Higher Education in Alabama
Alabama
has warmth and sunshine for the greater part of the year. Spring arrives
early, with the weather warming to the 60s daily by March. Summer days
average in the low 80s, with periods of 90 and above. Sweaters or jackets
will usually keep off the chill through November. Prolonged spells of
severely cold weather are not frequent during the winter. Snow is a rarity
except in higher altitudes of north Alabama.
HIGHER EDUCATION IN ALABAMA
Alabama’s higher education resources include diverse institutions,
public and private, spread geographically throughout the state: 15 public
universities, 1 public upper-division university, 21 public community
colleges, 5 public technical colleges, 15 private universities and colleges,
1 private junior college, and more than 200 proprietary institutions.
For specific information each of the institutions, see the Alabama Commission
on Higher Education’s website at www.ache.state.al.us under the
category “Directory of Colleges and Universities” which includes
a map of institutions and a direct link to contact information for each
public and private institution.
Alabama’s higher education institutions offer degrees ranging from certificates to doctorates to first professional degrees. Program offerings for public institutions are consistent with instructional role statements approved by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education. Although enrollment in higher education in Alabama is predominantly public, private institutions that include traditional two-year and four-year colleges, many of which are church-related, as well as proprietary institutions offering specialized programs of postsecondary teaching, play a significant role.
STATE ATTRACTIONS
The state welcomes students from around the country and offers services
to accommodate a smooth transition to Alabama such as immigration services,
medical services, and research training. Many institutions offer specialized
programs for international students to improve understanding of foreign
cultures and promote relationships between people of different cultures
and promote diversity and interaction with American students.
Alabama continues to attract automotive industrialists such as Hyundai, Mercedes Benz, and Boeing. As the home of the Civil Rights Movement, numerous historical tours are available and an array of activities such as motor car racing, camping, and sunny beaches on the Gulf of Mexico. For information on attractions and tours: www.touralabama.org.
