


Courtesy of University of West Alabama
The University of West Alabama is a public university in Livingston, Alabama, whose origins date to 1835. It began as Livingston Female Academy, established to educate women in the region. Its later development into a teacher-training institution helps explain why education remains a prominent part of its academic offerings.
The institution expanded beyond teacher preparation, became Livingston University, and adopted the University of West Alabama name in 1995. Today it offers undergraduate and graduate programs, including online study. That history connects a university with a regional mission to a student population that extends well beyond Livingston.
The University of West Alabama organizes its academic programs across business and technology, education, liberal arts, natural sciences and mathematics, and nursing, with graduate study available in selected fields. Prospective students can explore subjects ranging from accounting and marketing to biology, psychology, teacher education, and nursing.
The choice of major can affect more than the courses a student takes. Teacher preparation and nursing, for example, may involve separate admission standards, supervised practice, examinations, or state licensing requirements. Applicants considering a regulated profession should check the current catalog and the relevant program's requirements, particularly if they intend to work outside Alabama.
UWA also serves students studying online. An online degree may share the university's institutional accreditation while having different course schedules, placement requirements, or fees from a campus-based program. The program-specific plan of study is the useful comparison point.
The University of West Alabama's main campus is in Livingston, a small city in Sumter County in west Alabama. Students should expect a small-town setting rather than an urban campus with extensive nearby public transit.
That setting matters for transportation. First-year students may register and park a car on campus, and a car can be useful for errands, off-campus work, or travel home. Key Field in Meridian, Mississippi, is a nearby airport, but students planning flights should check current routes and ground transportation rather than assume an easy airport connection.
The university's online programs also mean that campus location affects students differently: it is central to residential and commuting students, while distance learners may need to visit only when their particular program requires it.
The University of West Alabama describes its purpose in terms of education, service, and the needs of the region it serves. Its public-university mission encompasses undergraduate and graduate study, alongside outreach and learning opportunities that reach beyond the Livingston campus.
For applicants, the practical question is how that stated mission appears in a particular program. A prospective teacher might examine school-based placements; a nursing applicant should examine clinical arrangements; and an online student should assess advising and access to courses. A mission statement expresses institutional priorities, not a guarantee of any individual student's experience or outcome.
Name of the institution
University of West AlabamaLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PublicSetting type
Rural: RemoteInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
5,000 - 9,999School type
UniversityMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1835University of West Alabama is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Associate's degree
Bachelor's degree
Master's degree
Post-master's certificate
Doctor's degree - research/scholarshipData last updated on November 2, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.