First-year enrollment at the University of Alabama at Huntsville is on the rise

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — The University of Alabama in Huntsville is reporting an increase in undergraduate enrollment for a second consecutive year.

UAH said it enrolled 1,220 new freshmen for fall 2025.

“We are really happy with our class,” said Dr. Michael Poll, vice provost for enrollment management. “We increased the class slightly, but we also increased the profile of the class.”

The fall 2025 freshman class had an average ACT score of 27 and an average GPA of 3.97, according to Poll.

He said this reflects the high quality of education UAH students receive.

“People understand that this is a very high quality education.”

Total undergraduate enrollment is 6,743 students, according to UAH.

A survey indicates the university is growing at a controlled pace and focused on increasing in-state enrollment.

However, he said a relatively new scholarship program is attracting more Tennessee students.

“We offer in-state courses to our Tennessee residents, and that has been positive,” he said. “The first signs for fall 2026 show even more interest in this.”

UAH launched the Tennessee Resident Scholarship Program in fall 2021.

One of the first beneficiaries of the program was Chloe Brant.

“Not being able to pay for college was one of my biggest struggles, or one of my biggest fears,” Brant told News 19. “Coming to UAH, they made it so that as a Tennessee student, I would receive in-state tuition.”

Brant is now a senior, but she says she is grateful to be a part of this program.

A survey indicates that UAH offers many scholarship opportunities.

“We’re doing everything we can to make it affordable,” he said.

With the growing number of freshmen, Poll said one of the challenges the university is watching is housing.

“Housing is scarce,” Poll said. “We are exploring public and private partnerships to potentially increase our residence halls.”

“We’re almost at capacity now, so that’s something we’re looking at,” he added.

According to UAH, graduate enrollment is also increasing. The university is celebrating a 7% increase in the number of new master’s students compared to last year. He said those gains were in colleges of business, engineering and nursing.