University of Montevallo, Montevallo

To say that Montevallo is unique would be an understatement. As a member of the prestigious Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges and as one of only twenty-five public liberal arts universities in the United States, Montevallo has emerged as a national leader in liberal arts education and was recognized in the past five editions of U.S. News and World Report’s Best Colleges as the highest ranked Tier One, public master’s level university in Alabama.

The college of choice for many of the brightest young minds in the Southeast, Montevallo is home to approximately 3,000 students and its 160-acre central campus is noted for its unparalleled beauty. Situated in the geographic center of the State of Alabama, Montevallo’s white columned brick buildings, famous red brick streets, verdant lawns, colorful flowerbeds, and stately trees surround students with academic tradition. The core of the campus, designed by the world-renowned Olmsted Brothers, has been designated as a National Historic District. Twenty-eight campus structures or sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Located in the city of Montevallo (population 4,500), 35 miles south of Birmingham, Montevallo is easily accessible from Interstate 65 (7 miles).

The University's mission, unique in higher education in Alabama, is "to provide to students from throughout the state an affordable, geographically accessible, 'small college' public higher educational experience of high quality, with a strong emphasis on undergraduate liberal studies and with professional programs supported by a broad base of arts and sciences, designed for their intellectual and personal growth in the pursuit of meaningful employment and responsible, informed citizenship." Affirmed by the Board of Trustees in 1978, 1989 and again in 1996 in conjunction with the Report of the Second Century Commission, the mission statement is incorporated into state statutes. Through its planning processes, the University regularly adopts goals which are the basis for evaluating the institution's activities.

U.S. News & World Report has ranked the University as a Tier One master’s-level institution, giving UM the distinction of being the highest ranked public master’s-level university in Alabama. UM, in its division, posted a No. 2 ranking in the South in a category called “Great Schools-Great Prices,” (called “Best Colleges: Best Values” online) noting schools that are the best values, in the 2009 edition. Among public master’s-level schools in the South, Montevallo moved up one place, from 20th in 2008 to 19th in 2009.

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