A Parent’s Complete Guide to the University of North Alabama (2026-2027)
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Jump to
- What is the one thing every University of North Alabama parent needs to know before move-in?
- Quick Facts for University of North Alabama Families
- A Note on Lions Identity and Financial Aid
- Getting to Florence
- What do parents need to know about University of North Alabama move-in day 2026?
- The Residence Halls: Where Your Student Might Live
- How much does University of North Alabama cost? Tuition, financial aid, and scholarships for 2026-27
- Florence and the Muscle Shoals Region: What Parents Need to Know
- When is University of North Alabama Family Weekend 2026 and how do parents plan for it?
- How can parents support their University of North Alabama student’s mental health?
- Who do University of North Alabama parents contact? Essential numbers and websites for families
- UNA’s Academic Strengths
- Getting Your Student’s Stuff Home Between Semesters
- You Are a UNA Lions Family Now
- What is University of North Alabama’s graduation rate?
- Academic Calendar
- What to Pack for University of North Alabama
What is the one thing every University of North Alabama parent needs to know before move-in?
The University of North Alabama was established in 1830 in Florence, Alabama, as LaGrange College, making it one of the oldest universities in the state of Alabama and one of the oldest west of the Appalachian Mountains.
In the 196 years since, UNA has grown from a private college into a comprehensive public university of approximately 10,000 students, offering programs from music and education through nursing, business, and the sciences in Florence, the seat of Lauderdale County on the south bank of the Tennessee River, across from the Muscle Shoals metropolitan area.
The Muscle Shoals recording heritage is the most nationally distinctive feature of the Florence and UNA geographic setting: the Muscle Shoals recording industry of the 1960s and 1970s produced a catalog of American music that is staggering in its breadth and significance. FAME Studios (established 1959 in Muscle Shoals by Rick Hall) recorded Aretha Franklin’s “I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You” (1967), Wilson Pickett’s “Mustang Sally” (1966), Percy Sledge’s “When a Man Loves a Woman” (1966), and dozens of other landmark recordings. Muscle Shoals Sound Studio (established 1969, 3614 Jackson Highway in Sheffield) recorded the Rolling Stones’ “Wild Horses” and “Brown Sugar” (1969), Paul Simon’s “Kodachrome” (1973), and the Staple Singers’ “I’ll Take You There” (1972). The documentary film “Muscle Shoals” (2013) brought national and international attention to the recording heritage of the Shoals region.
W.C. Handy, born in Florence in 1873, is the Father of the Blues: the composer of “St. Louis Blues,” “Memphis Blues,” and dozens of other compositions that established the formal structure of blues music and its influence on American popular music. The W.C. Handy Birthplace, Museum and Library in Florence is the primary heritage site honoring his legacy.
Quick Facts for University of North Alabama Families
| Family Weekend | University of North Alabama Family Weekend 2026 is September 26, 2026. |
| Location | Florence, AL 35632 |
| Enrollment | ~10,000 students |
| Type | Public University, ASUN Conference |
| In-State Tuition (2026-27) | ~$10,000/year (verify at una.edu) |
| Out-of-State Tuition (2026-27) | ~$19,000/year (verify at una.edu) |
| Room and Board | ~$10,000-$12,000/year (verify at una.edu) |
| Total Cost (in-state) | ~$23,000-$25,000/year (verify at una.edu) |
| Total Cost (out-of-state) | ~$32,000-$34,000/year (verify at una.edu) |
| Graduation Rate | ~46% (6-year) |
| Median Earnings (10 years post-grad) | ~$37,000 (verify at una.edu) |
| Nearest Airport | HSV (Huntsville International, 60 miles) |
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A Note on Lions Identity and Financial Aid
UNA’s athletic teams are the Lions, competing in the ASUN Conference at the Division I level, with football at the FCS level. The colors are royal purple and gold. The Lions compete in football, basketball, and other ASUN sports.
Financial aid at UNA is need-based and merit-based through federal, Alabama state, and institutional programs. Alabama residents should verify eligibility for the Alabama Student Assistance Program (ASAP) and other state programs. Contact una.edu/financial-aid for current programs.
Getting to Florence
Huntsville International Airport (HSV) is approximately 60 miles east of Florence via US-72, served by American, Delta, United, and Southwest from major hub markets. Huntsville’s expanding airport reflects the city’s aerospace and defense economy and provides comprehensive national connectivity for UNA families.
For families driving, US-72 connects Florence east to Huntsville (60 miles) and to Decatur. I-65 via US-72 provides access south to Birmingham (115 miles). The Tennessee River and the Wilson Dam provide the geographic defining feature of the Florence area, with the river valley visible throughout the approach to the Shoals region.
What do parents need to know about University of North Alabama move-in day 2026?
UNA’s fall move-in runs in mid-to-late August. Check una.edu/housing for your student’s building and move-in window. Florence in mid-August is hot and humid in the north Alabama Tennessee Valley way: temperatures in the low to mid 90s with the Tennessee Valley humidity, afternoon thunderstorms, and the campus in full late-summer heat.
UNA runs organized move-in with residential life staff and building-specific unloading areas.
Practical notes:
- Ship boxes ahead. UNA holds packages.
- After unloading, the Florence restaurant scene on Court Street and the downtown Florence area provides first-night dining options. The downtown Florence Court Street restaurant corridor is the most distinctive first-night dining destination.
The Residence Halls: Where Your Student Might Live
UNA’s residential system provides on-campus housing for approximately 2,000 students, with freshmen encouraged to live on campus.
The Towers Residence Complex and the other residential communities on the UNA campus provide traditional room and suite configurations for students.
The UNA dining program provides meal plan options for on-campus residents.
How much does University of North Alabama cost? Tuition, financial aid, and scholarships for 2026-27
Alabama residents should verify ASAP and other state aid eligibility. Contact una.edu/financial-aid for current programs.
| Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| In-State Tuition and Fees | ~$10,000 (verify at una.edu) |
| Out-of-State Tuition and Fees | ~$19,000 (verify at una.edu) |
| Room and Board | ~$10,000-$12,000 (verify at una.edu) |
| Books and Supplies | ~$1,200 (verify at una.edu) |
| Personal and Transportation | ~$3,000 (verify at una.edu) |
| Estimated Total In-State (before aid) | ~$24,200-$26,200 (verify at una.edu) |
| Estimated Total Out-of-State (before aid) | ~$33,200-$35,200 (verify at una.edu) |
Alabama residents should verify ASAP and other state aid eligibility. Contact una.edu/financial-aid for current programs.
If there is a gap between aid and costs, SoFi is consistently competitive on private loan rates. Always work with UNA’s financial aid office first.
FAFSA guide for UNA families Full college cost planning guide
Florence and the Muscle Shoals Region: What Parents Need to Know
The UNA parent visit provides access to one of the most musically significant regional landscapes in American history, with the FAME Studios, the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, and the W.C. Handy heritage all accessible from the Florence campus.
FAME Studios (603 E Avalon Ave, Muscle Shoals, approximately 10 miles south of Florence) is the recording studio where Rick Hall produced the recordings that defined the Muscle Shoals sound: Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Percy Sledge, Etta James, and many others. FAME Studios continues to operate as a recording facility and offers tours of the historic studio where the Shoals sound was created.
Muscle Shoals Sound Studio (3614 Jackson Highway, Sheffield, approximately 10 miles south of Florence) is the studio where the Swampers (the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section) recorded the Rolling Stones, Paul Simon, Boz Scaggs, and dozens of others after leaving FAME. The Muscle Shoals Sound Studios are now a museum and educational facility documenting the studio’s extraordinary catalog.
W.C. Handy Birthplace, Museum and Library (620 W College Street, Florence) is the birthplace museum of the Father of the Blues, with exhibits on Handy’s life, his compositions, and his role in establishing blues as a formal musical genre with lasting influence on American popular music.
Wilson Dam and the Tennessee Valley (adjacent to Florence) is one of the original Tennessee Valley Authority dams, completed in 1924, with the lock and dam infrastructure of the TVA system visible in the Tennessee River corridor below the UNA campus.
Joe Wheeler State Park (201 McLean Drive, Rogersville, approximately 25 miles east of Florence) is the Alabama state park on Wheeler Lake (the TVA reservoir east of Wilson Dam), with marina facilities, golf, and the Tennessee River lake recreation accessible from the UNA campus.
For parent visit dining: The Wash House Restaurant (Renaissance Riverview Plaza, Florence, a historic Florence dining institution in the original watering trough building of the city), and the downtown Florence Court Street restaurant corridor.
When is University of North Alabama Family Weekend 2026 and how do parents plan for it?
University of North Alabama Family Weekend 2026 is September 26, 2026.
Confirm the schedule and registration on the UNA Football 2026 Schedule, and reconfirm the date before booking travel in case it changes. Hotels near campus sell out early, so book as soon as dates are confirmed.
Comparing schools? See our 2026 parents weekend and family weekend dates for every college in one place.
North Alabama has a single cutoff date for a tuition refund if a student withdraws.
A complete withdrawal is not automatic, it requires the student to send a detailed email request from their UNA email to the Registrar by the deadline; if it misses the deadline, the request instead needs department chair and Dean approval, which can delay or jeopardize the refund window.
Refund schedule: Full (100%) refund of tuition and fees through the close of business on about the 8th calendar day from the date full term Fall/Spring classes begin. No tuition refund is issued starting the 9th calendar day, except for approved medical, military, or other extenuating circumstances. Complete withdrawal is a single all or nothing cliff, not a declining multi-tier schedule.. Confirmed via the official North Alabama refund policy page. Policies and dates change every term, so verify directly before making a decision.
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Most colleges do not refund 100% of tuition once the semester starts.
GradGuard Tuition Insurance can reimburse tuition, housing, and fees if a covered illness, injury, mental health condition, or other covered reason forces a withdrawal during the term. Plans must be purchased before the semester begins.
Freshman commuters at North Alabama must park off campus and ride the university bus system in.
UNA’s transportation office states freshman commuters are required to park off campus at designated park and ride lots and bus in, intended to reduce congestion in on-campus lots. This restriction is specific to commuting freshmen; the school’s general parking manual shows no restriction by class year for students actually living in the residence halls.
Freshman permit cost: no charge for the initial permit, a $25 fee applies only to a lost or replacement permit. Confirmed via the official University of North Alabama parking page. Policies can change year to year, so verify before move-in.
UNA’s Homecoming and the ASUN athletics schedule provide the primary athletics events for families. Check una.edu/athletics for current Family Weekend and home game schedules.
Hotel strategy: Florence and the Shoals area have hotel inventory along the US-72 and Florence Boulevard corridors. Book Homecoming and major athletics weekends in advance.
How can parents support their University of North Alabama student’s mental health?
UNA’s Counseling Services provides individual therapy, group therapy, crisis support, and psychiatric referrals.
The Muscle Shoals music heritage creates a specific cultural context for music students and music-interested students at UNA: the proximity to the FAME Studios and the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio creates an unusual professional music heritage environment that can shape expectations for students in music programs.
UNA mental health and health resources:
- Counseling Services: contact via una.edu/counseling
- Student Health Center: contact via una.edu/health
- Crisis line: 988 (call or text, 24/7)
- Emergency: 911
Who do University of North Alabama parents contact? Essential numbers and websites for families
Verify all phone numbers and URLs at una.edu before using, as contact information is subject to change.
- Student Affairs / Parent Resources: contact via una.edu/student-affairs
- Admission: contact via una.edu/admissions
- Financial Aid: contact via una.edu/financial-aid
- Housing: contact via una.edu/housing
- Counseling Services: contact via una.edu/counseling
- Student Health Center: contact via una.edu/health
- University Police (non-emergency): contact via una.edu/police
- Registrar: contact via una.edu/registrar
- Emergency: 911
UNA’s Academic Strengths
The Department of Music provides programs in music education, music performance, and music industry that are directly connected to the Muscle Shoals recording heritage and the broader Alabama and Tennessee music industry. The proximity to FAME Studios and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio creates an educational context for music students that is unique among regional universities.
The College of Business and Technology provides undergraduate and MBA programs in accounting, finance, marketing, and management that connect to the Shoals regional economy and the Huntsville technology and aerospace employment corridor accessible 60 miles east.
The College of Education provides teacher preparation programs for the Alabama public school system, maintaining UNA’s historical role as a teacher preparation institution.
The College of Nursing and Allied Health provides nursing programs for the significant healthcare workforce needs of the Shoals and northwest Alabama region.
Getting Your Student’s Stuff Home Between Semesters
HSV airport (60 miles east) provides national connectivity for end-of-semester travel. The north Alabama climate means December travel is generally weather-manageable. Storage Scholars specializes in student storage with residence hall pickup and delivery.
Full printable UNA dorm packing list
You Are a UNA Lions Family Now
FAME Studios 10 miles south in Muscle Shoals where Aretha Franklin cut “I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You” in 1967 and Wilson Pickett cut “Mustang Sally” and Rick Hall was building the recording infrastructure that made Muscle Shoals the most consequential music production center outside Nashville and New York.
The W.C. Handy Birthplace on College Street in Florence where the Father of the Blues was born in 1873 and went on to compose “St. Louis Blues” and establish the formal structure of blues music. The Tennessee River below the Wilson Dam where the TVA’s first major dam is still operating and the Wheeler Lake behind it is doing what Tennessee Valley lakes do on a Family Weekend afternoon.
UNA has been in Florence since 1830, in the Tennessee Valley city where W.C. Handy was born and 10 miles from the studios where the Muscle Shoals sound changed American popular music, and in 196 years it has built a university community rooted in the musical heritage of the Tennessee Valley. The Lions are in Florence. FAME Studios is south. The river is below the campus.
Go Lions.
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Last updated: May 2026. Tuition, dates, and policies subject to change. Verify all time-sensitive information at una.edu and una.edu/housing.
Where to stay near the University of North Alabama
Hotels near campus fill up fast on move-in and Family Weekend. This live map shows places to stay near the University of North Alabama. Drag the map or change the dates to fit your trip.
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What is University of North Alabama’s graduation rate?
University of North Alabama graduates 35.5% of students in four years; another 19.4 points finish within six. About 79.7% of first-year students return for sophomore year. Each bar is compared to the national average, marked by the vertical line.
13.5 pts below national
9.1 pts below national
about even with national
Here is how to read these numbers: the four-year and six-year rates show how many students finish on time and eventually, and retention shows how many return after the first year. Wherever your student lands, the habits that keep them on track matter most: a full, well-sequenced course load, an advisor meeting every term, and using campus support early. See why most students don’t graduate in four years and how to choose the right classes in the right order.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, most recent available data. National averages: NCES. Figures are for first-time, full-time bachelor’s-seeking students.
The college parent playbook for freshman year
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Free planning tools: College Cost Calculator · College Match Tool
Academic Calendar
Key dates for the University of North Alabama 2026-2027 academic year. Semester system. Always verify at the official Registrar page before making travel plans.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Fall 2026 classes begin | August 19, 2026 |
| Fall break | None |
| Thanksgiving break | November 23-29, 2026 |
| Fall finals | December 4-9, 2026 |
| Fall Commencement | December 11-12, 2026 |
| Spring 2027 classes begin | January 6, 2027 |
| Spring break | March 22-28, 2027 |
| Spring finals | April 30 – May 5, 2027 |
| Spring Commencement | May 7-8, 2027 |
Winter break housing: Most University of North Alabama residence halls close for winter break. Students who need to stay on campus must apply for break housing through Residential Life in November. Check the housing portal for specific closure dates and application deadlines.
What to Pack for University of North Alabama
Every dorm is different, but these are the items parents of University of North Alabama students buy most. Ship directly to campus and skip the trunk-stuffing stress.
Twin XL Bedding Set
Sheets, comforter, and pillowcases — buy before you arrive so the bed is ready day one.
Shower Caddy & Flip Flops
Shared bathrooms require these. Get a hanging caddy and waterproof sandals before move-in.
Surge Protector Power Strip
Most dorms allow 6-outlet surge protectors with USB ports. Check your school’s policy first.
Want the full list? See our complete college packing list →
Shipping to campus? Students get 6 months of Amazon Prime for Young Adults free, then half price on the student’s own account. Here is how it works.
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