University of West Alabama tops new rural college rankings

A new analysis by Washington Monthly has identified the top colleges serving rural America, ranking the University of West Alabama (UWA) as the premier institution in the category.

According to the report, UWA graduates earn a median income of $64,122 four years after graduation, which is $26,561 more than the expected earnings for graduates from a typical U.S. college. The university also addresses regional teacher shortages, with more than a quarter of its undergraduates and over three-quarters of its master’s students earning credentials in areas facing educator deficits.

UWA’s College of Education provides scholarships of up to $10,000 for students dedicated to public school teaching and operates a Center for Reimagining Rural Education. Other high-ranking institutions in the study include Sul Ross State University, Georgia Southwestern State University, and the University of the Cumberlands.