Looking Back, in Pictures and Progress
Posted on December 18, 2025
From rising enrollment to snow days and healthcare advancements, here are some of the moments that shaped the University of South Alabama in 2025:
Largest Freshman Class
The University of South Alabama welcomed its largest freshman class ever in fall 2025, marking the third consecutive year of enrollment growth. Total enrollment reached 14,285 students, up from 14,003 the year before.
South enrolled 2,137 new first-year students, who had a record-tying average high school GPA of 3.75. Retention also continued to be a bright spot, with record numbers of students returning for their third and fourth years.
Medicine Milestone
South celebrated a significant milestone in September with the beam-signing ceremony for the $230 million Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine building, marking the completion of the facility’s vertical structure. The five-story, 250,000-square-foot building represents one of the largest academic investments in University history.
Scheduled to open in 2027, the facility will allow the medical school to expand first-year enrollment from 80 to 100 students, with capacity to reach 120.
Airbus Alliance
Airbus and the University of South Alabama announced a transformative partnership in October, with plans for the aerospace leader to establish a presence at USA’s Research and Technology Park. The collaboration opens opportunities for additional internships, research partnerships and workforce development pathways for students.
Airbus plans to relocate its Mobile-based U.S. Engineering Center to campus, bringing engineers into close collaboration with faculty and students.
Top-Level Trauma Center
The American College of Surgeons verified the Fanny Meisler Trauma Center at USA Health University Hospital as a Level I trauma center, making it the only ACS-verified trauma center between Mobile and Birmingham, and one of two in the state. Verified trauma centers must meet the essential criteria that ensure trauma care capability and the highest level of institutional performance.
Military Recognition
South’s longstanding commitment to military-affiliated students earned national recognition in 2025, highlighted by a top-100 ranking from Military Times. Ranked 86th out of 357 institutions, South was one of only two universities in Alabama to make the list.
Additional recognitions followed throughout the year, including Military Friendly® status, designation as a Purple Heart University and new career partnerships for military-affiliated students. In addition, South unveiled a new state-of-the-art ropes course adjacent to the newly renovated ROTC facility for Army and Air Force cadets.
National and International Rankings
In June, U.S. News & World Report named the University of South Alabama one of its Best Global Universities, placing South among just 280 U.S. institutions recognized worldwide.
Additional recognitions followed, including national rankings for online programs, allied health degrees and multiple graduate programs. South also earned a spot among the Top 200 National Public Universities.
Good as Goldwater
Three University of South Alabama students were named Goldwater Scholars in 2025, placing them among the nation’s most promising undergraduate researchers in STEM. Genevieve Batman, top right, Mary Helene Marmande and Gabriel Merchant were three of only nine students statewide to receive the prestigious award.
Let It Snow ... and Snow and Snow
In January, South experienced a once-in-a-century snowfall, with 7.5 inches falling in Mobile, breaking a record set in 1895. Students shared photos on social media; one post generated the highest number of 'likes' the university has ever received on Instagram.
Nearly 900 USA Health employees worked 51 straight hours. Twenty-six “snow babies” were delivered. On campus, grounds crews put sand on roads and walkways, dining services fed cold and hungry students and USA police worked around the clock.
A Place to Call Home
South celebrated the groundbreaking on a $10 million facility that will serve as the permanent home of the Jaguar Marching Band.
The complex, scheduled for completion in January 2026, will be adjacent to Hancock Whitney Stadium and will house a full ensemble rehearsal hall, rehearsal studios for drumline and color guard; dressing rooms, offices, a music library and storage space, plus a full-size lighted practice field.
First in the State
USA Health became the first health system in Alabama to offer histotripsy, a groundbreaking, non-invasive treatment for liver tumors that uses high-intensity sound waves to destroy tumors without incisions, needles or lengthy recovery times.
Histotripsy creates microscopic bubbles that break down cancerous tissue while leaving healthy liver tissue intact, usually requiring only one treatment. USA Health is among fewer than 100 systems nationwide offering the technology.
