Economic Impact

The University of Alabama takes great pride in the impact we make on the state of Alabama and our nation.
UA’s mission to enhance lives through teaching, research, and service remains paramount in our quest to advance educational, socioeconomic, and scientific progress.
Our entire campus community understands that the work we do directly impacts the lives of Alabamians and that is a responsibility we do not take lightly. The dedication of our faculty and staff is underscored by the success of our students and alumni.
As our state and country continue to experience change, one thing remains consistent – UA’s impact is strong, and that impact is growing. In 2021, UA enrolled the largest freshman class in the University’s history; announced record-breaking Graduate School enrollment; and launched The Rising Tide Capital Campaign, the largest fundraising campaign in state history. These were just a few of our major accomplishments over the last year.
This report presents an overview of the impact The University of Alabama has made on the state of Alabama and its individual counties. We remain appreciative of our elected officials, community and industry partners, and the citizens we serve for their continued support. I have no doubt that generations of Alabamians will be positively impacted by our collective efforts for years to come.
Sincerely,
Stuart R. Bell
President, The University of Alabama
The mission of the University of Alabama is to advance the intellectual and social condition of the people and state of Alabama through quality programs of teaching, research and service. UA’s significant contributions to economic, academic, and community development are a direct result of the work performed by students, faculty, and staff daily.
The past year presented unique challenges to our community, state, and nation, but the University remained open and impactful throughout the pandemic. University operations and instruction remained consistent. On-campus classes resumed in Fall 2020 and UA is believed to be the first university to resume in-person commencement exercises. The University avoided furloughs and cuts, while also instituting unique training opportunities for our faculty and staff.
BY THE NUMBERS
2.9B
Economic Impact Statewide
During the 2018-2019 academic year, the University received $169.7 million in state appropriated funds. This translated into nearly $2.973 billion in impact or $17.51 of impact per dollar of appropriation. The state received a 12.5 percent annual rate of return on investment (ROI) for its appropriation.
16
Rhodes Scholars
37
NSF Career Awards
38K+
students enrolled (Fall 2021)
R1
Very High Research Activity Status
The University of Alabama earned a highly coveted research distinction. UA recently achieved Doctoral Universities – Very High Research Activity status from Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. This distinction ranks The University of Alabama as one of the best research schools in the U.S.
940
National Merit Scholars Currently Enrolled
The University of Alabama is a national leader in enrollment of National Merit Scholars. In order to qualify to be a National Merit Scholar, students must score among the very top of those taking the Preliminary SAT college entrance exam, complete an application process, and maintain a high grade-point average in high school.