Alabama State University is located on 172 acres in historic Montgomery, Alabama. On its campus, modern and traditional buildings blend with historic landmarks and lush landscaping. Alabama State University online degree programs offer increased convenience to add some modernity to the history that surrounds you.
Within walking distance are the state capital, state government complex, and downtown Montgomery. Downtown businesses, art galleries, state archives, museums, historical sites, and the entertainment district are all accessible to students.
Alabama State University History and Mission
Alabama State University’s roots took hold in 1867 when nine freed slaves opened the Lincoln School, a school for African-Americans who had been denied their right to education prior to the Civil War. Working together with leaders of African-American churches, white missionaries from the North, and Marion County, Alabama, the “Marion Nine” raised $500 and opened the school with pride.
Over time, the Lincoln School evolved into the “nation’s first state-sponsored liberal arts institution for the higher education of blacks” and eventually became Alabama State University. The school proudly boasts about its past and honors it with historical landmarks, sites, and storytelling.
Alabama State University’s mission is to provide comprehensive, student-centered education to a diverse student body. It is committed to global excellence in teaching, research, and service.
To fulfill its mission, ASU:
- Fosters critical though
- Encourages artistic creativity
- Develops professional competence
- Promotes responsible citizenship in its students
- Adds to the academic and experiential bodies of knowledge and enhances quality of life through research and discovery
- Cultivates global citizenship through thoughtful (meaningful, purposeful, conscientious, intentional) and engaging public service
What Makes Alabama State University Unique?
Consistent with honoring its past, Alabama State University’s campus boasts many historical landmarks:
- The Equinox, a massive outdoor sculpture that pays homage to African-Americans’ contributions to the United States’ development. Built in 1974, it continues to be one of Montgomery’s largest outdoor sculptures.
- The Bell Tower, a prominent symbol of Alabama State University. Built in 1928, Its bell chimes mark the hours of the day and accompany special occasions. The tower sits upon the University’s oldest dormitory, Bibb Graves Hall and can be seen from a distance.
- The Memorial Bell, an artifact that dates back to the 1880s when the Lincoln School was located in Marion, Alabama. Its chime marks just the most special of occasions on campus.
- The Rosa Parks Monument, which proudly stands near the main entrance to Alabama State University. It nods to Rosa L. Parks, considered by many the mother of the modern civil rights movement. Inscribed at its base is a cherished reminder: “She sat down so we could stand up.”
In addition to memorializing important aspects of U.S. history, Alabama State University devotes resources to keeping buildings and facilities new and vibrant. The school recently added numerous new campus buildings, including:
- a new football stadium
- a student services center
- two expansive residency halls
- a baseball field
- a softball fiend
- and a football complex
In addition, the school renovated and added square footage to its library and media facility. In short, the University strives to provide quality places to learn, study, and engage in ASU recreation and activity, including through Alabama State University online.
Alabama State University Majors
Alabama State University offers nearly 50 undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs on campus and through Alabama University Online degrees. High demand programs such as health sciences and international business are offered alongside core programs such as education, performing arts, technology, and others.
The most popular majors at ASU are Criminal Justice/Safety Studies, Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions, Speech Communication and Rhetoric, Biology and Biological Sciences, Social Work, and others.i
The student-faculty ratio at ASU is 17:1.
Alabama State University Acceptance Rate and Enrollment
In fall 2016, 9,053 prospective students applied to Alabama State University. The school accepted 46 percent of applicants of which 28 percent enrolled. U.S. News ranks Alabama State University as “less selective.”ii
In fall 2016, Alabama State University had 5,318 enrolled students. Of those students, 4,727 were enrolled in undergraduate programs and 591 were enrolled in graduate programs. Ninety-two percent of its undergraduate students attended school fulltime; 8 percent attended part-time.
The majority of undergraduate students—90 percent—were age 24 or younger. Of the school’s graduate students, 55 percent of students attended school full-time and 45 percent attended school part-time. Thirteen percent of graduate students enrolled entirely in online education through Alabama State University online classes. Just six percent of undergraduate students attended fullt time online courses through Alabama State University online.iii
Alabama State University Online Admissions and Requirements
Undergraduate Admissions
To apply for admissions, high school students must submit an application, an application fee, transcripts, and ACT/SAT scores. ASU has two deadlines per academic year to apply. The GPA requirement for admissions is correlate with students’ test scores—the higher the GPA, the lower the requirement for test scores. Conversely, the higher the test scores, the lower the requirement for GPA.
International students and students who hold a GED might have to meet additional requirements.
Graduate Admissions
Graduate students must hold a bachelors degree to apply for admissions. Additionally, they must submit an application, an application fee, GRE/MAT scores when necessary, official transcripts, three professional letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose.
Applicants might have to meet additional requirements depending on their program. The graduate school has three application deadlines throughout the year.
International students might have to meet additional requirements.
Alabama State University Tuition
During the 2016-2017 school year, Alabama State University charged $9,220 annually for in-state undergraduate tuition. It billed its out-of-state students $16,156 per year.
Books and supplies cost students an estimated $1,600 that same school year. Between the 2015 and 2016 school years, tuition rates for in-state and out-of-state students raised between three and six percent.iii
Including tuition, books and supplies, and room and board, in-state undergraduate students spent an estimated $19,634 to live on-campus in the 2016-2017 school year and $22,368 to live off-campus. Meanwhile, out-of-state students spent $26,570 to live on-campus and $29,304 to live off-campus.iii
In-state graduate students paid $6,174 per academic year in 2016-2017 while out-of-state graduate students paid $12,348. For both in-state and out-of-state graduate students, fees cost $2,284.iii
Financial Aid for Alabama State University Students
Of all undergraduate students at Alabama State University, 4,473, or 94 percent, received grant or scholarship aid during the 2015-2016 school year. Of those students, 3,723 received Pell Grants, which are federal grants. That same year, 3,865 undergraduate students, or 81 percent, received federal student loans. On average, undergraduate students received $7,751 in scholarship or grant money and $9,489 in federal student loan aid.iii
Alabama State University Rankings
U.S. News ranks Alabama State University #38 (tied) in Historically Black Colleges and Universities.iv Alabama State University online programs tied for a ranking of #193 in Best Online Graduate Education Programs.v Within Alabama State University’s graduate school, its Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy programs were ranked #142 and #182 respectively.vi
Alabama State University’s sports participate in the NCAA Division I in the Southwest Athletic Conference. Its football team participates in the Football Championship Subdivision.
Alabama State University Accreditation
Alabama State University is regionally accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award bachelors, masters, doctorate, and education specialist degrees. It holds this accreditation at an institutional level, and has since 1966.
The school also has programmatic accreditation from the following 12 institutions:
- The Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs
- National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
- National Association of Schools of Music
- National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification
- Council on Social Work Education
- Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education
- Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education
- Commission on Physical Therapy Education
- Council on Rehabilitation Education, Inc.
- National Association of School of Theatre
- National Association of Schools of Arts and Design
- Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
The Alabama State Department of Education accepts Alabama State University’s programs and credits for teacher certification.
i https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/alabama-state-university-1005/academics | ii https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/alabama-state-university-1005/academics | iii https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=100724 | iv https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/alabama-state-university-1005/overall-rankings | v https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/alabama-state-university-100724 | vi https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/alabama-state-university-100724/overall-rankings |
