Three premier higher education institutions and K-12 schools pave purposeful pathways for students in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama.

Higher Education

The oldest and largest public university in the state of Alabama

Serves nearly 40,000 students
7,095 faculty and staff
$2.6B economic impact
$168.4 million in earned external funding for research and development and other activities, a 70% increase in sponsored awards from fiscal year 2018
In 2020 Forbes magazine named UA on of America’s Best Employers for Diversity
UA students continue to win prestigious national awards, including 15 Rhodes Scholars, 57 Goldwater Scholars, 16 Truman Scholars, 36 Hollings Scholars, and 15 Boren Scholars

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A private, four-year liberal arts college affiliated with the Presbyterian Church

Serves nearly 900 students
The college’s first female president, Dr. Cynthia Warrick, took her post in 2017
Comprises the School of Business, School of Arts and Science, and the School of Education
Stillman provides dual-enrollment opportunities for high school students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), cybersecurity and ACT preparation
Ranked among the top tier of Comprehensive colleges in the South offering Bachelor’s degrees and one of the “15 Most Wired College Campuses” by U.S. News & World Report

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One of the largest two-year colleges in the state with two campuses in Tuscaloosa

Approximately 7,000 students enrolled, 3,000 of them full-time
A top trade and technical school statewide
Partnered with MBUSI to develop a Mechatronics program
16 technical programs available to students with various corporate partnership and apprenticeship opportunities
Accelerated High School program offers eligible high school juniors and seniors the chance to enroll in college classes concurrently with high school classes
Participating in Alabama’sReady to Work program, providing a career pathway for individuals with limited education and employment experience

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K-12 Public and Private Schools

Tuscaloosa County has two public school systems, a city and county school system, that comprise 58 schools and serve nearly 30,000 students. There are also six private schools.

Early Career Pathways

Exposure opportunities in the trade and technical field begin as early as middle school.

A new Logistics Training Center for students was recently opened for students.
More than 4,000 eighth graders attend an annual career expo, Worlds of Work, presented by West AlabamaWorks.
High schools also offer work co-op programs, which allow students to attend school for a portion of the day and work the other half of the day.
The West AlabamaWorks Career Connect resource is an online tool that matches job seekers to employers looking to hire. While available on any device, the Career Connect workforce initiative is also accessible in-person at a kiosk at the West Alabama Chamber of Commerce.

Learn more about these programs and our school systems at the links below:

Tuscaloosa City Schools

Tuscaloosa County Schools

Success by the Numbers

$24,450,898

for workforce support
& training since 2017

18,275

job seekers served
through Career Connect

27,650+

students served
at Worlds of Work events

Lifelong Learners

Our higher education institutions offer continuous learning opportunities and community education courses, as do workforce development and business organizations. Click through the links below to explore options.