re: Alabama as a "State"

I don't know too much about BHam even though I've been in North AL for the vast majority of my life. What I do know is it has a lot of improvement to do. Nice areas and definitely bad areas.

Huntsville, as another poster pointed out, is a hotspot for anything technology related. UAH (University of Alabama in Huntsville) is where I'm currently attending. It's one of the most prestigious universities on the planet regarding engineering, and the results are easy to see with the plethora of big name of companies in the area hiring UAH grads right out the gate. Most companies also take on a large number of co-ops and interns through UAH.

Thank God I now have the opportunity to co-op with ADTRAN (networking company)

Montgomery is the capital. Moving along.

Mobile is similar in a way to BHam in that it has its nice areas, and it has very shitty areas as well. Not that surprising of course. It does benefit being along the coast. Easy trip to the beach, NOLA, etc.

As far as school, this is a very watered down way to put it but I'll give it a go:
(These are sorted by what they're considered "good" at.)
Engineering - UAH, AU
Law - UA
Medical - UAB, USA, UA(?)
Agriculture - AU

I didn't list some schools by certain fields because even though they may offer that field of study, that university isn't considered very good, or there is simply a ludicrously better option.
Anything outside those general fields are a toss up. Bama fans would have to chime in regarding their programs because I'm just not sure what they have going for them.