<p>
Even though both of OPs schools are similar in terms of structure,size, sports, etc there is a difference in student population. Both schools are state schools who have hugely instate populations: Alabama (94% instate), Ohio State (88% instate) . Perhaps there was something about the southern feel the OP liked. I attended UNC as a out-of-state student (it is 82% instate) many years ago. It was a huge cultural adjustment for me. 30+ years later, I am still in NC. Something about the population felt right to me at the time and still does.
</p>
<p>Not sure where those statistics cited above are coming from (maybe UAB or UAH?), but out-of-staters represent a MUCH larger proportion of the student body at Alabama (Tuscaloosa)–something close to 50%, I believe–and it’s been steadily increasing over the past several years. </p>
<p>In fact, the Class of 2013 class actually saw MORE out-of-staters enroll than Alabamans–nearly 60%!</p>
<p><a href=“http://oira.ua.edu/d/content/glance/2013-glance-total-enrollment ”>http://oira.ua.edu/d/content/glance/2013-glance-total-enrollment</a> ;http://oira.ua.edu/d/content/reports/2013-2014-common-data-set ”>http://oira.ua.edu/d/content/reports/2013-2014-common-data-set</a></p> ;
<p>ETA: </p>
<p>
The University of Alabama’s campus is busier than ever this fall as enrollment has reached a record high of 34,852 students, according to a UA release.</p>
<p>**The University has also set a record with its out-of-state recruitment, as the incoming freshman class is 60 percent out-of-state, military overseas and international students, according to a UA spokesperson.
<p>Alabama residents still tip total enrollment in their favor, with 53 percent of the total student body. **
</p>
<p><a href=“University of Alabama enrollment reaches record high, 60 percent of freshmen not Alabama residents [updated] - al.com ”>University of Alabama enrollment reaches record high, 60 percent of freshmen not Alabama residents [updated] - al.com ;