Story By: Brayden George

MONTEVALLO, AL – The University of Montevallo was ranked in the top five of Niche’s 2026 Safest College Campuses in Alabama.

The rankings were determined by different factors at different weights. The heaviest weighted factor at 25 percent is the campus crime rate from the U.S. Department of Education. Other factors included: student surveys on campus safety, local crime grade, residence hall violence rates, residence hall rape rate, and alcohol and drug related arrests.

Niche is an online platform that uses data from multiple sources to rank K-12 schools and colleges in multiple categories to allow parents and students to compare schools from all across the country.

Montevallo ranked fourth in the state behind The University of Mobile, Athens State University and Samford University.

Brian Prady, UM’s chief of police and director of public safety, says that his main priority each and every day is keeping students on campus safe, so they can  achieve their full potential.

“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, Prady says. “I work with a great team, and we come in everyday committed to making a difference.”

The university website provides further information on UM’s campus safety initiatives and resources that keep students, faculty and staff safe and secure no matter where they are on campus.