University of Alabama launches School of Data Science with $96 million computing center
The University of Alabama is establishing a School of Data Science, the first of its kind in Alabama. The school will begin enrolling students in fall 2027 across undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs.
A $96 million High Performance Computing and Data Center will anchor the initiative. The facility, under construction on the eastern edge of campus, will house a $25 million supercomputer capable of performing quadrillions of calculations per second.
University President Peter J. Mohler described the model as hub-and-spoke rather than having individual colleges build separate data centers. The approach centralizes computing resources for the entire campus.
Data science skills command premium pay
The move responds to acute workforce shortages. Demand for AI and data science talent outpaces supply by as much as three-to-one across industries, Mohler said. Workers with these skills earn a 65% wage premium.
More than three-quarters of employers now require some level of AI competency from job candidates. The shortage spans financial services, manufacturing, healthcare, business, nursing, and social work-not just engineering roles.
Mohler, who came to Alabama from Ohio State University in June 2025, said the talent gap is measured in hundreds of thousands of workers nationally.
AI literacy for all students
Beyond the data science degree program, Alabama plans to require all students to complete "UA AI Experience," a free three-hour online course rolling out this fall. The course covers when AI use is appropriate, effective prompting, ethical use, data protection, and critical thinking about AI outputs.
Mohler emphasized the need for what he called AI fluency with guardrails. Students must understand where data comes from, what prompts reveal, and how to make evidence-based decisions rather than relying on AI recommendations without scrutiny.
The university expects graduates to display AI literacy credentials on LinkedIn and during job interviews, giving them an advantage in hiring.
Broader campus impact
The High Performance Computing and Data Center will also support faculty research in quantum computing, cybersecurity, materials science, and national defense. The facility includes a dedicated chiller plant and a roughly 22,500-square-foot electrical substation.
Mohler said Alabama is positioning itself to lead rather than follow developments in data science and AI. The state has advantages in water, land, and energy; the university aims to ensure companies relocating to Alabama find a trained workforce.
Companies are also approaching the university about secure data storage and analysis services that large corporations may lack internally.
The School of Data Science, pending board of trustees approval in June, represents Alabama's second major academic expansion in recent years. The School of Leadership and Policy, announced in November, will also begin enrolling students in fall 2027. A national search for the data science school's inaugural dean begins this fall.
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