The University of Alabama is the state's flagship public research university, in Tuscaloosa, an hour from Birmingham. It is best known for business, engineering, communication, law, nursing and one of the most successful college football programmes in the US, with a large campus and generous merit scholarships. Choose it for a traditional American campus experience at moderate cost.
Tuscaloosa, United States
Official website: ua.edu
#1001
R1 — very high research activity
1831 — Alabama's oldest public university
Over 40,000 students
$32,000 – $35,000
International students, non-resident undergraduate and master's rates
$12,000 – $15,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on ua.edu before you apply.
MS Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Electrical and Computer Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MBA (Manderson Graduate School)
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MS Operations Management
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MS Mechanical Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
BS Mechanical Engineering
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 71
Crimson Tide football — Bryant-Denny Stadium holds over 100,000 on game days.
Culverhouse College of Business — one of the largest business schools in the South.
Merit scholarships — among the most generous automatic awards of any US public university.
Quad — a historic campus centre with Denny Chimes and antebellum buildings.
Graduates join Mercedes-Benz's Alabama plant, Regions Bank, Lockheed Martin, Deloitte and Atlanta's firms.
STEM master's graduates can work in the US for up to three years on OPT.
Engineering bachelor's graduates report median starting salaries around USD 65,000-75,000.
Communication alumni work at ESPN, CNN and media companies across the South.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Varies by programme
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Varies by programme
The 1,900-acre campus fills the centre of Tuscaloosa, with the Quad and Gorgas Library at its heart, the engineering complex to the north and the stadium and residence halls within walking distance.
Tuscaloosa is a college city of about 110,000 people on the Black Warrior River with low rent and a warm climate. Birmingham is an hour away and Atlanta about three hours.
Form I-20 issued by the University of Alabama
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
Undergraduate admission is rolling, with a 15 December 2026 priority date for fall 2027 that guarantees consideration for automatic merit scholarships; applications stay open into summer. Graduate deadlines are set by each programme, with most engineering master's closing between 1 February and 1 June.
Undergraduates can start in fall (August), spring (January) or summer (May). Most engineering and computer science master's programmes admit for both fall and spring, while the Manderson MBA and operations management master's are fall only. Check your programme's admissions page to confirm.
You need an F-1 student visa. International Student and Scholar Services issues your Form I-20 after you accept the offer and submit proof of funding. Then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and book an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Computer science, electrical and computer engineering, the Manderson MBA, operations management and mechanical engineering attract the most international applicants. Graduate admission needs a bachelor's degree with a GPA of at least 3.0, TOEFL 79-80 or IELTS 6.5, and the GRE or GMAT for some programmes. Undergraduate admission is based mainly on grades.
Yes. Alabama's automatic merit scholarships are among the largest of any US public university, and international undergraduates with strong grades and test scores qualify when they apply by the priority date; awards can cover most of tuition. Graduate students can apply for teaching and research assistantships in engineering and the sciences.
