UA Shatters Higher-Ed Fundraising Records With $2.1 Billion Rising Tide 2.0 Campaign

“Success” is a major understatement when describing the $2.1 billion in charitable donations made to the University of Alabama’s Rising Tide 2.0 capital campaign. The decade-long fundraising effort, launched in 2021, far exceeded expectations in becoming 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,” UA President Peter Mohler said in a UA News Center release marking the achievement. “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.”

Previous fundraising milestones of $1.5 billion in 2024 and $1.8 billion in 2025 were surpassed, leading to the final record of $2.1 billion.

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Through the campaign, 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, according to the UA announcement.

Gifts ranging from small to large contributed to the program’s success, from 310 gifts of $1 million or more to 594,019 gifts of $100 or less. Another outstanding result was the number of first-time contributors: 118,000 people made their first gifts to the university.

Bob Pierce, UA’s vice president for advancement, underscored the long-term impact on students and expressed gratitude to donors and campaign leaders.

“The number of students who will benefit from the philanthropy of our current benefactors over the generations to come can’t be counted," he said. "I am awed by the generosity of our donors… and their desire to make the university even better tomorrow than it is today.”

The gifts received are leading to:

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

The University of Alabama has reported record or increased enrollment for 10 consecutive years, from 2017 through 2026. Total enrollment for Fall 2026 is 42,431 students, a new all-time record for the Tuscaloosa campus.

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