 23 to 30. For prospective international candidates evaluating their competitiveness, unofficial applicant cases collected by Forward Pathway provide a helpful reference point. In those unofficial cases, admitted students posted a median unweighted GPA of 3.8 and a median SAT score of 1290. These ranges show that while general admission remains broadly accessible, admitted students who submit scores typically maintain above-average high school marks and test performance that exceeds the median of comparable public institutions.

Health sciences represent the preeminent academic strength at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, closely aligning top rankings with student enrollments. In U.S. News program rankings, the graduate health care management program ranked 1st in 2026, the medical school placed 2nd in both primary care and research, and the undergraduate nursing school ranked 6th in 2027. Bachelor's degree conferrals are moderately concentrated, with the top three majors accounting for 27.4% of all bachelor's degrees awarded in 2025. Registered Nursing was the single largest undergraduate program, graduating 372 students, showing that the university's largest undergraduate major is indeed its highest-ranked offering. Other leading fields include general psychology and biomedical sciences. Post-graduation compensation is especially strong in technical and health disciplines: according to 2023 earnings data, bachelor's degree recipients in Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering achieved median earnings of $83,188 within one year of graduating, followed closely by nursing graduates.

The student population at the University of Alabama at Birmingham totaled 20,905 in 2025, characterized by a substantial post-baccalaureate presence and strong racial diversity. Graduate students constituted the single largest division on campus, totaling 8,946 students, or 42.8% of the total student body. Across all divisions, female students formed a clear majority, representing more than three-fifths of both the undergraduate and graduate populations. White students formed the largest racial category across academic levels, followed by Black students, who comprised nearly one-third of the undergraduate freshman class. Asian students represented 11.2% of new freshmen and 6.4% of graduate students. International representation is heavily weighted toward advanced degree programs, with 1,512 international graduate students contrasting with a comparatively smaller presence among incoming undergraduates.

Undergraduate and graduate populations at the University of Alabama at Birmingham reflect distinctly separate age demographics. Among the university's 11,959 undergraduates in 2025, student life was centered around traditional university ages. Students aged 20 to 21 constituted the largest undergraduate group at 35.6%, followed by those aged 18 to 19 at 31%, creating a campus community centered on young adults. In contrast, the graduate division comprised predominantly working-age professionals. Students aged 25 to 29 formed the largest graduate segment at 34.8%, while those aged 22 to 24 made up the second-largest share, followed by older adult learners.

International student enrollment at the University of Alabama at Birmingham varies sharply between academic levels, with representation heavily concentrated in advanced degree programs. In 2025, undergraduate international students accounted for 3% of all undergraduates, a share higher than 57% of peer schools among 30 similarly ranked public research universities. At the graduate level, international enrollment has expanded markedly, reaching 16.9% of all graduate students in 2025. This divide is equally visible among graduating cohorts. International students earned only a minor fraction of bachelor's degrees, where popular fields like registered nursing and general psychology had minimal overseas enrollment. In contrast, international master's degree recipients were concentrated within technical specializations. In the master's program for Computer and Information Sciences, international students made up 95.8% of graduates in 2025. International master's students also maintained notable representation in general public health and biomedical sciences, while remaining minimal in clinical nursing tracks.

Families exploring academic opportunities near the University of Alabama at Birmingham can consider several notable regional institutions within driving distance. Located just 2.9 kilometers away, Samford University is a private national university ranked 191 in the 2027 U.S. News rankings. About 47.6 kilometers to the southwest in Tuscaloosa, The University of Alabama is the state's flagship public campus, ranked 156 among national universities. To the north, University of Alabama in Huntsville sits 84.7 kilometers away and holds rank 262. Another prominent public option in the state is Auburn University, located 98.4 kilometers southeast and ranked 100 nationally. These surrounding options provide applicants with a spectrum of mid-sized and large public research universities as well as private institutions across central and northern Alabama.

Campus safety reporting at the University of Alabama at Birmingham shows an environment primarily affected by alcohol violations and property offenses. Forward Pathway's weighted crime rate per 1,000 students was 13.9 in 2025, having risen over recent years. Over the three-year span from 2023 to 2025, the most common recorded infractions were disciplinary referrals for alcohol violations, which totaled 216 incidents. Property crime was also notable during this period, led by 120 recorded cases of motor vehicle theft. Other campus incidents during those years included drug-related arrests, dating violence offenses, and general larceny. For prospective students and families assessing residential safety, these indicators demonstrate that disciplinary enforcement regarding substance policies and vehicle security in parking facilities represent the main safety considerations on urban campus grounds.