Alabama can be found in the Southern United States at the tail end of the Appalachian Mountains. It is bordered by Georgia, Tennessee, and Mississippi, and the Gulf of Mexico to the south. The capital of Alabama is Montgomery, but the largest city is Birmingham. If you are hoping to attend college in the Cotton State, here are the safest colleges to consider.
For the sake of this list , a “college” is considered any accredited public or private not-for-profit institution that offers four-year degree programs. Campus crime stats, graduation rates, and student retention rates were taken from U.S. Department of Education annual reports. Campus crime rates are based on the number of crimes per 1,000 residents.
Get the Badge!
Did Your College Make the List? Click here to get the badge and display it on your website!
#1 University of Mobile
Founded in 1961, the University of Mobile is a private Christian university in Alabama. Students at the University of Mobile enjoy a 14:1 student to faculty ratio. For students who enjoy the outdoors, the University of Mobile is less than an hour from the beach. As the safest school in Alabama, the campus crime rate is 0 per 1000.
#2 Samford University
Located in Birmingham, Alabama, Samford University was founded as Howard College in 1841. Today, the school provides 30 different undergraduate and graduate degree programs. This school’s mission is rooted in Christian values. The acceptance rate at Samford University is 77%, and the campus crime rate is 0 per 1000.
#3 University of West Alabama
Located in Livingston, Alabama, the University of West Alabama was founded in 1835 as Livingston Female Academy. The school became the University of West Alabama in 1995 as a representation of the school’s mission to reach the regional community. At the University of West Alabama, the campus crime rate is 0 per 1000.
#4 University of Alabama – Birmingham
The University of Alabama Birmingham is both a research university and an academic medical center. It is one of three schools in the University of Alabama system. The school has an 87% acceptance rate, and the campus crime rate here is 0 per 1000.
#5 University of Montevallo
The University of Montevallo is a public liberal arts college in Montevallo, Alabama. This institution was founded in 1896. For those interested, the school offers a 16:1 student to faculty ratio. At the University of Montevallo, the acceptance rate is 87%, and the campus crime rate is 0 per 1000.
#6 Birmingham-Southern College
Founded in 1856, Birmingham-Southern College is a private liberal arts college. This school boasts a chapter of Phi Betta Kappa, which is one of the oldest liberal arts honor societies in the United States. The college has relatively small classes with a 16 student average. The campus crime rate at Birmingham-Southern College is 0 per 1000.
#7 Troy University
Founded in 1887 as Troy State Normal School, the school was named Troy University in 2005. Troy offers five different degree programs for undergraduates, but also offers master’s and doctoral level programs for students looking to continue there studies. The campus crime rate here is 0 per 1000.
#8 Auburn University
Founded in 1856, Auburn University offers more than 140 different majors. The school has an 18:1 student to faculty ratio. Auburn students are also only an hour from Montgomery, Alabama and less than two hours from Atlanta, GA. As one of the safest colleges in Alabama, the campus crime rate here is 0 per 1000.
#9 Oakwood University
Oakwood University is located in Huntsville, Alabama, and it is run by Seventh-day Adventist Church. This school is a historically black university that is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to offer both undergraduate and graduate programs. The campus crime rate is 2 per 1000.
#10 University of Alabama – Huntsville
The University of Alabama Huntsville was founded in 1950, and it is part of the University of Alabama system. For students hoping to get into the University of Alabama Huntsville, the school has an 81% acceptance rate, while the campus crime rate is 0 per 1000.
#11 University of Alabama
Located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the University of Alabama has 12 colleges and schools with over 80 undergraduate programs. The University of Alabama is one of three schools in the University of Alabama system, and it was founded in 1831. At the University of Alabama, the campus crime rate is 0 per 1000.
#12 Stillman College
Another college in Tuscaloosa, Stillman College was founded in 1876. This college is a historically black liberal arts institute. For students looking to attend Stillman College, it offers 14 different majors across 13 fields of study. The campus crime rate at Stillman College is 0 per 1000.
#13 University of North Alabama
The University of North Alabama is located in Florence, Alabama. The school was founded in 1830, which makes it the oldest four-year public university in Alabama. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to offer undergraduate and graduate programs. The campus crime rate is 0 per 1000.
#14 University of South Alabama
Located in Mobile, Alabama, the University of South Alabama was founded in 1963. The school has 100 degree options for undergraduates, graduates, and doctoral level students. The school’s programs include a medical school that is supported by the state. The campus crime rate here is 0 per 1000.
#15 Spring Hill College
Spring Hill College is a Jesuit college in Mobile, Alabama. The school was established in 1830, which makes it the third oldest Jesuit college in the United States. For students who enjoy the outdoors, Spring Hill College is located next to the Mobile Bay which is part of the Gulf Coast. The campus crime rate is 2 per 1000.
#16 Jacksonville State University
Jacksonville State University is a public university in Jacksonville, Alabama. It was founded in 1883. For those trying to get into Jacksonville State, the school has an 83% acceptance rate, while the campus crime rate is low at 0 per 1000.
#17 Alabama A&M University
Founded in 1875, Alabama A&M University is a historically black college located in Huntsville, Alabama. The campus has a low crime rate at 1 per 1000 people, and the student to faculty ratio is 20:1. Alabama A&M University has an acceptance rate of 90%.
#18 Talladega College
Talladega College is a private liberal arts college located in Talladega, Alabama. The school was founded in 1867 as a historically black college. It has a high graduation rate at 82.4% after six years, which shows that the school pushes students to graduate. The campus crime rate at Talladega College is 3 per 1000.
#19 Tuskegee University
Established in 1881, Tusskegee University is a private historically black college in Tuskegee, Alabama. The school was founded by Booker T. Washington, and it is accredited through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to provide both undergraduate and graduate degrees. The campus crime rate is 1 per 1000.
#20 Miles College
A historically black college in Fairfield, Alabama, Miles College is a private institute that was established in 1898. The college is affiliated with the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. For students looking for smaller class sizes, the student to teacher ratio here is 14:1. The campus crime rate here is 0 per 1000.
