Athens State University

Public · AL

School data & stats

TypePublic

LocationAL · South

SettingRural

Undergrads2,446

Student:faculty14:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate—

6-yr grad rate—

Drop-out rate—

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition—

Out-of-state tuition—

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity26.3%

Gender diversity72.6%

International0.2%

Identity—

Overview

Athens State University, in northern Alabama, is structured differently from most four-year colleges: it is an upper-division institution, admitting only students who have already completed roughly two years of coursework, typically at a community college, along with graduate students. There is no freshman or sophomore class in the traditional sense, and the university exists specifically to serve transfer and completion students, many of them working adults.

Academics

Degree programs concentrate in education, business, and arts and sciences, delivered with an eye toward finishing a bachelor's degree efficiently after community-college work. A large share of coursework is offered online, reflecting the university's working-adult and place-bound student base.

Worth knowing

Because Athens State enrolls no incoming freshmen, it is not a fit for a student planning a traditional four-year, on-campus college experience; it makes far more sense as a transfer destination after an associate degree or as an online completion option.

athens.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate—

Enrolled mid-50%—

Test policynot reported

Rec letters—

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

AdmissionRolling

Applying