Former names
|
East Alabama Male College (1856–1872) Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama (1872–1899) Alabama Polytechnic Institute (1899–1960) |
---|---|
Motto | For The Advancement of Science and Arts |
Type |
Public University Flagship Land-grant Space-grant Sea-grant |
Established | 1856 |
Academic affiliation
|
APLU ORAU SURA ACES |
Endowment | $646.6 million (2016) |
President | Steven Leath |
Vice-president | Donald L. Large, Jr. |
Provost | Timothy R. Boosinger |
Academic staff
|
1,216 (2015) |
Administrative staff
|
6,965 (2015) |
Students | 28,290 (2016) |
Undergraduates | 22,658 (2016) |
Postgraduates | 5,632 (2016) |
Location | Auburn, Alabama, U.S. |
Campus | College town, 1,843 acres (7.45 km²) |
Battle Cry | War Eagle |
Colors | Burnt Orange and Navy Blue |
Athletics | NCAA Division I – SEC |
Nickname | Tigers |
Mascot | Aubie the Tiger |
Website | www |
University rankings | |
---|---|
National | |
Forbes | 196 |
U.S. News & World Report | 99 |
Washington Monthly | 139 |
Global | |
ARWU | 501-600 |
QS | 801-1000 |
Times | 601-800 |
U.S. News & World Report | 652 |
Auburn rankings | |
---|---|
USNWR National University | 99 |
USNWR National Top Publics | 43 |
USNWR Business Schools | 63 |
USNWR Education | 71 |
USNWR Engineering | 70 |
USNWR Veterinary Medicine | 15 |
USNWR Pharmacy | 24 |
USNWR Public Affairs | 57 |
USNWR RehabilitationCounseling | 17 |
USNWR Audiology | 46 |
USNWR psychology | 103 |
USNWR Public Affairs Counseling | 83 |
USNWR Computer Science | 91 |
USNWR Biology | 100 |
USNWR English | 94 |
Auburn University (AU or Auburn) is a public research university in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 22,000 undergraduate students and a total enrollment of more than 28,000 with 1,260 faculty members, Auburn is the second largest university in Alabama. Auburn University is one of the state's two public flagship universities.
Auburn was chartered on February 1, 1856, as East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts school affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. In 1872, under the Morrill Act, it became the state's first public land-grant university and was renamed as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama. In 1892, it became the first four-year coeducational school in Alabama, and in 1899 was renamed "Alabama Polytechnic Institute" to reflect its changing mission. In 1960, its name was changed to Auburn University to acknowledge the varied academic programs and larger curriculum of a major university. In 1964, under Federal Court mandate, AU admitted its first African American student.
Auburn is among the few American universities designated as a land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research center.
The Alabama Legislature chartered the institution as the East Alabama Male College on February 1, 1856, coming under the guidance of the Methodist Church in 1859. Its first president was Reverend William J. Sasnett, and the school opened its doors in 1859 to a student body of eighty and a faculty of ten.
Auburn's early history is inextricably linked with the Civil War and the Reconstruction-era South. Classes were held in "Old Main" until the college was closed due to the war, when most of the students and faculty left to enlist. The campus was a training ground for the Confederate Army, and "Old Main" served as a hospital for Confederate wounded.