THE UNIVERSITY OF WEST ALABAMA
www.uwa.edu
About: The University of West Alabama was chartered in 1835
and admitted its first students in 1839. From 1881 to 1910 the
school at Livingston was under the direction of the noted educator
and reformer Julia Tutwiler, who succeeded in obtaining the first
state appropriation made exclusively for the education of women.
Co-ed since the mid- 1950’s, UWA serves an important role as a
higher-education institution within Alabama’s Black Belt region.
Number of students: 2,261 on-campus; 2,833 online
Student/faculty ratio: 17:1 undergraduate; 28:1 graduate
Academics: Emphasizing the modern rural experience, UWA
offers programs leading to certificates, bachelor’s, master’s, and
doctoral degrees in nearly 100 different degree programs including
rural education and rural medicine. A low student to teacher
ratio enables intensive study and interaction, advancing students
through internships, undergraduate research, study abroad
opportunities, and co-op programs with companies across the
United States.
Cost of Attendance:
In-State Tuition & Fees: $10,990/year
Room and Board: $8,350/year
Campus Life: UWA is situated on 1,000 acres in Livingston, a
city of about 3,500 residents located in Sumter County in western
Alabama. UWA, is routinely recognized for its beautiful, safe
campus.
Freshmen required to live on campus? Yes
Types of Housing: UWA offers traditional, suite-style and
apartment-style residence halls.
Greek presence: UWA has 6 fraternities and 6 sororities, and
about 15% of students are involved in Greek Life.
Clubs: UWA has more than 60 student organizations.
Admissions:
Requirements: ACT: 19; SAT 990
Scholarships and Financial Aid:
Minimum ACT/SAT for academic scholarships: 19
Scholarship Deadline: Must be admitted by and submit a
scholarship application by April 15.
Cool Factors:
• UWA’s campus includes a 54-acre lake —Lake LU—for
recreational fishing, as well as miles of nature trails.
• UWA has both a bass fishing team, as well as a rodeo team.
• Wi-Fi access is available everywhere on campus to keep you
connected to friends, family, classmates, and faculty.
• Tuition for UWA is lower than many other state universities in
Alabama.
School Accolades:
• The University of West Alabama was recently recognized for
its diverse campus, and consistently ranks as one of the safest
campuses in the United States.
• The University of West Alabama is accredited by the Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
to award associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, education specialist
and doctoral degrees.
44 | Fall 2020 www.potentialmagazine.com