Alabama A&M University
OVERVIEW
Alabama A&M University is a public and land-grant university. It is historically black and is currently a member of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. The total number of undergraduates at this university is 4,940. It also has more than 800 postgraduate students. Among all the students, 48 percent of them are male and 52 percent are female.
Founded in as early as 1875, the university is one of the oldest public universities in the United States. It is located in Normal, Alabama, United States and covers an area of 1,173 acres. The present president of this university is Andrew Hugine, Jr.
Alabama A&M University offers degrees in bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate’s programs. It also awards educational specialist degrees. The vast majority of its students are enrolled as undergraduates pursuing a four-year bachelor’s degree. It has a medium graduation rate–about 37 percent of the students graduate after 4 years’ study.
The mission of Alabama A&M University is:
1. Excellence in education and a scholarly environment in which inquiring and discriminating minds may be nourished. 2. The education of students for effective participation in local, state, regional, national, and international societies. 3. The search for new knowledge through research and its applications. 4. The provision of a comprehensive outreach program designed to meet the changing needs of the larger community. 5. Programs necessary to adequately address the major needs and problems of capable students who have experienced limited access to education. 6. Integration of state-of-the-art technology into all aspects of University functions.
ACCREDITATION
The university received regional accreditation in 1963 from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
ACADEMICS
Alabama A&M University comprises four colleges:
- College of Agricultural, Life & Natural Sciences
- College of Business and Public Affairs
- College of Education, Humanities and Behavorial Sciences
- College of Engineering, Technology & Physical Sciences
The most popular majors and course of study for students are as follows:
- Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
- Education
- Engineering
- Psychology
- Public Administration and Social Service Professions
According to the 2012 US News Best Colleges, the ranking of the university is Regional Universities (South), Tier 2. Also in the US News Best Grad School Rankings, it ranks 96th, 187th, and 220th in Rehabilitation Counseling, Social Work, and Speech-Language Pathology respectively.
Students of the university come from 44 states and 11 foreign countries with 42 percent first-time college students. The ratio of students to faculty is 20:1 and more than 40 percent of its classes have fewer than 20 students. The average freshman retention rate is 70%.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
The acceptance rate of Alabama A&M University is 50.8 percent and thus it is less selective. Applicants for the university are required to possess high school diplomas. General Educational Development (GED) is equally effective. For first-time, first-year applicants, the university uses SAT or ACT scores in their decision-making process. Among all academic factors, rigor of secondary school record, GPA, standardized test scores, and recommendations are considered important. As for the non-academic factors, extracurricular activities, personal qualities, and state residency give the applicant advantages.
COSTS AND FINANCIAL AID
The in-state tuition and fees for year 2010-2011 is USD 5,926 while the out-of-state tuition and fees is USD 11,174. Students spend $5,184 on room and board.
The need-based financial aid of Alabama A&M University covers 77.6 percent of its full-time undergraduate students. The aid includes scholarships and grants such as Federal PELL, Federal SEOG, state scholarships/grants, private scholarships, college/university gift aid from institutional funds, and so on. The average scholarship or grant award reaches $7,405.
