The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama · Public · 76.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 64/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
The University of Alabama scores 64 (Fair Value) on the CampusROI scale. In-state tuition is $12,180 and net price is $22,420 - higher than the in-state tuition alone suggests, reflecting fees and room/board in the total cost calculation. Average 6-year earnings are $42,400 with a 9.5-year payback period and 73.4% completion rate. Median debt is $22,750. Finance (572 graduates, $55,580 year-one, C+ grade) and Marketing (569 graduates, $48,879 year-one, C+ grade) are the largest programs by volume and earn C+ grades. Biology (230 graduates), Psychology (356 graduates), and History (114 graduates) cluster at D grades. Alabama is a large flagship with significant athletic culture and a well-known national brand, particularly in the Southeast. Its 76.65% admission rate suggests it is selective but not highly so.
The University of Alabama
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $12,180/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $34,172/yr |
| Average net price | $22,420/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $89,680 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $59,221 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $42,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,750 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $241 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 73.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 33,227 |
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: $12,180/year ($34,172/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $22,420/year, or roughly $89,680 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 $19,169/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $26,729/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $22,750, which works out to about $241 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($42,400) and comes to 0.54, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
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 | $19,169 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $19,884 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $22,258 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $25,658 |
| $110,001+ | $26,729 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $19,169 per year at Alabama. This is higher than the in-state sticker suggests and reflects the true all-in cost for students who receive financial aid. At $19,169 annually, a four-year degree costs $76,676 - a significant investment against $42,400 average 6-year earnings. Low-income students in STEM and nursing programs fare well; those in social sciences and liberal arts face a longer payback.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $22,258 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $25,658. These figures are near full in-state cost and suggest that merit aid has been exhausted for middle-income families.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $26,729. Full-pay families at Alabama are primarily choosing for the flagship brand, athletic culture, and in-state network. For engineering, nursing, and business graduates, the ROI is strong at this price point.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at The University of Alabama with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Finance and Financial Management | $85,020 | C+ |
| Marketing | $77,451 | C+ |
| Registered Nursing | $85,532 | B+ |
| Psychology | $49,900 | D |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $68,227 | C |
| Biology | $59,637 | D |
| Accounting | $87,621 | B |
| Mechanical Engineering | $95,079 | B+ |
| International Relations | $61,617 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $69,715 | C+ |
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.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering is Alabama's largest high-ROI program at 224 graduates, $75,238 year-one, $95,079 year-four (ROI grade B+, debt-to-earnings 0.329, median debt $24,755). The Southeast's industrial and aerospace corridor - Huntsville aerospace cluster, automotive manufacturing in the region - provides strong placement for Alabama ME graduates. Volume and outcomes make this a reliable choice.
Registered Nursing
Nursing (374 graduates) earns $73,000 year-one and $85,532 year-four (ROI grade B+, debt-to-earnings 0.343, median debt $25,006). Large cohort with strong outcomes. Alabama's Capstone College of Nursing has a strong regional reputation, and health system demand in the Southeast supports the earnings trajectory. One of the clearest value propositions at the institution.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance (572 graduates) is one of the largest cohorts in the institution and earns a C+ grade: $55,580 year-one, $85,020 year-four, debt-to-earnings 0.450 with $25,000 median debt. The C+ reflects a gap between volume and per-graduate financial outcomes. The 4-year trajectory to $85k is solid - Alabama finance graduates move into banking, real estate, and corporate finance, particularly in the Southeast.
Psychology
Psychology (356 graduates) earns a D grade: $29,245 year-one, $49,900 year-four, debt-to-earnings 0.855 with $25,000 median debt. This is a large cohort with weak near-term earnings and a high debt-to-earnings ratio. Students who do not plan to pursue graduate clinical training should evaluate carefully whether a psychology degree from Alabama supports their intended career trajectory, or whether a different major would produce better outcomes.
Accounting
Accounting (226 graduates) earns $53,452 year-one and $87,621 year-four (ROI grade B, debt-to-earnings 0.430, median debt $23,000). Strong 4-year trajectory and moderate debt load. Alabama's accounting program feeds into Big Four and regional firms in Birmingham, Huntsville, and Atlanta. A solid choice for students committed to CPA licensure.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 65.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 71.2% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 63.6% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 69.1% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How The University of Alabama’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 | 76.6% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 580-710 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 590-690 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 24-31 |
| Enrollment | 33,227 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 18.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,419 |
At 76.6% admission, Alabama is broadly accessible while still exercising selectivity. SAT 580-710 Math and 590-690 Reading, ACT 24-31 describe the middle range of admitted students. Out-of-state students face $34,172 tuition and a $22,420 net price - the net price figure may reflect in-state averages and understate out-of-state costs.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Alabama's brand, particularly in the Southeast, carries network effects not captured in Scorecard data.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Alabama (this school) | 64 | $22,420 | $59,221 |
| University of Arkansas | 69 | $18,209 | $58,191 |
| University of North Texas | 67 | $15,649 | $57,010 |
| University of Maryland Global Campus | 63 | $22,063 | $65,287 |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | 55 | $18,749 | $54,501 |
| Alabama A & M University | 10 | $17,621 | $40,628 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See The University of Alabama side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
Alabama admits 76.6% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges are 580-710 Math and 590-690 Reading; ACT composite 24-31. Enrollment is 33,227 - a large flagship campus in Tuscaloosa. Pell grant rate is 18.4%, reflecting a student body with a higher share of middle- and upper-income students. Alabama has a strong Greek system and significant social scene. STEM and business students find solid program infrastructure; students in humanities, arts, and social sciences face weaker earnings outcomes relative to the cost.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
The University of Alabama is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $22,420 a year after aid ($89,680 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $59,221 a decade out, the cost takes about 9.5 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: its 73.4% graduation rate. What to keep an eye on: a three-year loan repayment rate of 71.2% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $22,750 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $42,400 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.54, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
The University of Alabama: Common Questions
Is The University of Alabama worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether The University of Alabama is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 64/100 on our ROI scale. At $22,420 a year after aid ($89,680 over four years) against $59,221 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 9.5 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does The University of Alabama cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $22,420 a year, or roughly $89,680 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do The University of Alabama graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $59,221 ten years after enrolling, roughly $17,421 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off The University of Alabama?
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 9.5 years for The University of Alabama. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do The University of Alabama graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $22,750, against average earnings of $42,400 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.54. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at The University of Alabama?
The six-year graduation rate is 73.4%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). 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.