The University of Alabama is ranked among the top 50 public universities in the nation for the fifth consecutive year in U.S. News and World Report’s annual college rankings, fall 2005.

The University of Alabama is a national leader in the enrollment of National Merit, National Achievement and National Hispanic Scholars, with 145 scholars in the fall 2005 freshman class. These numbers include 72 National Merit Scholars, 13 National Achievement Scholars and 60 National Hispanic Scholars.

Six University of Alabama students were named to the 2006 USA Today All-USA College Academic Team, the most of any school in the nation. UA's four-year total of 20 also tops all other colleges and universities.

Enrollment at The University of Alabama is at a record high of 21,750 for fall 2005. The entering freshman class, at 3,739 students, is the largest in UA history.

The University of Alabama has a dramatic impact on the economy of Alabama, returning three dollars for every one dollar invested in the University by the State. UA each year contributes $1.7 BILLION to the state’s economy.

U.S. News and World Report perennially ranks the UA School of Law among the top 50 in the nation. An impressive 97.1 percent of the 2005 graduates of the UA School of Law who took the Alabama bar exam in July 2005 passed.

UA’s undergraduate business program ranked 57th nationally in U.S. News and World Report’s annual college rankings, fall 2005, while the Manderson Graduate School of Business ranked 60th in U.S. News’ annual graduate school rankings, spring 2005. The Culverhouse School of Accountancy is ranked 25th among undergraduate accounting programs.

The University of Alabama College of Communication and Information Sciences’ doctoral program in mass communication is ranked seventh nationally by the National Communication Association. The most recent U.S. News rankings for communication graduate programs placed UA’s advertising program 12th and telecommunication 14th in the nation.

UA is regularly ranked among the top 100 public universities in Kiplinger’s annual list of colleges and universities that combine “great academics and affordable tuition.”

The doctoral program in health education, a joint program of The University of Alabama and the University of Alabama at Birmingham, ranks seventh in the nation according to a recent study published in the Journal of Health Education.

The University of Alabama debate and forensics program has won 15 national debate championships.

The University of Alabama’s graduates include 15 Rhodes Scholars, 18 Goldwater Scholars, 10 Truman Scholars, two Javits Fellows, one Udall Scholar and one Portz Scholar.

The UA 2005 freshman class averaged in the top 20 percent nationally on the ACT, and had an average high school grade-point average of 3.4. A record 612 freshmen are enrolled in the University’s Honors College.

For over a decade, UA has been one of the top public flagship universities in the Southeast in enrollment of African-American students. For the 2005-2006 academic year, African-Americans represent almost 12 percent of the student body. The UA College of Engineering ranks third in the nation among traditionally white institutions in the percentage of African-Americans enrolled.

UA is #1 in the nation in enrollment of minority doctoral students under the Southern Regional Education Board’s Minority Doctoral Scholars Program. A total of 17 SREB fellows have completed their doctorates at UA, and 22 SREB doctoral fellows are currently enrolled in this program that encourages minority students to pursue doctoral degrees and become college-level professors.

This year alone, more than 900 University of Alabama students will receive a total of more than $2.3 million in scholarships provided by the National Alumni Association. The UA National Alumni Association is among the nation’s leading public-university-based comprehensive associations, ranking among the top 10 in alumni support.

Founded in 1831, The University of Alabama is the state’s first university.

Questions or comments? Contact Cathy Andreen, UA Media Relations, 205/348-8322.