Study in Montgomery, The United States

About Montgomery

Montgomery is the capital of Alabama, in the southeastern United States. It is a city where U.S. history is close at hand: the Alabama State Capitol, the Civil Rights Memorial, the Legacy Museum, the Rosa Parks Museum and Martin Luther King Jr.'s church are all in town.

For international students, Montgomery is a mid-size city with two public universities and a small private campus, modest living costs and a warm climate. It suits students who want small classes and a city where the civil rights movement can be studied on site.

Studying in Montgomery

Our directory lists three universities in Montgomery. Alabama State University (ASU) is a public, historically Black university (HBCU). Its history begins in Marion, where the Lincoln Normal School opened on 13 November 1867 with 113 students, which makes it one of the oldest HBCUs and the first in Alabama. The school moved to Montgomery in 1887 and took the name Alabama State University in 1969. Today it offers 63 undergraduate and graduate degree programmes and has more than 100 international students from 35 countries. The U.S. Department of Education's College Navigator counts 4,081 students and a student-to-faculty ratio of 15 to 1.

Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) was established in 1967 and is accredited by SACSCOC. It has about 5,200 students and six colleges: Business; Education; Liberal Arts and Social Sciences; Nursing and Health Sciences; Sciences; and University College. Its teams, the Warhawks, compete in 11 NCAA Division II sports. South University, a private for-profit university, has a small Montgomery campus with about 300 students and programmes in business and technology, counselling and psychology, criminal justice, healthcare, nursing and public health; it has no campus housing.

Teaching is in English. ASU asks international applicants for TOEFL 61 (internet-based) or Duolingo 100 and charges a $30 application fee; the undergraduate deadline for the fall semester, which begins in August, is 1 June. Degree students need an F student visa: once admitted, they receive a Form I-20 from the university and apply at a U.S. embassy or consulate. According to EducationUSA, international students may work on campus for up to 20 hours a week in their first year.

Cost of living for students

College Navigator gives these figures for 2024-25 for students from outside Alabama:

• Alabama State University: $19,576 in tuition and fees, $7,816 for food and housing on campus
• Auburn University at Montgomery: $20,668 in tuition and fees, $7,368 for food and housing on campus

Public transport is run by The M, the city's municipal transit system, with 14 fixed bus routes on weekdays from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. A single ride costs $2.00, or $1.00 with a valid school ID; a 31-day pass costs $45.00, or $25.00 for students.

Getting around and daily life

The M's published bus hours cover weekdays and Saturdays only, so students without a car should plan around them. The M also runs an on-demand micro-transit service within the city limits. South University points out that its campus is a short drive from downtown and close to the I-85 and I-65 highways.

The climate has mild winters and hot summers. At Montgomery's airport, the 1991-2020 normals of NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information give an average temperature of 48.1 °F (about 9 °C) in January and 82.9 °F (about 28 °C) in July, when average daily highs reach 93.7 °F (about 34 °C).

Frequently asked questions

Which universities are in Montgomery?

Our directory lists Alabama State University, a public HBCU whose history goes back to 1867; Auburn University at Montgomery, founded in 1967; and the Montgomery campus of South University.

What English level does Alabama State University require?

ASU accepts TOEFL 61 (internet-based) or a Duolingo English Test score of 100. Students from English-speaking countries are exempt.

How much does a year cost in Montgomery?

For 2024-25, College Navigator gives out-of-state tuition and fees of $19,576 at ASU and $20,668 at AUM, plus about $7,400 to $7,800 for food and housing on campus.

Is there public transport for students?

Yes. The M runs 14 bus routes; students with a valid school ID pay $1.00 a ride or $25.00 for a 31-day pass.