Miles College

Miles College is a private, nonprofit liberal arts college in Fairfield, Alabama, just west of Birmingham. Founded in 1898, it is a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) with roots in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. The college connects its academic mission with civic leadership and community engagement, a legacy that includes student activism in Birmingham’s Civil Rights Movement. It is a small, undergraduate-focused institution: a good fit to explore for students who value an HBCU setting, close faculty contact, and a campus community centered on the Birmingham area.

Programs and academic divisions

Miles organizes its majors across six divisions: Business and Accounting; Communications; Education; Humanities; Natural Sciences and Mathematics; and Social and Behavioral Sciences. Examples include accounting, business administration, communications, computer and information sciences, biology, chemistry, mathematics, criminal justice, social work, political science, English, music, and teacher education. Education majors combine subject-area coursework with supervised teaching experiences; students interested in licensure should verify the current certification pathway and requirements. Science and technology options include biology, chemistry, environmental science, computer and information sciences, and management information systems. Visit the academic divisions directory for current offerings and the college’s current catalog for degree requirements.

Campus, visitor information and student life

The main campus is at 5500 Myron Massey Boulevard, Fairfield, AL 35064. Miles describes its grounds as approximately 80 acres. Prospective students touring the campus are directed to the Welcome and Enrollment Center at 5813 Court E, Fairfield, AL 35064; this is a visitor and enrollment stop, while 5500 Myron Massey Boulevard is the main campus address. The college is about 15 minutes from downtown Birmingham according to its tour page. The main Google listing displays the campus as open 24 hours, but that does not mean administrative offices or individual buildings are open to visitors around the clock; arrange tours and office visits in advance.

Student comments often describe a close-knit, family-like community and strong relationships with faculty, alongside an active campus culture. Other comments mention frustration with administrative response times, registration or financial-aid processes, dining, and campus resources or security. These are individual accounts, and conditions can change; ask current students and the relevant offices about the specific services and support you will rely on.

Published costs, scholarships and aid

The cost page currently presents 2025–26 figures, so use them as the latest published reference there, not as a confirmed 2026–27 price. For a full-time student living off campus, the page lists $14,064 for tuition, mandatory fees, books, technology and insurance. Estimated on-campus totals range from $21,880 to $23,180, depending on the residence hall, including meals. The page says charges can vary with course load, housing and special fees; ask the Business Office for the current year’s bill before making a decision.

Miles lists several renewable institutional scholarships for incoming first-year students and community-college graduates. The Presidential Scholarship is described as covering tuition, room and board, and books; its published criteria include a 3.7 GPA and either a 24 ACT or 1190 SAT, with renewal tied to full-time enrollment and a 3.2 GPA. The Dean Scholarship lists $5,000 per year for applicants meeting a 3.2 GPA and the stated test-score threshold; the Bridge Scholarship lists $2,500 per year with a 2.75 GPA and a required test score but no minimum score. The college page says scholarship funds are limited, require an application, transcripts and FAFSA, and are awarded after other aid is determined. Federal Pell, FSEOG and TEACH Grants, work-study, and some Alabama state grants may also be available depending on eligibility. Confirm the current award conditions directly with Financial Aid.

Admissions and contacts

Undergraduate applicants can review Miles College’s application steps. For admission questions, call 205-929-1656 or email admission@miles.edu. The Financial Aid Office is in Brown Hall, room 107, and lists weekday hours of 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; call 205-929-1665 or email finaid@miles.edu. Campus tours begin at the Welcome and Enrollment Center; check tour arrangements before traveling. Main campus phone: 205-929-1000.