BHam is Opportunity: Colleague Town Series!

Football season is on! 🏈 And it seems the perfect time to go over the universities around the Birmingham metro area. It’s one of those things you need to get acquainted with as a newcomer—right up there with learning about our weather mood swings (and the many different grades of hot 🌞🔥

Here’s a little spark to feed your curiosity and kickstart your own research:

1. 🏙️ UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham)

   Right in the heart of Birmingham, UAB is more than a university—it’s a top employer, a research and medical hub, and one of the most inclusive campuses in the country. Students come from across the globe, leadership is diverse, and the city itself pulses with that “colleague energy.”

Colleague Town: UAB isn’t just an undergraduate campus—it’s a massive research, healthcare, and professional hub. With over 20,000 employees (faculty, doctors, staff, researchers), UAB is Birmingham’s largest employer and one of Alabama’s biggest economic engines.

Professional Ecosystem: The campus blends into the city’s economy—medicine, biotech, business, engineering, arts. People come here to work, research, and collaborate, not only to study.

Urban Integration: UAB is woven into Birmingham’s downtown and medical district. That makes the city feel less like a “college bubble” and more like a regional powerhouse, where students, professionals, and industries are constantly interacting.

2. 📚 Samford University

Nestled in Homewood. Most students come from similar backgrounds, but the university has been growing multicultural programs and fostering leadership around inclusion.

Private / Faith-Based: Samford has a strong reputation in law, pharmacy, business, and nursing but it’s smaller and more community-oriented.

Campus-Centered: While influential, its scale doesn’t reshape Birmingham’s economy the way UAB does.

3. 🎭 University of Montevallo

   A smaller campus with some rural vibe, set in the city of the same name with a warm, close-knit feel. Diversity here shows up not only in numbers, but in the arts and the way the community expresses itself. Montevallo is known as a place where students feel free to be themselves.

   
   

   Small Liberal Arts College: Montevallo is intimate, creative, and focused on teaching rather than large-scale research.

   Arts & Humanities Emphasis: Known for fine arts, liberal studies, and a close-knit campus culture. The town is charming but not an economic driver in the same way UAB is.

   
   

4. 🐅 Auburn University

   Now… about Auburn. Some locals call it a delicate relationship, but to me it feels more like a Montesco–Capuleto rivalry 😂. Tradition runs deep, SEC sports rule the town, and the alumni pride is fierce. Even from Birmingham, you’ll hear about it—especially when the Tigers vs. Blazers rivalry heats up. My tip? As a newcomer, maybe don’t pledge alliances right away jejeje.

   
   

   College Town: Town’s identity is completely intertwined with Auburn University

   Auburn is a quintessential student-driven town. The city’s identity is inseparable from the undergraduate culture, game days, and alumni pride.

   
   

   Undergraduate Focus: While Auburn has strong research and professional programs, the undergrad experience defines the community vibe—restaurants, businesses, and events revolve around student life.

Together, these schools show the many paths you can find in Alabama—whether you’re chasing creativity, community, tradition, or career opportunity.

👉 And here in Birmingham, UAB anchors it all, making this not just a college town, but a true colleague town where careers, culture, and community connect.

💡 Ready to take the next step?

• Book your personalized newcomer consultation — let’s figure out if Birmingham is the right fit for you.

• Explore our NewtoBham Blog for more insider insights, guides, and stories to help you discover your place in Alabama.

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