Alabama is one of only three states that bars undocumented students from public colleges, shutting many out of higher education. Advocates warn the state's immigration restrictions are deepening fear and narrowing opportunities for thousands of teens.

The University of Alabama enrolled 42,360 students for fall 2025, a 3.7% increase from last year. Recruiting in-state students has become a priority over the last several years, according to Matthew McLendon, UA's associate vice president and executive director of enrollment management.

Auburn University stands out with a 25% enrollment increase, fueled in part by rising interest from students beyond Alabama's borders.

Talladega College, one of the oldest historically Black colleges in Alabama, recently got a loan from Hope Federal Credit Union, based in Mississippi. The college has had financial difficulties for at least a year, but leaders say there's a bright path forward.

Fewer than 30% of Alabama veterans have a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. However, veterans program staff at some colleges say they have seen an uptick in applicants, and some schools have created specialized programs in hopes of attracting more service members.

Alabama college and university enrollment is trending upward again this year, according to preliminary data from the Alabama Commission on Higher Education. University enrollment increased 2.4% in 2024 from last year and community college enrollment went up 12.7%. And an increasing number of Alabama high school students are attending school in-state. One of the state's […]

As freshmen thumbed through dorm posters and shopped for school supplies at the University of Alabama's student center during the first week of school, other spaces in the building were noticeably empty.