Gulf Shores, Ala. — (GSN) — Higher education in Alabama traces its roots back to 1822 with the founding of Athens State University, the state's oldest institution. Since then, the state's academic landscape has grown significantly, and today Alabama is home to 60 colleges and universities providing diverse educational opportunities.

In the newly released U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, Auburn University achieved a major milestone by climbing into the nation’s Top 100 universities. Moving up two positions to land at No. 100 nationally, Auburn also advanced to No. 46 among public institutions, successfully maintaining its long-held standing as the highest-ranked university in the state of Alabama.

The university’s rise is supported by significant gains across multiple academic sectors, particularly within the Raymond J. Harbert College of Business. Auburn's Supply Chain Management program reached No. 13 among public universities, while Business Analytics ranked No. 13 among public schools, and Accounting placed No. 17 among public universities. Additionally, Auburn excelled in student experience metrics, ranking No. 7 among public institutions for first-year experiences and No. 42 nationally among the country’s most innovative schools.

How Other Alabama Institutions Compare

While Auburn University leads the state in the National Universities category—which evaluates large institutions offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs—several other Alabama schools established strong positions across the national and regional lists:

National Universities

• Auburn University: No. 100
• University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB): No. 131
• The University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa): No. 169
• Samford University: No. 179
• University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH): No. 242
• University of South Alabama: No. 363
• Alabama State University: No. 395

South Regional Universities

Many Alabama institutions were recognized as top regional players in the South:

• University of North Alabama (UNA): No. 30
• Jacksonville State University (Jax State): No. 55
• Alabama A&M University (AAMU): No. 96
• Troy University: Recognized among the best regional universities in the South

National Liberal Arts Colleges

• Oakwood University: Ranked within the 183–201 band