$2.1 billion: UA’s Rising Tide 2.0 closes as the most successful campaign in Alabama higher ed history

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October 12, 2026

The Rising Tide 2.0 capital campaign at The University of Alabama has completed its 10-year comprehensive fundraising effort with more than $2.1 billion in charitable commitments.

The capital campaign launched publicly in September 2021 and surpassed its previous fundraising goals of $1.5 billion and $1.8 billion in 2024 and 2025, respectively. The Rising Tide 2.0 is the most successful capital campaign for higher education in state history.

“The success of The Rising Tide 2.0 reflects the deep belief our alumni, friends and supporters have in The University of Alabama and in the promise of our students, faculty, staff and future,” said UA President Peter Mohler.

“Their generosity is opening doors for generations of students, strengthening the work of our faculty and expanding the spaces where discovery, creativity and leadership take shape. This historic campaign is a powerful investment in the Capstone’s momentum and in the impact UA will continue to make across Alabama and beyond.”

The Rising Tide 2.0 has already had profound impacts, particularly through direct student support: UA has seen a 37% increase in endowed scholarship monies awarded and a 38% increase in the number of students awarded endowed scholarships since 2016.

Campaign donations have established student-focused programs that prepare students for the challenges of an evolving workforce, from business and public policy to healthcare, by offering experiential learning, career readiness, mentorship and service opportunities, through the:

Two colleges were named during the campaign with gifts establishing fully discretionary funds that provide each college tremendous flexibility to support students and faculty as new opportunities and challenges arise.

The J. Frank Barefield Jr. College of Arts and Sciences was made possible by a $35 million gift commitment from UA alumnus Frank Barefield, the president of Abbey Residential LLC.

The Lee J. Styslinger Jr. College of Engineering honors the late Lee J. Styslinger Jr., founder of Altec Inc., following a $25 million gift commitment from his wife, Catherine.

More than $538 million was committed to facilities, expanding the campus footprint.

About 118,000 square feet of renovation at Bryce Main resulted in the Catherine and Pettus Randall Welcome Center and the Smith Family Center for the Performing Arts. The latter was made possible by a $20 million gift commitment from UA alumni Clay and Cameron Smith and Clay’s mother, Linda, and will open in 2027.

Hewson Hall, a new academic building for the Culverhouse College of Business, was another signature accomplishment of The Rising Tide 2.0, through a $15 million gift from James and Marillyn Hewson.

Other new or renovated facilities made possible through The Rising Tide 2.0 include:

“The Rising Tide 2.0 has been a tremendous accomplishment for The University of Alabama and is further evidence of the institution’s success during the last decade,” Bob Pierce, UA’s vice president for advancement, said.

“The number of students who will benefit from the philanthropy of our current benefactors over the generations to come can’t be counted. I am awed by the generosity of our donors and am indebted to them as well as our university leadership, capital campaign cabinet and volunteers and, of course, our talented professionals in the Division of Advancement, for their dedication to the Capstone and their desire to make the university even better tomorrow than it is today.”

By the numbers

Through each of the more than 196,000 donors giving over one million gifts, the Rising Tide 2.0 capital campaign has created new student pathways to the Capstone, enhanced instruction and research and transformed the spaces where learning and discovery happen, including:

1,212 new scholarship endowments
84 new endowments to support faculty
800,000+ square feet of new and renovated facilities

UA’s donors contributed nearly $425 million to endowed scholarships, $94 million to support faculty and over $1 billion to support student-focused programs and initiatives.

This historic campaign was powered by gifts of all sizes, from 310 gifts of $1 million or more to 594,019 gifts of $100 or less. Additionally, more than 118,000 people made their first gifts to UA during the campaign.

Giving to UA set new records in four consecutive years, averaging $225 million or more each year and providing the campaign with incredible momentum during that span.

The University of Alabama is the future-ready flagship. UA develops leaders and a workforce for a changing world, advances research and innovation that solve real problems and strengthens communities across Alabama and beyond. Part of The University of Alabama System, UA holds a global reputation for excellence and offers more than 200 degree programs. Through more than 30 research centers, the University leads creative inquiry and discovery that fuels economic growth and opportunity.

Courtesy of the University of Alabama