Education

educationEducational opportunity abounds in the Birmingham metropolitan area. In a world of lifelong learning and concern for the education of the young, Birmingham has always kept improved schools as an ongoing goal.

Top flight colleges and universities...committed teachers and parents...concerned, involved businesses...

That's the mix that drives the present success and future promise of primary, secondary and higher education in Birmingham.

Click on the navigation buttons below for the particular educational area you are interested in to visit that topic.

Public Schools

Back to Top

Private Schools

Back to Top

Secondary & Primary Schools

The Alabama School of Fine Arts
A public school for grades 7-12, Alabama School of Fine Arts prepares students for careers in the fine, visual, and performing arts. A new campus downtown has become an anchor for the cultural district in the City Center.

The Alabama School of Fine Arts, one of the nation's three state-supported secondary schools for students with special artistic gifts, is located in a new, $17 million downtown Birmingham campus. In addition to its nationally-recognized arts program, it now includes programs in math and science. 252-9241

Birmingham's EPIC School, an alternative elementary school, brings gifted, normal and handicapped students together in a unique learning environment. (205) 231-7370

Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School, an alternative school in the Jefferson County system, offers the only International Baccalaureate degree in Central Alabama. 951-1370

Back to Top

Colleges & Universities

Higher education employs nearly 20,000 in the metropolitan area and generates an economic impact of more than $1 billion annually. Seven universities and colleges, seven community/junior colleges, five degree-granting technical schools, three law schools, and the UAB medical, dental, and other specialized schools offer multiple educational opportunities to the area's work force.

As the area's largest employer, the University of Alabama at Birmingham contributes to the economic impact of higher education with its 19,000+ employees, total annual budget of $957.5 million and 16,252 students. It offers 142 undergraduate and graduate degrees.

University of Alabama at Birmingham
An urban university with about 16,000 students, the University of Alabama at Birmingham (934-4011) offers numerous undergraduate and graduate degrees, and a medical school judged to be among the finest in the nation. U.S. News & World Report ranked UAB's Dental School among the top 10 dental schools in the country, and the UAB School of Nursing among the best in the nation. The school moved into the top rank of Carnegie Foundation's classification of schools.

Back to Top

Samford University
Alabama's largest private university, Samford University (870-2011) has a 200 acre Georgian campus in Homewood. The 150-year-old school, with about 4,485 students offers graduate and undergraduate degrees within eight separate schools including the Cumberland School of Law. In a U.S. News & World Report study, Samford was ranked in the top 10 percent of the nation's regional universities; Money selected it the nation's 26th Best College Buy.

Birmingham-Southern College, with 1,562 students, is one of the finest liberal arts institutions in the South and the nation as a whole. The school offers degrees in 34 majors in the arts and sciences, as well as a master's degree in public and private management. It is particularly strong in premed. In 1995 Birmingham-Southern (226-4600) was ranked as one of the nation's top liberal arts colleges in America's Best Colleges Issue of U.S. News & World Report. Money Magazine named BSC one of America's 100 best college buys in its 1996 Money Guide. It appeared in Peterson's Competitive Colleges and made the Templeton Honor Roll for Character Building Colleges. The Fiske Guide to Colleges ranked it among 300 of the best, most interesting colleges. Money Magazine named BSC one of America's 100 best college buys in its 1996 Money Guide. Success magazine singled out the school's Master of Arts in Public and Private Management in its listing of up and coming schools.

The University of Montevallo
The University of Montevallo (665-6000) is one of only a handful of state supported liberal arts colleges. It is located in the picturesque Shelby County town of Montevallo. With an enrollment of 3,175, the school has an excellent reputation for preparing students for careers in the arts, education, and business.

Back to Top

Miles College
Miles College (923-2771) has been an indispensable educational institution for Fairfield and the Metro Birmingham area for over 100 years and continues to anchor the western neighborhoods providing community growth and impacting the local economy. Miles College, although founded in 1895, the official charter date reflects 1905 by the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. It was originally chartered as Miles Memorial College. In 1941, The Board of Trustees changed the name to Miles College. Miles College is named in honor of Bishop William Henry Miles. Miles is a fully accredited, four-year liberal arts College located in Fairfield. Miles College currently offers 26 Bachelor Degree courses. Over 1800 students are currently enrolled giving Miles the highest growth rate of any of the 39 member Institutions of the United Negro College Fund. Miles is also ranked 4th in the country (Black and White) as having the highest graduation of Black college students. Miles is the only historically Black four-year institution in Jefferson County. Miles has a liberal admissions policy and remains open to all qualified persons regardless of race, religion, or national origin.

Jefferson State Community College
Jefferson State Community College (853-1200) has the second largest enrollment of any college in the Birmingham area with 6,723 students. The college makes affordable post-secondary education to traditional and non-traditional students. In addition to academic subjects, Jeff State offers vocational programs in nursing, secretarial science, mortuary science, computer science, and hospitality and the culinary arts.

Lawson State Community College
Approximately 2,100 students get their training at Lawson State Community College (925-2515), a two-year, state supported institution. Lawson State offers a full range of academic and vocational programs of study.

Other area two-year schools in the metropolitan area include Walker County (enrollment: 1,000) in Jasper; and Bevill State Community College (enrollment: 1,400) in Sumiton.

Southeastern Bible College (800-749-8878 or 970-9200) equips students for Christian living and service worldwide, producing graduates that are biblically grounded, spiritually mature, and culturally relevant. Approximately 250 students prepare for positions in vocational and non-vocational ministry.

Birmingham School of Law Founded in 1915, Birmingham School of Law is an alternative to those whose financial, family or work won't allow them to attend a traditional law school. It's located in downtown Birmingham on 20th Street North.

Back to Top

New Horizons Birmingham With more than 300 centers in 60 countries, New Horizons is the world’s largest independent IT training company. Through an integrated learning approach that ensures that new knowledge can be applied to real life situations, New Horizons delivers a full range of technology and business skills training from basic application and desktop productivity tools to complex and integrated business systems.

New Horizons Birmingham has been the leading computer training center in central Alabama since 1995. As a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, it provides a wide variety of training options and delivery methods. Classes are offered in several areas including: PC desktop applications, web design, graphics and desktop publication, project management, business skills and technical training that includes A+, Network+, Security, VMware and Microsoft network and programming classes. Closed classes are also provided for on-site training and room rentals. New Horizons Birmingham is licensed by the State of Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education. It participates in the GI Bill and WIA (Workforce Investment Act).