Alabama’s largest university has once again broken an enrollment record.
The University of Alabama enrolled 42,360 students for fall 2025, a 3.7% increase from last year.
Officials say this year’s numbers include an increase in Alabama natives headed to Tuscaloosa. 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.
“We have a very strong recruiter base here in the state of Alabama,” McLendon told AL.com. “We also try to, as best we can, get to all of the high schools within the state of Alabama that will let us visit.”
The university has had high out-of-state enrollment since 2014. This year, in-state enrollment increased 4%. Out-of-state enrollment decreased by about 2%, according to data from the university’s Office of Institutional Research and Advancement.
McLendon said a partnership with the Small Town and Rural Student (STARS) College Network allows for students in rural communities to learn about attending UA. Another recent add is the Randall Welcome Center, which opened in 2024.
Read more at AL.com.
