Livingston is a small county seat in Alabama's Black Belt, the band of dark prairie soil that runs across the middle of the state, and the University of West Alabama takes up a good part of it. The school began as a girls' academy in 1835 and later trained teachers for the region. Today it's a small public university with business, biology, education and a large online graduate catalogue. Classes are small and costs stay low.
Livingston, Alabama, United States
Official website: uwa.edu
1835
Public regional university
Small town in Alabama's Black Belt
$10,000 – $13,000
International students, undergraduate full-time tuition
$9,000 – $12,000
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 uwa.edu before you apply.
BS Business Administration
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 5.5, TOEFL: 61
BS Biology
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 5.5, TOEFL: 61
BS Accounting
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 5.5, TOEFL: 61
Master of Education
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 71
Low tuition by US standards, even for out-of-state students.
A long history of training teachers for rural Alabama.
Small classes where faculty know students by name.
Education graduates teach in schools across Alabama and Mississippi.
Business and accounting graduates find work with firms in Tuscaloosa, Meridian and Birmingham.
Bachelor's graduates can apply for OPT to work in the US for a year.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
The campus is compact and walkable, with residence halls a few minutes from classrooms and the town square close by. Most undergraduates live on campus in their first years.
Livingston is quiet and rural, so a car or a friend with one helps. Meridian, Mississippi is under an hour away and Tuscaloosa about an hour. Rent and food are cheap.
Form I-20 issued by University of West 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
UWA reviews international applications on a rolling basis. Aim to finish by early summer for a fall start and by October for spring, which leaves time for the I-20 and a visa interview.
The main starts are fall (August) and spring (January). Some graduate programmes also begin in summer.
International students come in on an F-1 visa. The I-20 comes from University of West Alabama after you confirm your place and show you can cover a year of costs; you then pay the SEVIS fee, fill in the DS-160 and book your consulate interview.
Business administration, accounting, biology and education are the usual picks for international students. Undergraduates need a completed secondary school record and English at about IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL 61. Graduate applicants need a recognised bachelor's degree.
UWA offers some academic scholarships, and international students can be considered at admission. Awards are modest, so plan to cover most costs yourself and ask admissions what is available in your year.
