Alabama State University
Montgomery, Alabama · Public · 97.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 5/100 · Poor Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Alabama State University, an HBCU in Montgomery, posts a 5/100 ROI score - among the lowest on our database - in our Poor Value tier. The numbers are difficult: median earnings of $24,400 six years out fall below the high-school baseline (earnings premium of -0.6%), median debt of $31,000 yields a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.27, and the paybackPeriod is 999 years (our flag for 'graduates as a group don't out-earn high-school graduates by enough to ever recoup the cost'). Completion rate of 30.3% is weak, and the three-year repayment rate of 36.6% is among the worst we track - the majority of borrowers are not reducing principal three years after entering repayment. Net price of $20,435 against a $11,248 in-state tuition reflects significant residential-campus cost loading, pushing four-year total to $81,740. The 71.3% Pell rate places this firmly as an access institution, and the 3,477-student enrollment makes ASU a meaningful HBCU presence in central Alabama. ASU plays a real cultural role and the marching band/AKA/Greek heritage matters to its community, but the documented financial outcomes are bleak. Net price brackets are essentially flat across all income tiers ($19,031-$21,682) - a structural anomaly that suggests aid distribution is not effectively progressive.
The data raises concerns about Alabama State University
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score5/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Debt-to-earnings1.27 - Advisors recommend total student debt stay below one year of salary (ratio under 1.0).
- 6-year graduation rate30.3% - Well below the 64% national average (NCES, 2022). Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
- Payback period>50 years - Graduates earn at or near the level of high school completers - the cost may not recoup within a working career.
Alabama State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $11,248/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $19,576/yr |
| Average net price | $20,435/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $81,740 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $34,502 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $24,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $31,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $329 |
| Estimated payback period | >50 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 30.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 3,477 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $11,248/year ($19,576/year out-of-state). Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $20,435/year, or roughly $81,740 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $19,711/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $19,031/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $31,000 in federal loans, which works out to about $329 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $34,502 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 1.27, which is high - the rule of thumb is that total debt should not top your first-year salary, and this is over that line.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $19,711 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $21,682 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $21,508 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $21,608 |
| $110,001+ | $19,031 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $19,711 net - high relative to income and only modestly subsidized. Across four years that's $78,844 against $24,400 graduate earnings, with the high probability (70%) of not finishing within the tracked window. Pell-eligible students should treat ASU as a financial stretch and weigh whether community college transfer paths offer comparable HBCU access (Trenholm, Bishop State) at lower risk.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The brackets here are nearly flat: $30,001 - $48,000 pays $21,682, $48,001 - $75,000 pays $21,508, $75,001 - $110,000 pays $21,608. That non-progressive structure is unusual - middle-income families pay essentially the same as adjacent brackets, with no apparent aid-driven differentiation. Across four years that's $86,000-$87,000, which is hard to justify against $24,400 graduate earnings.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $19,031 - actually LESS than the middle-income brackets, an inverted pattern. This suggests merit aid concentrating at the top end (likely scholarship-attracting students from higher-income families) rather than need-based aid driving middle-income relief. Full-pay outcomes still fail to justify cost on financial grounds; ASU choices in this bracket are made for HBCU mission and family/cultural connection, not ROI.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Alabama State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | $46,370 | F |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $37,576 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $45,173 | D |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $40,152 | F |
| Accounting | $63,070 | D |
| Social Work | $43,661 | F |
| Communication and Media Studies | $38,566 | F |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $46,126 | F |
| Psychology | $41,766 | F |
| Teacher Education | $51,014 | D |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Accounting
Accounting is one of ASU's defensible programs: 28 graduates with first-year earnings of $39,762 climbing to $63,070 by year four. Median debt of $30,750 yields a 0.77 debt-to-earnings ratio (D grade). For students who pass the CPA exam, the trajectory improves further. Accounting graduates from HBCUs frequently feed into Big Four firm-diversity pipelines and corporate finance roles, which explains the relatively strong four-year earnings figure compared to ASU's other programs.
Biology
Biology graduates 57 students annually - ASU's largest program by graduate count. First-year earnings of $30,174 climb to $46,370 by year four, with $31,000 median debt yielding a 1.03 debt-to-earnings ratio (F grade). Many bio graduates plan on med/PA/dental school but face the same access challenges nationally; without graduate-school continuation, the bachelor's-only path delivers weak market returns and the debt becomes punishing.
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
Interdisciplinary Studies graduates 41 students with first-year earnings of $27,978 climbing to $37,576 by year four. Median debt of $26,000 yields a 0.93 debt-to-earnings ratio (D grade). This major often catches students who don't complete a more focused track; outcomes are weak by design. Students considering this path should weigh whether ASU's Accounting or Teacher Ed programs offer better long-term value.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice graduates 36 students with first-year earnings of $32,898 climbing to $45,173 by year four. Median debt of $32,261 yields a 0.98 debt-to-earnings ratio (D grade). Pipeline into Alabama law enforcement, corrections, and federal agency roles. Among ASU's better non-business program ROIs, but the debt load still pushes the ratio close to 1.0.
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
Rehab/Therapeutic Professions graduates 31 students with first-year earnings of $22,847 climbing to $40,152 by year four. Median debt of $33,000 yields a 1.44 debt-to-earnings ratio (F grade) - among the worst in ASU's program data. Students typically need graduate-level credentials (MSW, MS in counseling) for the field to pay; the bachelor's-only path is financially indefensible at this debt level.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 24.5% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 36.6% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 29.0% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 32.3% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Alabama State University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 97.5% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 350-462 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 399-505 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 15-20 |
| Enrollment | 3,477 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 71.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,153 |
ASU admits 97.6% of applicants - effectively open access. SAT mid-ranges of 350-462 (math) and 399-505 (reading) plus an ACT range of 15-20 indicate a student body arriving with significant academic preparation gaps, primarily from underfunded Alabama high schools. The combination of open admission and weak academic preparation correlates directly with the 30.3% completion rate. Students arriving college-ready can succeed here, but the population-level math reflects the structural challenges of educating an under-resourced population.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Among ASU's listed peers - Alabama A&M, UAB, Central State University, Savannah State, and Langston University - UAB is a structural mis-comparison (an R1 medical-anchor flagship with substantially higher ROI). The HBCU peers Alabama A&M, Central State, Savannah State, and Langston post Poor Value scores, with Alabama A&M and Savannah State somewhat better on completion. ASU sits at or near the bottom of this peer set on most ROI metrics, particularly debt-to-earnings and repayment.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama State University (this school) | 5 | $20,435 | $34,502 |
| Bennett College | 6 | $28,299 | $36,654 |
| Mississippi Valley State University | 5 | $9,686 | $31,919 |
| Harris-Stowe State University | 5 | $9,922 | $31,088 |
| Langston University | 5 | $11,504 | $33,261 |
| Wiley University | 5 | $7,092 | $33,159 |
Who Thrives Here
ASU fits Alabama-resident students drawn to its HBCU mission, marching band tradition, and Montgomery cultural setting. With 3,477 students and a 71.3% Pell rate, the campus is small, working-poor-majority, and access-oriented. Students who succeed here typically arrive with strong family support, a clear major focus (most strongly accounting and teacher education), and a disciplined plan to minimize borrowing. The financial risk is substantial: median debt of $31,000 against $24,400 early earnings produces brutal ratios, and the 30.3% completion rate means many borrowers leave without the credential to service the debt.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
We'll be straight with you: the numbers at Alabama State University are a real concern. With a net cost of $20,435 per year and the typical graduate earning only $34,502 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds >50 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost - go in with your eyes open.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, its 30.3% graduation rate, high debt relative to what graduates earn, concerning loan repayment rates, a long payback period.
Be careful with the debt here. A median $31,000 owed against $34,502 in earnings is heavy, and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.90 is past the level advisors flag. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Alabama State University: Common Questions
Is Alabama State University worth it?
In our view, the numbers are a real concern - for most students the financial return does not justify the cost. Alabama State University scores 5/100 on our ROI scale. At $20,435 a year after aid against $34,502 in typical earnings ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds >50 years.
How much does Alabama State University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - what students actually pay after grants and scholarships - is about $20,435 a year, or roughly $81,740 over four years. That is the number to plan around, not the sticker price. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Alabama State University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $34,502 ten years after enrolling, near the $41,800 median for high-school graduates (NCES, 2022). With little earnings gap to cover the cost, the financial return is hard to make.
How long does it take to pay off Alabama State University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about >50 years for Alabama State University. Most four-year schools we track land between 4 and 10 years.
How much debt do Alabama State University graduates take on?
Median debt at graduation is about $31,000, against $34,502 in typical earnings a decade out. At a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.90, that is past the level advisors flag, so how much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Alabama State University?
The six-year graduation rate is 30.3%, below the 64% national average (NCES, 2022) - and not finishing is the fastest route to a poor return. Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.