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Birmingham, AlabamaPhoto: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0
Colleges in and near Birmingham

Birmingham is home to five colleges, with about 24,000 students on campus

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (15,353 students on campus) and Jefferson State Community College (5,747) are inside the city, and Samford University (5,725) is 4.4 miles from the center, just over the line in Homewood. About 9% of Birmingham’s residents are enrolled in college, above Alabama (6%).

University of Alabama at BirminghamSamford UniversityLawson State Community CollegeJefferson State Community College

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Birmingham. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
7
31,120 students on campus
Nearest college
1.5 mi
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Residents in college
9%
Above AL (6%)
Nearest community college
7.5 mi
Lawson State · $5,040 tuition
Nearest public university
1.5 mi
University of Alabama at Birmingham · $9,098 in-state
Median household income
$46K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Birmingham

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Four colleges within 10.1 milesUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham admits 88% of applicants; Samford University admits 82%. Together they have 29,446 students on campus.In-state price at University of Alabama at BirminghamLiving in Alabama, the University of Alabama at Birmingham charges $9,098 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $22,562. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 7.5 miles awayLawson State Community College in Birmingham: tuition and fees $5,040 a year for Alabama residents.Students are 9% of residentsAbove Alabama (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Birmingham

Four private colleges within 7.1 miles, one public college within 1.5 miles, and two community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamJefferson StateSamford UniversityBirmingham
University or collegeCommunity college
University of Alabama at BirminghamUniversity or college · Public · 15,353 on campus · In Birmingham88%admitted$19knet price64%graduate$55kearningsSamford UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 5,725 on campus · 4.4 mi · Birmingham82%admitted$33knet price77%graduate$58kearningsHerzing University-BirminghamUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 282 on campus · In Birmingham93%admitted$20knet price12%graduate$37kearningsEarnings are reported for all 11 campuses that file with it.Fortis Institute-BirminghamUniversity or college · For-profit · 339 on campus · In Birmingham$26knet price34%graduate$33kearningsEarnings are reported for all 4 campuses that file with it.Miles CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,053 on campus · 7.1 mi · Fairfield$14knet price16%graduate$33kearningsLawson State Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,621 on campus · In Birmingham$6knet price27%graduate$32kearningsTuition and fees: $5,040 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Jefferson State Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,747 on campus · In Birmingham$9knet price26%graduate$41kearningsTuition and fees: $5,100 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $30–48k, where Birmingham’s median household income ($46,051) falls.

Lawson State Community CollegeIn Birmingham · sticker $14,895 · tuition $5,040$5,464a year
Jefferson State Community CollegeIn Birmingham · sticker $14,814 · tuition $5,100$7,091a year
Miles College7.1 mi · Fairfield · sticker $21,154$13,677a year
University of Alabama at BirminghamIn Birmingham · sticker $28,145$15,500a year
Herzing University-BirminghamIn Birmingham · sticker $27,750$17,909a year
Samford University4.4 mi · Birmingham · sticker $57,456$24,812a year
Fortis Institute-BirminghamIn Birmingham · sticker $32,927$26,309a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Birmingham: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →University of Alabama at BirminghamSamford UniversityFortis Institute-BirminghamMiles CollegeLawson StateJefferson State
University of Alabama at Birmingham64% graduate$55k earnings$22k typical debt
Jefferson State Community College26% graduate$41k earnings$10k typical debt
Samford University77% graduate$58k earnings$20k typical debt
Lawson State Community College27% graduate$32k earnings
Miles College16% graduate$33k earnings$31k typical debt
Fortis Institute-Birmingham34% graduate$33k earnings*$12k typical debt
Herzing University-Birmingham12% graduate$37k earnings*$22k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Herzing University-Birmingham (11); Fortis Institute-Birmingham (4).

Majors

What students study in Birmingham

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Birmingham’s 5 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Health professions 23%Business 16%Liberal arts 11%Biology 8%Engineering tech 6%Psychology 5%Everything else 31%

Biggest programs

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesJefferson State Community College · 549 graduates a year
$44k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham · 363 graduates a year
$78k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham · 251 graduates a year
$46k4 yrs out
Biology, GeneralUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham · 236 graduates a year
$55k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingJefferson State Community College · 178 graduates a year
$75k4 yrs out
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesLawson State Community College · 162 graduates a year
$40k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham · 134 graduates a year
$63k4 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham · 127 graduates a year
$52k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Birmingham

Is Birmingham a college town?

No. About 9 of every 100 Birmingham residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Alabama (6). The largest campus in the city, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, has 15,353 students on campus.

What colleges are in Birmingham?

The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Jefferson State Community College, Lawson State Community College, Fortis Institute-Birmingham and 1 more are inside the city. Samford University is 4.4 miles from the center, in Homewood.

What is the closest community college to Birmingham, and what does it cost?

Lawson State Community College in Birmingham, 7.5 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,040 a year for Alabama residents; the federal net price, $6,275, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does the University of Alabama at Birmingham cost if we live in Alabama?

Tuition and fees are $9,098 a year in-state and $22,562 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $16,172 (under $30,000 income) to $22,597 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Birmingham. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →