Auburn University (AU)

Auburn University is one of the nation's premier public land-grant institutions and is ranked in the Top 50 among public universities by U.S. News and World Report. Auburn maintains very high levels of research activity as an R1 institution and high standards for teaching excellence, offering bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in the arts and sciences, agriculture, architecture, business, engineering, nursing, pharmacy and veterinary medicine. Organized into 12 academic colleges, we offer more than 150 undergraduate degrees. Our 2022 enrollment of 31,764 students included 25,379 undergraduates and 5,323 graduate and professional students.

Auburn has recently been highly ranked by several national publications:

Top 25 for Happiest Students, The Princeton Review, 2022
Best College in Alabama, Money 2022
#1 university in Alabama, Forbes, 2021
#1 Best Value in Alabama, Niche.com, 2022
Top 50 Public University in the nation and #1 university in Alabama, U.S. News and World Report, 2020
Top College in the South, Forbes, 2021

The university is nationally recognized for its commitment to academic excellence, its positive work environment, its student experience and engagement as well as its beautiful campus. As a land-grant institution, Auburn is dedicated to improving the lives of the people of Alabama, the nation and the world through forward-thinking education, life-enhancing research and selfless service.

As a top-tier research university, we're among the nation's elite, but we're also known for our "Auburn Family"—the human connection of a quarter of a million alumni around the globe. Auburn people will be ready to help you now and throughout your life.

In a survey of recent graduates, 97% feel their Auburn education has enhanced their opportunity for future advancement. Auburn alumni are satisfied with their college choice, with 93% of recent graduates indicating they would choose Auburn again.

20,000 Auburn students are involved in nearly 600 student organizations on campus. You can find student groups with a huge range of interests such as advanced biofuels, the African Students Association, Greek societies, Women in Science and the Auburn Marching Band — organizations focused on athletics, the arts, culture, outdoor adventure, faith, service, professional development, networking and so much more. Through Student Involvement, the university supports students so they can create, organize, lead, finance and advertise the organizations they care about as well as track their own involvement and growth.

Students can participate in more than 40 clubs and intramural sports, plus enjoy the amenities offered at the Recreation and Wellness Center, named one of the "Coolest College Recreation Centers in America," by Men's Health magazine. The center has two 50-foot climbing towers, a bouldering wall, a 1/3-mile corkscrew track and a leisure pool.

The university offers 24 residence halls in seven areas, housing 4,800 on-campus residents in suite-style living arrangements or double occupancy rooms. Dining preferences include national restaurants, like Chick-fil-A and Starbucks, as well as convenient food trucks which offer local favorites. Choices range from vegan to meat and potatoes and gluten free, meeting a variety of dietary needs and tastes.

T wo things are typical of the average Auburn student: they're the sort "who would say 'hello' walking along the concourse to class," and they're also filled with "so much school spirit" that some might consider them to be "highly obsessed with football." Many students hail from Alabama and are described as both "friendly" and loyal: "Alabama students love Alabama football; Auburn students love Auburn." This devotion lays a strong foundation in which even the meekest voice "can cause tangible change" knowing that "the Auburn Family has your back." The certainty of support makes Auburn a "welcoming place" where any student "would lend a hand in a time of need."

Student input is "very respected" at Auburn, so the "Old South small town feeling" of campus life has an easy flow. The facilities themselves, like the recreation center, are "amazing" and there's a "good food atmosphere in the community." There's also a nearby state park that provides a fun respite from university life (as do the nearby cities of Birmingham and Atlanta), and the city of Auburn "has a safe downtown area where students can go to bars" on weekends as well. Extracurricular activities abound with more than 300 student organizations, and Greek life is popular as well, though students say that "it's definitely possible to fit in without being a part of Greek life." Moreover, attendees have direct input in the abundant campus offerings, as the Student Government Association "is very strong at Auburn" and "student involvement is high." And so far as participation goes, everybody loves Aubie the Tiger-"Football Saturdays at Auburn are second to none"-which means that the university's legendary athletics "drive a ton of campus life and help unite the student body."

The University Career Center offers numerous resources to help students explore career paths, land internships, and secure placements. These services include mock interviews, workshops, job fairs, and career assessments, and the center even has a Campus Career Closet to loan professional attire to students. The school’s “size, location, and overall culture are all strengths,” and it prides itself on flipped classrooms, in which learning takes place outside of the classroom and student activities take place within. That means “lecture videos are watched as homework, and homework is done in class with support of teacher and peers.” The “access to external opportunities” such as study abroad, internships, co-ops, and extracurricular activities provide a foundational experience for students to flesh out their résumé, so “if you want good academics and good chances, Auburn is a great school.”