University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) Student Demographics

Many people are aware that the University of Alabama Birmingham (commonly referred to as UAB for short) has a proud history of serving students in the southern portion of the United States since its founding in 1936. What many folks do not realize is that the UAB student demographics actually reflect an impact on a global scale that goes far beyond simply reaching young men and women in Alabama and surrounding states like Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida. This article aims to show that the UAB student demographics are quite diverse and in many ways serve as a model makeup for peer universities aiming to mimic the diversity found on the campus of the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Perhaps the most surprising statistic for casual followers of UAB is to learn is that the degree of influence this institution of higher learning has actually makes an impact on a global scale. The total school enrollment of just over 18,000 students represents people from all walks of life as there are 110 different countries representing in what some onlookers would consider a surprisingly diverse student body given the Alabama location which is not normally associated with being an international hub. Even when analyzing the demographics from a purely domestic perspective there is no denying that this college has a makeup comprised of varying backgrounds and ways of thinking that rival any comparable scholastic environment as evident by the fact that student enrollment encapsulates pupils from all 50 states.

The varied makeup of the school goes beyond mere geographical diversity. In fact, from an ethnic diversity perspective UAB posts numbers envied by other colleges aspiring to foster a population make up that promotes such varied viewpoints and backgrounds. While the percentage of Hispanic Americans enrolled at the University of Alabama Birmingham is well below the US percentage of 14.7% the campus wide figure of 1.7% of the student body is about on par with the state population of Alabama which is comprised of 2.9% Latin or Hispanic Americans. Despite the Latin Americans figure UAB actually exceeds nationwide ratios in other areas. In terms of percentage of African Americans (27.1% of the student body) and Asian Americans (4.4% of students) UAB is above both state and nationwide levels. While the percentage of Caucasian students currently attending UAB (65.3%) is below both the state of Alabama (71%) and overall US Census national figure (73.9%) this is generally considered a positive movement for promoting a less homogeneous student body.

There is an applicable old saying along the lines of "two heads are not better than one when they have the same mind" and this is rarely the case with the UAB student demographics that promote both geographical and ethnic diversity school wide so that the whole of the university will be greater than the sum of its parts.

Relocating to Birmingham

When it comes the Gulf States, Birmingham is a classic southern city. If you are considering relocating to Birmingham, here is a snapshot of the city.

Birmingham is a medium sized city located in Jefferson County, Alabama. This city has a population of 242,820 residents, and is on the decline - with a loss of 8.5% of its numbers in the last ten years. Home to several famous residents, including politician Condoleeza Rice and Courteney Cox, actress, this city is a densely populated region (taking up 149.9 square miles). Birmingham is also known for its unique racial profile.

When relocating to Birmingham, there are a few facts to be considered. The median age of the residents in this city is 34.3 years, slightly younger than the median age of the rest of the United States. The median yearly household income in Birmingham is $26,735 - below the national average. Housing costs are below average as well, both for the state of Alabama and for the rest of the US. The cost of purchasing a home in Birmingham is, on average, $62,100. Many residents of the city choose to rent their housing, with monthly rates averaging $348.

The racial makeup of Birmingham, Alabama is unlike the rest of the state or of the United States. Here, 73.5% of the residents stated that they were Black, while only 23.5% stated that they were white/non-Hispanic. 1.6% of the residents indicated they were Hispanic. Only about 2.1% of the population is foreign-born, coming from outside of the US. 18.5% of the adult residents of Birmingham indicated they held a Bachelor's Degree or higher, and 38% of the adult population stated they were married as of the last census.

Also to be considered when relocating to Birmingham are the crime and weather conditions. The climate in Birmingham is similar to that of the rest of Alabama. Average high temperatures in the city reach about 90ºF throughout the summer months, and average low temperatures fall to around 32ºF in the winter. Precipitation (in the form of rain) is slightly more than average in the city of Birmingham, with amounts reaching up to six inches per month in the springtime. Crime is a problem in Birmingham, although not as bad as in some other urban areas. The national average on the crime index scale is 325.2, and Birmingham rated a score of 803.1.

Birmingham, Alabama is also in an area that receives a lot of tornado activity - tornadoes occur in the city about 197% more frequently than they do in the rest of the United States. Universities and colleges are located both within the city limits and nearby, with the University of Alabama at Birmingham being the largest. Birmingham is a large city, and the next nearest larger city is Chicago, Illinois (578.2 miles away).

WVTM, 2-15-09, Birmingham, AL

Alabama pumps more than $1 million to develop alternative energy sources across the state.



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Real Estate City Profiles - Birmingham, Alabama

Birmingham, Alabama is a great place to live and work. The city is rich with history and culture, and the consistently strong economy helps make Birmingham real estate a good financial investment.

So in this city profile, we will take a closer look at the city of Birmingham, Alabama from several angles, such as education, lifestyle, real estate and more.

Birmingham's Climate & Weather

Being located in the Deep South of the United States, Birmingham has a humid climate. Actually, in scientific terms, the climate here is considered to be subtropical (meaning hot summers and plenty of rainfall). The city averages about 52 inches of rain each year.

The Birmingham winters could best be described as mild to chilly. In January, one of the coldest months, the average daily high is around 53 degrees Fahrenheit, and the average low is around 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

Basic City Stats - Population, Geography, Etc.

Birmingham is the largest city in the state of Alabama. The city lies partly in Jefferson County and partly in Shelby County. Birmingham is the county seat of Jefferson County, Alabama. Geographically speaking, Birmingham is located in the north-central part of Alabama.

To chart the population growth of Birmingham, Alabama, one simply has to compare data over the last few years. In 2000, the population was around 242,000 in the city of Birmingham. Six years later in 2006, the population had actually decreased to about 230,000 in the city.

Today, in 2008, the population has gone back up again and is currently estimated at just over 242,000. So when you consider the last eight years, the population of Birmingham has more or less stayed the same (with a few ups and downs).

Note that these numbers pertain to the city alone, and not to the entire metro area of Birmingham. When you consider the entire metropolitan area of Birmingham, Alabama, the population is well over one million people.

Schools In and Around Birmingham, AL

You can't talk about real estate in a particular city without talking about the city's schools. After all, schools play a major role in property values (in addition to being a quality of life concern). So let's take a quick look at the school situation in this city.

Within the metropolitan Birmingham area, there are three universities, three colleges, four junior colleges, three technical schools, four business schools, and 276 public schools. As you can see, there is plenty of educational opportunity in and around Birmingham, Alabama, which makes a real estate investment much more sound (not to mention boosting the quality of life).

K-12 schools are operated under the purview of the Birmingham Public Schools, which consists of eight elementary schools, a district-wide school for grades 3-8, two middle schools, two high schools, and several alternative programs. In all, these schools serve more than 8,000 K-12 students in Birmingham, Alabama.

At the collegiate level, there are some excellent institutions in Birmingham, including the University of Alabama at Birmingham (also a major employer in the city), Samford University and the University of Montevallo (just south of Birmingham in Montevallo. AL).

Employment & Economy

The largest employers in the city are the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Baptist Medical Centers, BellSouth, and Jefferson County Public Schools. The steel industry also plays a big role in the city's economy, and many jobs can be attributed to steel production and processing facilities.

The Birmingham metropolitan area is consistently ranked as one of America's best places to work, based in part on the salary rates in the area (combined with the relatively low cost of living). In fact, a 2006 study by Salary.com ranked the city #2 on a list of best places to live for building personal net worth!

Should You Buy Real Estate in the Birmingham Area?

Should you buy a home in Birmingham, Alabama? This is a question that only you, as the home buyer, can answer for yourself. Every city in the U.S. has its pros and cons, with regard to quality of life, real estate values, and other factors. And this applies to Birmingham just as well. Hopefully, however, this guide has given you a better insight into this wonderful southern city.