Founded in 1896, the University of Montevallo is nestled in the heart of Alabama, approximately 35 miles south of Birmingham. Designed by the architects behind New York’s Central Park and the grounds surrounding North Carolina’s Biltmore House, our campus serves as a picturesque backdrop to match the University’s world-class educational offerings. White columns, expansive lawns, brick walkways and stately oaks are just part of the campus’ beauty that has earned widespread acclaim. Southern Living magazine even named us among the “South’s Most Beautiful Colleges” in 2020. As the only public liberal arts university in Alabama, the University of Montevallo has the charm of a private school experience while providing the value of a state-supported institution. As a small school, we are committed to creating big opportunities for students. Montevallo’s list of national accolades grows each year. U.S. News & World Report has ranked UM as one of the top Public Regional Universities for the past 14 years, as well as a Best Value School and one of the most innovative schools in the nation, and the institution has been named a College of Distinction for 12 consecutive years. At UM, we don’t merely inspire – we teach our students how to harness inspiration, become versatile and give back. Through our accreditations, scholarships and faculty resources, we’ve cultivated a reputation for producing bright minds. Montevallo offers academic programs in four colleges: Arts and Sciences, Business, Education and Human Development and Fine Arts. Students choose from more than 30 degree programs and more than 70 majors and concentrations. They participate in an educational environment boasting an average class size of 13 and have unprecedented opportunities for conducting undergraduate research under full-time faculty mentors. UM fields 23 NCAA Division II athletic teams competing in the Gulf South Conference, giving student-athletes ample opportunity to don the purple and gold.