A student walks across campus near University Boulevard. (Photo Courtesy of UAB Digital Access Library)
Off-campus students at the University of Alabama at Birmingham say commuting remains one of their biggest challenges. Early mornings, traffic and limited parking make for long days balancing classes, work and other commitments.
According to the UAB Transportation website, a fall and spring commuter parking permit in Zone B costs $435. Zone C permits cost $278, and Zones D through G cost $349. Students purchasing only a fall permit pay between $157 and $232 depending on the zone. Fall-only permits are valid from Aug. 16 to Dec. 15, while fall and spring permits extend through May 1, 2026.
For many commuters, these fees add to other expenses such as rent, groceries and gas. Long hours on campus combined with part-time work can reduce time available for studying and rest. Federal data shows that about 40% of full-time undergraduates held jobs in 2020, illustrating how employment and academics often overlap.
“It’s honestly frustrating how I have to wake up earlier to make my 8 a.m. classes,” said Dania Alzoubi, a first-year biomedical engineering student. “The other class times were gone, and traffic doesn’t help either. Commuting is draining, and when you add part-time work and classes, it just wears you down. Not being able to find a parking spot doesn’t help either.”
Freshman biology major Zoya Aleezada said parking availability is a recurring concern.
“It doesn’t make sense that so many parking permits are sold when there aren’t enough spaces,” Aleezada said. “They should cap the number of permits to match the lots. It makes going to class stressful, and most of the time commuters end up late just circling to find parking.”
Marie Foster, a sophomore anthropology student, said the unpredictability adds stress.
“Some mornings you spend half an hour circling before you finally get a spot, and by then you’ve already missed part of class,” Foster said. “It creates unnecessary stress on top of everything else students are juggling.”
UAB offers several resources to assist commuters. The Off-Campus Student Council, located in the Hill Student Center, provides a lounge with outlets, seating and commuter-focused programs. The council describes itself as the “voice of off-campus students,” developing programming and collaborating with other student groups to help commuters stay connected and represented.
Blazer Express buses begin service at 5:20 a.m. and operate into the evening. The Blazer Express Safety Escort provides late-night, on-demand rides from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. For students facing early mornings, limited parking and late returns home, these services offer some relief.