University of West Alabama
Livingston, Alabama · Public · 42.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 23/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of West Alabama scores 23 (Below Benchmark) on the CampusROI scale, a score reflecting severe structural problems: a 34.7% completion rate, a 20.7-year payback period, a 51.0% repayment rate, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.840. Fewer than one in three enrolled students graduates. The majority of borrowers - 49% - are not making progress reducing their loan principal. Median debt of $24,944 against $29,700 average 6-year earnings creates a ratio where debt is nearly equal to annual earnings. Net price averages $12,684; in-state tuition is $10,990. SAT mid-ranges are 420-560 Math and 440-560 Reading; ACT composite 16-21. Pell grant rate of 58.2% indicates the large majority of enrolled students come from low-income backgrounds. The Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies program (62 graduates, F grade, ratio 1.249) has the highest debt-to-earnings ratio in the program data. Business Administration (31 graduates, D grade) is the most viable tracked program by comparison.
How University of West Alabama scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score23/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate34.7% - The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our score, since a degree that is not finished rarely pays back.
- Payback period20.7 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
University of West Alabama
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $10,990/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $20,090/yr |
| Average net price | $12,684/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $50,736 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $44,232 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $29,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,944 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $264 |
| Estimated payback period | 20.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 34.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,974 |
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: $10,990/year ($20,090/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 $12,684/year, or roughly $50,736 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 $12,179/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay N/A/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $24,944, which works out to about $264 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($29,700) and comes to 0.84, 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 | $12,179 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $12,523 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,606 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,550 |
| $110,001+ | N/A |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $12,179 per year at UWA - not significantly lower than the school average of $12,684. The aid model does not appear to deeply discount for the lowest-income students. Given a 34.7% completion rate and a 51% repayment rate, low-income students face severe risk of leaving with debt and no credential. This is the population at greatest financial risk.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $14,606 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $18,550. At these levels, the 20.7-year payback math applies to graduates; the 65% who do not complete have no graduation-based earnings to offset.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Scorecard does not report a net price figure for the $110,001-plus income bracket. Given the institutional profile, families in this bracket are likely considering UWA for geographic reasons rather than cost. The combination of weak outcomes data makes it difficult to construct a strong financial case for enrollment at any income level.
Earnings by Major
Top 5 most popular majors at University of West Alabama with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $40,455 | F |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $53,696 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $41,440 | - |
| Accounting | $58,218 | - |
| Biology | $30,019 | 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.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (31 graduates) earns a D grade: $36,920 year-one and $53,696 year-four with $34,250 in median debt and a ratio of 0.928. The D grade reflects high debt against modest earnings. Year-one earnings of $37k are reasonable for Alabama's labor market, but the $34,250 debt load is elevated. The four-year trajectory to $54k suggests some career progression.
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies (62 graduates) earns an F grade: $31,786 year-one and $40,455 year-four with $39,700 in median debt - the highest debt figure in the program roster - and a ratio of 1.249. This is the largest tracked program by graduate count and the worst-performing. Debt exceeds annual earnings at year one by 25%, and the four-year earnings of $40k provide limited financial margin. Students in this program track face the most difficult financial outcomes.
Biology
Biology (10 graduates) earns a D grade: $30,019 year-one with $27,750 median debt and a ratio of 0.924. Scorecard does not report year-four earnings for this cohort. The year-one figure of $30k against $27,750 in debt creates immediate repayment pressure. Biology graduates in rural Alabama have limited local employment options in the biological sciences field; most likely pursue teaching or healthcare-adjacent roles.
Accounting
Accounting (10 graduates) has no ROI grade assigned; Scorecard does not report year-one earnings or debt for this cohort. Year-four earnings are $58,218. The cohort is very small (10 graduates), limiting the reliability of this estimate. The year-four figure of $58k is the best program-level outcome in the available data and is consistent with Alabama accounting salaries at the 4-year experience mark.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology and Exercise Science (16 graduates) has no ROI grade assigned; Scorecard does not report year-one earnings or debt for this cohort. Year-four earnings are $41,440. The figure is consistent with physical education, athletic training, or recreational management careers in the Alabama labor market. The absence of debt data prevents grade assignment; students should investigate program-specific borrowing before enrolling.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 46.2% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 51.0% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 42.7% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 46.5% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of West 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 | 42.6% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 420-560 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 440-560 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 16-21 |
| Enrollment | 2,974 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 58.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,001 |
At 42.7% admission, UWA is moderately selective. ACT mid-range of 16-21 indicates admitted students span a wide preparation range. The completion rate is the central risk factor; students should specifically inquire about persistence rates within their intended program.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of West Alabama (this school) | 23 | $12,684 | $44,232 |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | 55 | $18,749 | $54,501 |
| Rogers State University | 28 | $15,314 | $43,166 |
| Cameron University | 20 | $10,912 | $40,118 |
| University of Guam | 20 | $8,598 | $35,946 |
| Alabama A & M University | 10 | $17,621 | $40,628 |
Who Thrives Here
SAT mid-ranges are 420-560 Math and 440-560 Reading; ACT composite 16-21. Pell grant rate of 58.2% reflects a predominantly low-income student population. The school serves a population with limited access to other four-year options. The 34.7% completion rate means roughly two in three students who enroll do not graduate, and the 51% repayment rate confirms that many who borrow face sustained difficulty repaying.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, University of West Alabama scores 23/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $12,684 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $44,232 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 20.7 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, its 34.7% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.84 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 51.0% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $24,944 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $29,700 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.84. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
University of West Alabama: Common Questions
Is University of West Alabama worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. University of West Alabama scores 23/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $12,684 a year after aid against $44,232 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 20.7 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does University of West 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 $12,684 a year, or roughly $50,736 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 University of West Alabama graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $44,232 ten years after enrolling, roughly $2,432 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 University of West 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 20.7 years for University of West Alabama. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of West Alabama graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $24,944, against average earnings of $29,700 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.84. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at University of West Alabama?
The six-year graduation rate is 34.7%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (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.