Admit rate has ranged 53%–90% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
The University of Montevallo is Alabama's public liberal arts university, a designation that defines its character: a small, residential campus with a focus on the arts, sciences, and professional programs, offering a more intimate, hands-on alternative to the state's sprawling flagship. It's a place where students can pursue a surprisingly diverse range of majors—from ceramics and broadcast production to strength and conditioning—within a tight-knit community that revolves around its over 90 student organizations. While its graduation rate and post-graduate earnings are modest, it provides a distinctive, personalized education at a public-school price point.
Admission requirements
Test-blind — scores not considered
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
TOEFL (non-native English)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
2,151
In-state tuition
$13,948
Out-of-state tuition
$26,968
Graduation Rate
54%
Average Aid Package
$15,776
Student Organizations
Over 90
Median Earnings (10yr)
$42,957
FAFSA Priority Deadline
March 1
Financial Aid Recipients
64.23%
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$42,957
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.4×
Median debt at graduation
$24,000
Graduation rate
54%
First-year retention
73%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
52%
Pell (lower-income) share
32%
First-gen share (among federal-aid recipients)
33%
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Accounting and Related Services$44,933
Finance and Financial Management Services$44,384
Marketing$37,208
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$34,872
Biology, General$32,569
Business Administration, Management and Operations
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
1
Per 1,000 students
0.39
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
100
Summer high
89°F
Winter low
42°F
Annual rain
57.3"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
61
Scholarly works
786
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
1.0%
Bottom → top quintile
14%
From bottom quintile
7%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at University of Montevallo?
University of Montevallo's acceptance rate is approximately 54% (Montevallo, AL), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
How much does University of Montevallo cost?
At University of Montevallo, the average net price (after aid) is about $17,683 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend University of Montevallo?
University of Montevallo enrolls approximately 2,151 undergraduate students.
Where is University of Montevallo located?
University of Montevallo is located in Montevallo, AL.
Admissions
Admissions at Montevallo are described as "fairly competitive," with the university admitting just over half of its applicants. The process is rolling, meaning applications are reviewed as they are received. A key feature is that the university has waived the ACT/SAT score requirement for admission, placing greater emphasis on academic performance in high school. For those who do submit scores, the middle 50% SAT range for admitted students is typically between 1013 and 1280, and the ACT range is 18 to 26. The average high school GPA of admitted freshmen is a 3.62, with a significant portion (45%) reporting a GPA of 3.75 or higher. The university employs superscoring for standardized tests, meaning it will consider a student's highest section scores across all test dates. While the is a standard tool for understanding how colleges weigh factors like class rank, essays, and recommendations, the specific Montevallo CDS detailing the importance of 'demonstrated interest' or other specific factors was not among the provided sources.
Application Process: Rolling decision format.
Testing Policy: ACT/SAT score requirement is waived.
Academic Profile: Average admitted GPA is 3.62; middle 50% SAT 1013-1280, ACT 18-26.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
$32,391
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies$31,314
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$31,133
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Montevallo's academic identity is anchored by its status as Alabama's public liberal arts university, promoting a broad-based education alongside specialized professional training. The curriculum is notably diverse, with over 30 undergraduate majors spanning the arts, sciences, business, and education. Popular majors include Elementary Education, Art/Art Studies, Exercise Science and Kinesiology, Business Administration, and Psychology. The university emphasizes that its programs are designed to equip students with critical thinking skills. Unique and hands-on programs stand out, such as a B.S. in Strength and Conditioning, a B.S. in Broadcast Production, and B.A. and B.F.A. options in disciplines like Ceramics and Music. This blend allows students to pursue niche passions—like coordinated dietetics within Nutrition and Wellness—within a supportive, teaching-focused environment. The academic structure encourages exploration across disciplines, a hallmark of the liberal arts model.
Life at Montevallo is defined by high involvement in a compact, residential community. The university explicitly states that student life is built on the pillars of "Fun" and "Friendship," facilitated by a robust network of over 90 student organizations that cater to virtually every interest. This creates a campus where finding a small, like-minded group is a central part of the experience. Greek life is reported to be a prominent feature of the social scene. The administration's Division of Student Affairs frames the campus as a "special place" that values all community members and strives to challenge and assist students in finding their place both academically and socially. This suggests an intentional, supportive environment where extracurricular involvement is not just encouraged but is a key mechanism for student integration and satisfaction.
Graduation and earnings outcomes for Montevallo graduates are mixed, reflecting its mission as an access-oriented public institution. The four-year graduation rate is notably low, reported at 38%, though more students complete their degrees within six years. Early career earnings are modest. Data shows median earnings one year after graduation around $32,438 to $36,427. Earnings growth is evident, with figures rising to a median of approximately $44,835 five years after graduation. One external source cites a higher median earnings figure of $46,262 four years post-graduation, claiming it is above the national average, though the Department of Education's College Scorecard reports a lower median earnings figure for a longer-term horizon. This variance highlights how outcomes can differ significantly by major and individual circumstance. The university's own statistics page points to resources like Graduation Rates and Retention Rates, indicating these are tracked metrics.
The —the average cost after grants and scholarships are applied—is a central figure for Montevallo families. A significant majority of students (64.23%) receive financial aid, with the average aid package amounting to $15,776. The university encourages all students to complete the FAFSA by its priority deadline of March 1 for entering students. Aid primarily comes in the form of grants and scholarships, which do not need to be repaid. The university provides a Net Price Calculator tool to help families estimate their individual cost, which factors in tuition, fees, housing, meals, books, and personal expenses. The provided sources do not indicate that Montevallo has a policy of meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need or a "no-loan" policy where loans are eliminated from aid packages for certain income brackets. Families are directed to contact the Student Aid Office for specific consumer information and are informed about the availability of private education loans as an option outside the federal aid system.
Montevallo carves out a unique niche in Alabama's higher education landscape. It is not a massive research university nor a purely vocational school; it is the state's designated public liberal arts institution. This mission translates into a specific experience: a small, residential campus where students can get to know their professors and each other, paired with an academic portfolio that is both broad and surprisingly specific. Where else in the state can you major in Ceramics, Broadcast Production, and Strength and Conditioning all on one campus? This combination fosters a particular type of student—one who seeks a traditional college community feel but wants to pursue a specialized, often hands-on, field of study. The emphasis on student organizations and creating "friendship" through involvement cultivates a cohesive campus culture. It's a school for the student who wants the attention of a private liberal arts college but at a public university price, and who values a tight-knit community as much as their academic major.
University of Montevallo seal · sourceAbout UM | University of Montevallo · sourceInformational map by University of Montevallo - Issuu · sourceUniversity of Montevallo | College of Distinction · source
