The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB): Top Research & Medical University in the South

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is a leading public research university and academic medical center located in Birmingham, Alabama. Established as an independent institution in 1969, it has evolved from its medical and extension center roots into a nationally recognized R1 institution, offering over 140 academic programs across 12 divisions.

UAB excels in research, securing $774.5 million in funding in 2023, with significant contributions from the NIH. Its medical arm, UAB Medicine, is among the largest in the U.S., with UAB Hospital consistently ranked among the nation’s best. The campus spans 636 acres, serving over 21,000 diverse students, and boasts a strong athletics program and an accomplished alumni network. UAB’s continued growth reflects its mission to advance education, health care, and innovation locally and globally.

UAB: Research, Education, and Healthcare Powerhouse

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is a public research university located in Birmingham, Alabama. Established as an independent institution in 1969, UAB has rapidly evolved from its origins in the Medical College of Alabama (founded 1859) and the Birmingham Extension Center of the University of Alabama (opened 1936) into a nationally recognized academic and medical powerhouse.

History and Foundation

UAB’s roots trace back to the mid-19th century with the Medical College of Alabama. In 1936, the University of Alabama established an extension center in Birmingham, offering evening classes. These two entities merged administratively in 1966 to form the “University of Alabama in Birmingham,” and by 1969, it gained full independence within the newly created three-campus University of Alabama System. This swift evolution reflects UAB’s commitment to addressing the educational and healthcare needs of Alabama’s largest metropolitan area.

Academic Profile

UAB is classified among “R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity” by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, a testament to its significant research output. The university offers a vast array of academic programs, with over 140 programs of study across 12 academic divisions leading to bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and professional degrees.

Key academic units include:

• College of Arts & Sciences: Home to diverse departments like Anthropology, Art and Art History, Biology, Chemistry, Communication Studies, Computer Science, English, History, Mathematics, Music, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science and Public Administration, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology, Theatre, and World Languages and Literatures. It also offers specialized programs in African American Studies, American Studies, Bioinformatics, Environmental Science, Film, and Neuroscience, among others.
• Collat School of Business: Offers programs in Accounting, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Human Resource Management, Industrial Distribution, Information Systems, and Management.
• School of Education & Human Sciences
• School of Engineering: Includes Biomedical Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Electrical and Computer Engineering.
• School of Health Professions: Provides degrees in areas like Administration/Health Services, Biobehavioral Nutrition and Wellness, Biomedical Sciences, Disability Studies and Rehabilitation Science, and Health Care Management.
• Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine: A cornerstone of UAB, known for its extensive medical research and patient care.
• School of Nursing
• School of Optometry
• School of Public Health
• School of Dentistry
• Graduate School

UAB has a significant online presence, offering numerous degrees and certificates fully online.

Research and Innovation

Research is a fundamental pillar of UAB’s mission. The university has consistently broken records in research funding, with research awards reaching $774.5 million for fiscal year 2023, an 8.2% increase from the previous year. This places UAB among the top 5% of universities in the United States for federal research and development spending. Notably, $413.7 million of this funding came from National Institutes of Health (NIH) awards, solidifying UAB’s position in the top 1% of all NIH-funded institutions. All six of UAB’s health-related schools are among the top 15 public universities in NIH funding.

UAB’s research endeavors span hundreds of interests and specialties, contributing to significant advancements in various fields. Recent research highlights include:

• Developing a zebrafish model for an ultra-rare genetic disease to identify potential treatments.
• Studying the impact of gut fungi in very-low-birthweight infants on oxygen-induced lung damage.
• Leading groundbreaking research and wellness programming to enhance para-athlete health.
• Collaborating on a novel tool to improve health care worker well-being (WISH).
• Uncovering shared responses to bacterial flagellin epitopes in Crohn’s patients and healthy infants.
• Research into managing cardiovascular risk factors to mitigate heart failure risk in Black individuals carrying a specific genetic variant.
• Exploring the use of AI tools to predict anxiety and depression disorders in college students.
• Injecting bioengineered cells into infarcted pig hearts to decrease infarct area and improve heart function.
• Receiving a $3.69 million NIH grant to advance healthy aging research.

The Harbert Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at UAB has also seen significant success, generating over $6 million in revenues in FY 2023 with 123 intellectual property disclosures, 40 licenses, and 18 U.S. patents, and launching three startups.

UAB Medicine

UAB Medicine is one of the largest academic medical centers in the United States, facilitating nearly 2 million patient visits annually. It is considered a key healthcare destination for Alabama and the surrounding areas, providing patient care, training future medical professionals, and advancing medical science through research.

UAB Hospital has consistently been ranked as the best hospital in Alabama and the Birmingham metro area by U.S. News & World Report. In the 2024-2025 rankings, UAB Hospital had several specialties ranked among the best in the nation:

• Rheumatology: No. 10
• Obstetrics and Gynecology: No. 18
• Ear, Nose, and Throat: No. 23
• Cancer: No. 40
• Neurology/Neurosurgery: No. 42
• Geriatrics: No. 45
• Cardiology/Heart Surgery: No. 50

Additionally, UAB Hospital was rated as “high-performing” in 15 adult procedures/conditions. Newsweek also recognized UAB Hospital, ranking it No. 48 in the U.S. on its 2024 list of the World’s Best Hospitals.

Campus Life and Student Demographics

UAB’s campus spans over 100 city blocks in the Southside neighborhood of downtown Birmingham, covering approximately 636 acres with more than 216 academic, residential, and recreational facilities.

In 2023, UAB had a total enrollment of 21,160 students, with 70% enrolled full-time. The student body is diverse, with students from all 67 Alabama counties, all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and over 95 countries.

• Race & Ethnicity (2023): 48.8% White, 21.7% Black or African American, 7.9% Asian, 6.04% Hispanic or Latino, 4.16% Two or More Races.
• Gender (2023): 64.1% of degrees awarded to women, 35.9% to men.

The retention rate for full-time undergraduates in 2023 was 82%.

Athletics

The UAB Blazers compete in NCAA Division I as part of the American Athletic Conference. UAB sponsors teams in six men’s and eleven women’s NCAA-sanctioned sports. The athletics program effectively began with the men’s basketball team in 1978, led by Coach Gene Bartow, often called the “Father of UAB athletics.” The men’s basketball team has made 15 NCAA tournament appearances, including 3 Sweet Sixteen appearances and 1 Elite Eight appearance.

The UAB Blazers football team, led by head coach Trent Dilfer, competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). Since 2021, their home games have been played at Protective Stadium, which has a capacity of over 47,000. Notable rivalries include “The Battle of the Bones” with Memphis, a rivalry that pays homage to both cities’ prominence in BBQ.

Notable Alumni

UAB boasts a distinguished alumni network across various fields, including:

Science and Medicine: Lawrence J. DeLucas (astronaut), Ricardo Azziz (medical researcher), Hadiyah-Nicole Green (physicist), Rahul Gupta (physician and public health official).

Sports: Roddy White (NFL player), Vonetta Flowers (Olympic gold medalist bobsledder), Joe Webb (NFL player), Bryan Thomas (NFL player), Izell Reese (NFL player), Otis Leverette (NFL player), Zac Woodfin (NFL player), Darrell Hackney (NFL player), Chris Hubbard (NFL player), Kennard Backman (NFL player), J.J. Nelson (NFL player), Jordan Howard (NFL player), Will Wilcox (PGA Tour golfer), Lee Hodges (PGA Tour golfer), Trey Jemison III (NBA player), Jerome Mincy (basketball player), Walter Sharpe (NBA player), Deanna Jackson (WNBA player).

Arts and Literature: Jason Aaron (comic book writer), Caitlín R. Kiernan (author), John Strohm (musician).

Politics and Public Service: Regina Benjamin (18th Surgeon General of the United States), William A. Bell (former Mayor of Birmingham), Larry Langford (former Mayor of Birmingham), Walt Maddox (Mayor of Tuscaloosa), Merika Coleman (Alabama State Senator), Oliver Robinson (former Alabama State Representative).

Business: Richard Scrushy (founder of HealthSouth), Alexander Shunnarah (attorney).

Academia: Eli Capilouto (President of the University of Kentucky), Carol Garrison (former UAB President), Ray L. Watts (UAB President).

Others: Deidre Downs (Miss America 2005), Tina Watson (murder victim).

UAB continues to grow its impact, not just in Alabama but globally, through its commitment to education, research, patient care, and community engagement.

FAQs about University of Alabama at Birmingham

What is the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)?
UAB is a public research university and academic medical center located in Birmingham, Alabama. It is known for its strong focus on education, research, and healthcare.

When was UAB established?
UAB became an independent institution in 1969, though its roots trace back to the Medical College of Alabama (1859) and a Birmingham extension center (1936).

Is UAB a research-intensive university?
Yes, UAB is classified as an “R1: Doctoral University – Very high research activity” by the Carnegie Classification.

How many students are enrolled at UAB?
In 2023, UAB had an enrollment of 21,160 students, with 70% attending full-time.

What types of academic programs does UAB offer?
UAB offers over 140 academic programs across 12 academic divisions, including bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and professional degrees.

Does UAB offer online programs?
Yes, UAB provides numerous fully online degree and certificate programs.

What are some key academic units at UAB?
Notable schools include the College of Arts & Sciences, Collat School of Business, School of Medicine, School of Nursing, School of Public Health, and School of Engineering.

How large is UAB’s campus?
UAB’s urban campus spans approximately 636 acres over 100 city blocks in downtown Birmingham.

What is UAB’s role in healthcare?
UAB Medicine is one of the largest academic medical centers in the U.S., providing patient care, medical education, and research.

Is UAB Hospital nationally ranked?
Yes, UAB Hospital is consistently ranked among the top hospitals in Alabama and has several specialties nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report.

How much research funding does UAB receive?
In fiscal year 2023, UAB secured $774.5 million in research awards, including $413.7 million from the NIH.

What are some notable research initiatives at UAB?
UAB leads research in areas like genetic disorders, cardiovascular health, neonatal care, mental health, AI in medicine, and aging.

What is UAB’s NIH funding rank?
UAB ranks in the top 1% of NIH-funded institutions, with all six health-related schools in the top 15 among public universities.

Does UAB support innovation and entrepreneurship?
Yes, through the Harbert Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, which generated over $6 million in revenue and launched three startups in 2023.

What is student life like at UAB?
UAB offers a vibrant campus experience with academic, residential, and recreational facilities and a diverse student body from over 95 countries.

What is UAB’s student retention rate?
The full-time undergraduate retention rate in 2023 was 82%.

What is the gender breakdown of UAB graduates?
In 2023, 64.1% of degrees were awarded to women and 35.9% to men.

What are the major student demographics at UAB?
The student body is 48.8% White, 21.7% Black or African American, 7.9% Asian, 6.04% Hispanic or Latino, and 4.16% multiracial.

What athletic conference does UAB compete in?
UAB Blazers compete in NCAA Division I as part of the American Athletic Conference.

What sports are offered at UAB?
UAB sponsors six men’s and eleven women’s NCAA-sanctioned sports, including football, basketball, and soccer.

Where does the UAB football team play?
Since 2021, UAB football has played at Protective Stadium, which seats over 47,000 fans.

What are UAB’s notable athletic achievements?
The men’s basketball team has appeared in 15 NCAA tournaments, reaching the Sweet Sixteen three times and the Elite Eight once.

Does UAB have any major sports rivalries?
Yes, a notable rivalry is “The Battle of the Bones” with the University of Memphis.

Who are some notable UAB alumni in science and medicine?
Notable alumni include astronaut Lawrence J. DeLucas, physicist Hadiyah-Nicole Green, and public health official Rahul Gupta.

Are there notable UAB alumni in sports?
Yes, including NFL players Roddy White and Joe Webb, and Olympic gold medalist Vonetta Flowers.

Who are some distinguished UAB alumni in the arts and literature?
Jason Aaron (comic book writer) and Caitlín R. Kiernan (author) are among UAB’s notable creative alumni.

Has UAB produced any public service leaders?
Yes, including former Surgeon General Regina Benjamin and several mayors and state legislators in Alabama.

Who is the current president of UAB?
As of 2025, Dr. Ray L. Watts serves as the president of UAB.

What is UAB’s mascot?
Blaze the Dragon is UAB’s official mascot.

How does UAB impact the community?
UAB plays a central role in Birmingham’s economy and healthcare system, and engages globally through education, research, and service.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) stands as a premier institution known for its academic excellence, cutting-edge research, and nationally ranked medical center. With a diverse student body, strong global impact, and a firm commitment to innovation and community service, UAB continues to shape the future of education, healthcare, and scientific discovery. Its rapid growth and consistent national recognition make it a cornerstone of progress in Alabama and beyond.