Photo: American Diabetio · CC BY-SA 4.0Huntsville is home to four colleges, with about 16,000 students on campus
The University of Alabama in Huntsville (7,882 students on campus) and Alabama A & M University (6,208) are inside the city. About 11% of Huntsville’s residents are enrolled in college, above Alabama (6%).
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 Huntsville. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college in Huntsville
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Huntsville
One private college within 4.3 miles, two public colleges within 8.5 miles, and J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College 7.8 miles away.
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 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.
Starts at $48–75k, where Huntsville’s median household income ($74,714) falls.
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.
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Huntsville: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
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.
What students study in Huntsville
Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Huntsville’s 4 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.
Biggest programs
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 Huntsville
Is Huntsville a college town?
No. About 11 of every 100 Huntsville residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Alabama (6). The largest campus in the city, the University of Alabama in Huntsville, has 7,882 students on campus.
What colleges are in Huntsville?
The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Alabama A & M University, Oakwood University and J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College are inside the city.
What is the closest community college to Huntsville, and what does it cost?
J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College in Huntsville, 7.8 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,190 a year for Alabama residents; the federal net price, $6,005, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does the University of Alabama in Huntsville cost if we live in Alabama?
Tuition and fees are $12,132 a year in-state and $26,408 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $16,192 (under $30,000 income) to $21,501 (over $110,000), housing and food included.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
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 Huntsville. 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 →