University of North Alabama
Established in 1830, the University of North Alabama (UNA) is Alabama’s oldest state-funded institution of higher education and offers more than 170 majors and minors across four academic colleges, including a new Doctor of Social Work program. UNA is located on a 130-acre campus in residential Florence and serves approximately 11,000 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students in person and online. The school also is home to a renowned collegiate athletics program with seven Division II National Championships and is a member of NCAA Division I and the United Athletic Conference.
In September, the UNA Lions played their first-ever on-campus football game on Bobby Wallace Field at the new Bank Independent Stadium. The $65 million stadium consists of a football/soccer field as well as a baseball field and accommodates more than 10,000 spectators, with the ability for future expansion. It also features a 360-degree concourse, weight room, suites, stadium club and multiple seating options and fan amenities.
UNA successfully concluded its $100 million Shine On, Gold campaign, its largest fundraising initiative in September. The campaign included funding for the new stadium, a new music performance center, scholarships and more.
In October, UNA officially launched a multi-year celebration leading up to its bicentennial in 2030. The tradition of commemorating the school’s official opening began with Founders’ Day in 2020 and includes student events, recognition of campus milestones and historical reflections.
“The University of North Alabama is on the cusp of its third century of providing high-quality education,” says Dr. Kenneth Kitts, president of UNA, about the upcoming milestone. “As Alabama’s first four-year institution, UNA has led the way in ensuring our students are prepared to enter the workforce and succeed in their roles post graduation.”
Northwest Shoals Community College
Northwest Shoals Community College (NWSCC) has provided postsecondary and workforce education for more than 60 years. The comprehensive two-year college offers more than 100 certificate degrees with both academic and career technical options.
In the fall of 2025, the college hit an all-time enrollment record with more than 5,100 credit students, a 10% increase over the previous fall’s final enrollment. The previous record was set in 1992 with 4,943 students.
NWSCC also saw record growth in professional skills training in the 2024-2025 academic year, serving over 2,300 students, a 70% increase over the previous year and consistent with an over 40% average year-over-year increase for the past four academic years. The school supports more than 300 active workforce development partnerships with manufacturers, labor unions, municipalities, K-12 schools and economic development programs, including the Shoals Business Incubator and TVA. Apprenticeships are available in many programs, including industrial maintenance, part of the Alabama FAME (Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education) program; HVAC; and machining. In spring of 2025, NWSCC’s Department of Workforce Development, Training and Apprenticeships was accepted as the first cohort of the Association of Community College Trustees’ (ACCT) Scaling Apprenticeships at Community Colleges Project.
Last October, the college opened a virtual reality lab, designed with specialty apps for automotive, welding, drafting and design and health programs.
NWSCC’s athletics program, reinstated in 2021, continues to grow. The college joined the Alabama Community College Conference when it launched women’s flag football as an official sport last fall. Men’s and women’s golf were the seventh and eighth athletics teams established this spring. In just over three years, the college has added more than 100 scholarships for student-athletes.
Heritage Christian University
Heritage Christian University (HCU) in Florence is a private, nonprofit institution affiliated with the Churches of Christ and offers associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees, all accredited by the Association of Biblical Higher Education.
In June, Michael D. Jackson, an HCU alum, became the school’s fifth president.
This article appears in the October 2026 issue of Business Alabama.
