As an athlete looking to attend college, you’re going to want to be at one of the best NAIA schools in Alabama right?
Enrolling in the right athletic schools can help you succeed on the field, in the gym, and in the classroom.
The NAIA is different from NCAA Division I, II, and III because it doesn’t require athletes to have athletics scholarships; instead, it lets them pay just like regular students.
Here are some of the best athletic schools in Alabama which are part of the NAIA that you might want to consider applying to if you love sports or want an awesome college experience overall.
For your interest:
- Complete list of 260 Best NAIA Schools For Student Athletes
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- 4 Best NAIA Schools In Texas That You Can Get Into
What are NAIA schools?
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is a college athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletics programs.
The NAIA was founded in 1940 and currently has over 250 member schools. Most NAIA schools are small, private colleges and universities.
What state has the most NAIA schools?
The states that have the most 50-50 NAIA schools are;
- Indiana
- California
- Indiana and
- Iowa
Why do people go to NAIA?
NAIA schools offer many benefits to student-athletes including smaller class sizes, personal attention from coaches, and the opportunity to compete at a high level of athletics.
Additionally, NAIA schools are often more affordable than their Division I counterparts.
For these reasons, many student-athletes choose to apply to NAIA schools.
What are the best NAIA schools in Alabama?
Arizona is home to five NAIA schools: Faulkner University, University of Mobile, Oakwood University, Stillman College, and Talladega College.
| Best NAIA Schools in Alabama | Teams | City | Conference |
| Faulkner University | Faulkner Eagles | Montgomery | Southern States |
| University of Mobile | Mobile Rams | Mobile | Southern States |
| Oakwood University | Oakwood Ambassadors | Huntsville | Gulf Coast |
| Stillman College | Stillman Tigers | Tuscaloosa | Southern States |
| Talladega College | Talladega Tornadoes | Talladega | Southern States |
Faulkner University
Faulkner University is the first on our list of the best NAIA schools in Alabama, it is a private Christian school located in Montgomery Alabama, founded in 1942.
As a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, Faulkner participates in the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) for most of its sports.
Its football program competes in the Mid-South Conference’s Sun Division beginning in the 2016 fall season.
Faulkner University teams are called the Faulkner Eagles and it has about 12 varsity sports, including:
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross country
- Football
- Golf, and
- Soccer.
Women may participate in the following sports: club sports include bass fishing, cheerleading, and eSports.
Contact school:
Address: 5345 Atlanta Hwy, Montgomery, AL 36109, United States.
Phone: +1 334-272-5820
Also read on the 10 Best NAIA Schools in Michigan For Student-Athletes
University of Mobile
The University of Mobile is a private Baptist university located in Mobile Alabama, it is one of the top College Athletic schools in Alabama and a part of the NAIA.
Mobile University’s athletic teams are the Rams, the Rams compete primarily in the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC).
Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) has been home to the Rams from 1985-86 to 2009-10.
In addition to 22 intercollegiate varsity sports, the University of Mobile does:
Track and field (indoors and outdoors)
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Bowling
- Cross country
- Golf
- Soccer
- Tennis etc.
Women sports include; cheerleading and spirit squad are co-ed sports.
Contact school:
Address: 5735 College Pkwy, Mobile, AL 36613, United States.
Phone: +1 251-442-2222.
Oakwood University
Oakwood University is a historically Black Seventh-day Adventist institution of higher learning that provides quality Christian education located in Huntsville Alabama.
As one of the NAIA schools in Alabama, Oakwood’s athletic team, the Oakwood Ambassadors participates in the Golf Coast for most of its sports.
There are about five head coaches at Oakwood, two of which are responsible for the men’s teams and three of which are responsible for the women’s teams.
The most popular sport at Oakwood is basketball, with 17 different teams that play.
There are about 16 volleyball teams, 13 soccer teams, and 11 baseball teams.
Contact school:
Address: 7000 Adventist Blvd NW, Huntsville, AL 35896, United States.
Phone: +1 256-726-7000.
Related rankings:
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Stillman College
Stillman College is one of the private historically black Presbyterian colleges in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Stillman has also been one of the best NAIA colleges in Alabama since 2018 when it joined the NAIA Division I level.
Stillman College’s athletic team is called the Stillman Tigers and has been competing in the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) since the 2018–19 academic year.
Contact school:
Address: 3601 Stillman Blvd, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401, United States.
Phone: +1 205-349-4240.
Talladega College
Talladega College is one of the oldest private historically black liberal arts colleges in the city of Talladega, it was founded in 1867.
It is also one of the best NAIA colleges in Alabama, its athletic team is called the Talladega Tornadoes and competes in the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC).
Talladega offers 15 different varsity sports programs, including men’s teams for baseball, basketball, cross country, soccer, track, and field (indoor and outdoor).
On the women’s side, basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, track and field (indoor and outdoor), and volleyball are among the sports.
And on the co-ed side, competitive cheer and competitive dance are included.
Former sports for the men’s and women’s teams included golf.
Contact school:
Address: 627 W Battle St, Talladega, AL 35160, United States.
Phone: +1 256-761-6100.
Best NAIA schools in Alabama for basketball
These are the college athletic schools in Alabama with the best basketball programs that are NAIA affiliated;
- Faulkner University
- University of Mobile
- Oakwood University
- Stillman College
- Talladegaa College
Best NAIA school in Alabama for football
- Faulkner University
Faulkner University is currently the best football school in Alabama that is a member of the NAIA
Best NAIA baseball schools in Alabama
- Faulkner University
- University of Mobile
- Stillman College
- Talladega College
Best NAIA softball schools in Alabama
- Faulkner University
- University of Mobile
- Stillman College
- Talladega College
Best NAIA soccer schools in Alabama
- Faulkner University
- University of Mobile
- Oakwood University
- Talladega College
FAQs on NAIA Schools in Alabama
Is Talladega College Division 1?
Yes, Talladega College is a member of the Division I level of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC).
Are all NAIA Schools Historically Black?
Not all NAIA schools are historically black, however, a good percentage of them are.
How many HBCUs are in NAIA?
There are about 23 of the 105 institutions designated HBCUs that are members of the NAIA. In 1953, the NAIA became the first collegiate athletics association to invite historically black colleges and universities into membership.
Are all NAIA schools religious?
Not all NAIA schools are religious, but we have a very good percentage of NAIA schools that are religiously affiliated, most are private institutions, and many are religious.
What is the University of Mobile known for?
The University of Mobile is famous for being among the top 10 regional liberal arts colleges in the South by U.S. News & World Report.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, these are the five best NAIA schools in Alabama for athletics.
All of these schools have great programs and facilities that will help you succeed in your sport.
If you are looking to get into an NAIA school, then these are the ones you should consider.
Be sure to research more than just these five schools because there are many other good NAIA schools in Alabama.
Recommendation
To read more articles about athletic schools, visit our ATHLETIC SCHOOLS category, but if you are just interested in NAIA member schools, visit our NAIA Colleges category.
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