Montevallo Ranked in Top Five Safest Colleges in Alabama

April 17, 2026

The University of Montevallo is among the top five safest college campuses in the state according to Niche’s 2026 Safest College Campuses in Alabama rankings. Niche is a leading platform for college and school rankings.

According to Brian Prady, UM’s chief of police and director of public safety, working with such a tight-knit community is a blessing in law enforcement. He explained that students, faculty and staff must feel safe on campus in order to achieve their full potential.

“The students trust that we have their best interest at heart and will consistently work with us to achieve that common goal,” Prady said. “Every day, UMPD works with different groups and departments across campus to make sure that everyone feels free to study, teach and support the best they know how. I work with a great team, and we come in everyday committed to making a difference.”

Using data from the U.S. Department of Education, the rankings are based on a comprehensive analysis of key safety factors, including campus crime rates, local crime rates and student reviews. Niche’s top-ranked colleges offer a safe and healthy environment with little or no campus crime, drugs or alcohol usage.

The same methodology is used to produce the Niche Safety Grade for each ranked school, as well as additional four-year colleges, community colleges, trade schools and other two-year programs. Statistics obtained from the U.S. Department of Education represent the most recent data available, as self-reported by the colleges.

Visit montevallo.edu/campus-safety for more information about UM’s campus safety initiatives and resources.