Montevallo is considered a teaching institution with the education of undergraduates being the top priority. UM is one of 21 member institutions of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges, a nationally prominent organization that champions the cause of liberal-arts education of superior quality in the public sector. Montevallo has the distinction of being Alabama's public liberal arts university.

With a student/faculty ratio of 16:1, a strong academic advising program, smaller classes and an honors program, UM offers students many opportunities to develop mentor relationships on campus with professors and staff. The faculty come from prestigious institutions all across the United States with 87% holding terminal degrees in their respective academic disciplines.

The university is organized into four academic colleges, Arts & Sciences, Business, Education and Fine Arts. UM awards five undergraduate degrees (bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, bachelor of business administration, bachelor of fine arts and bachelor of music), four master's degrees (master of arts, master of science, master of music and master of education), the educational specialist degree and Class AA certification.