•AVERAGE: 69
Located in Auburn, Alabama, Auburn University is a public research university and one of the largest institutes of higher education in the South. Established in 1856 as the East Alabama Male College, in 1872 under the Morrill Act, the school became the first land-grant college in the south and underwent multiple name changes before arriving at its current moniker in 1960, which was thought to best suit both the university’s location as well as its growing and varied academic programs. The school has been co-education since 1892 – one of the first in its state, – and today is one of the few American universities that is designated as a land, sea, and space grant university.
Academic Programs
Auburn University offers approximately 140 degree options through more than a dozen colleges and schools. Accredited through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools since 1922, Auburn awards degrees at undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels. The several colleges and schools that make up the university include the College of Agriculture; College of Architecture, Design, and Construction; Raymond J. Harbert College of Business; College of Education; Samuel Ginn College of Engineering; School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences; College of Human Sciences; College of Liberal Arts; School of Nursing; College of Sciences and Mathematics; and the College of Veterinary Medicine.Auburn University also offers a number of distance and continuing education programs that allow students to earn their degree through a variety of different delivery methods. Several undergraduate and graduate degrees may be earned entirely or partially online through Auburn’s colleges and schools, including the College of Business, which awards an online BSBA in Accountancy as well as a Master of Accountancy and the College of Engineering which offers an online graduate program.
Student Life
Auburn University is home to over 25,000 students – more than 20,000 of which are undergraduates. Residence halls provide housing for a number of Auburn students and the campus offers a variety of dining options as well. A number of student-led clubs and organizations exist, which cater to a variety of interests, passions, cultures, and activities and allow students to plug into campus life outside of the classroom.Auburn’s community keeps several cherished traditions alive – one such includes Auburn’s “Hey Day”, a tradition originally started in the 1950’s and ‘60’s, on which students all wear name tags and greet each other with “Hey,” every time they pass one another. Campus leaders join forces, passing out name tags in support of this tradition, contributing to Auburn’s reputation as one of the friendliest campuses around.
Nicknamed the Tigers, Auburn’s varsity sports teams compete at the NCAA Division I-A level, and are a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team’s battle cry is known as the “War Eagle” and is used to greet members of the Auburn Family, which include students, alumni, and fans alike.