The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is a leading public institution located in the heart of Alabama’s largest metropolitan area. It is the only four-year public university in this region, the top research university in the state, and Alabama’s largest single employer.

UAB has earned a strong reputation both nationally and internationally for academic excellence, innovation, and impactful research. According to U.S. News & World Report, UAB ranks #136 among National Universities and #57 in the Best Global Universities, placing it among the top 6% of institutions worldwide. In the QS World University Rankings 2026, it is positioned within the #1001–1200 range globally. Meanwhile, Niche (2025) ranks UAB #107 among 1,613 U.S. colleges and #1 in Alabama for “Best College Location” and “Most Diverse Campus.”

The university’s programs are also highly acclaimed. UAB’s Master of Science in Health Administration holds the #1 spot in the United States, and several other graduate and specialty programs are ranked within the nation’s top 10. The online MBA program from the Collat School of Business is placed #65 nationwide, while its online bachelor’s programs are ranked #57 by U.S. News.

In research performance, UAB stands out as one of the most productive institutions in the U.S., having produced over 134,000 research publications and more than 5.2 million citations across disciplines. EduRank also places UAB #31 in the U.S. for Medicine, #44 for Biology, and within the top 130 for Business.

These achievements highlight UAB’s academic strength across diverse fields — from healthcare and biomedical sciences to business and engineering — positioning it as a globally recognized hub for innovation, discovery, and professional excellence.