Alabama · Getting in
Most selective colleges in Alabama
The short answer
The most selective four-year colleges in Alabama are University of West Alabama (43% admitted), Oakwood University (45% admitted) and Auburn University (47% admitted), by acceptance rate.
Selective here means a low acceptance rate: the share of applicants the college admitted. A low rate says how many people a college turns away, not how good a fit it is for you. Each row also shows the average price after grants.
The list (11 of 22)
Four-year colleges in Alabama with 500 or more undergraduates, lowest acceptance rate first. The list shows 11 of the 22 colleges with an acceptance rate on file. Rates come from IPEDS (fall 2024) for 9 colleges and each college's own Common Data Set (fall 2025) for 2 colleges.
- University of West Alabama 43% admitted Livingston, AL · Average price after grants: $11,531 a year in-state, about $21,281 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Oakwood University 45% admitted Huntsville, AL · Average price after grants: $26,827 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Auburn University 47% admitted Auburn, AL · Average price after grants: $25,424 a year in-state, about $48,128 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
- Tuskegee University 49% admitted Tuskegee, AL · Average price after grants: $40,141 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- University of Montevallo 54% admitted Montevallo, AL · Average price after grants: $18,760 a year in-state, about $32,230 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Alabama A&M University 58% admitted Normal, AL · Average price after grants: $18,255 a year in-state, about $27,015 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Stillman College 62% admitted Tuscaloosa, AL · Average price after grants: $14,781 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- University of Alabama in Huntsville 69% admitted Huntsville, AL · Average price after grants: $22,758 a year in-state, about $37,448 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Huntingdon College 70% admitted Montgomery, AL · Average price after grants: $21,852 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- University of South Alabama 71% admitted Mobile, AL · Average price after grants: $16,801 a year in-state, about $25,777 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- The University of Alabama 71% admitted Tuscaloosa, AL · Average price after grants: $20,202 a year in-state, about $43,060 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
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What are the most selective colleges in Alabama?
The most selective four-year colleges in Alabama are University of West Alabama (43% admitted), Oakwood University (45% admitted) and Auburn University (47% admitted), by acceptance rate.
How many colleges on this list admit fewer than half of applicants?
4 of the 11 colleges listed admitted fewer than half of their applicants.
How recent are these acceptance rates?
Each row shows its year. Rates come from IPEDS, the federal college survey, for students who applied for fall 2024, or from the college's own Common Data Set for fall 2025 where that is newer.
Numbers change each year when colleges and the Department of Education publish new data. Confirm costs and admission rules with the college before you apply.