Quick Facts

The Alabama Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (AAICU) represents independent institutions on issues of public policy.

The AAICU Scholarship Fund serves independent higher education in the state by raising dollars for scholars attending our member schools. 

 There are 14 independent colleges and universities located across Alabama.

Nationally, independent and public colleges and universities enroll the same percentage of students with family incomes below $25,000 (14 percent), and also educate almost the same proportion of minority students (30 percent at independent colleges,27 percent at the publics).

Over 90% of students attending an Alabama four-year independent college or university had all or part of the cost of their private college education offset by some form of student aid. 

Independent colleges and universities enroll over 24,000 students, with over half from Alabama.

Only 49% of students graduate in 4 years from public colleges and universities, while 79% of students do so from independent institutions – meaning fewer years of paying tuition and more years earning an income.