Alabama State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Montgomery, Alabama. It enrolls 3,477 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
46/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes12
Value10
Affordability73
Selectivity4
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 97.6%, Alabama State University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
97.6%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
749 – 967
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
15 – 20
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Alabama State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↓
1.3 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Alabama State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $20,435 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$20,435
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
71%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
74%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$11,248
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$19,576
Room & Board (on-campus)
$7,816
Room & Board (off-campus)
$7,816
Books & Supplies
$1,600
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,392
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,130
Total Cost of Attendance
$23,586
Application fee: $30 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$19,711
$30,001 – $48,000
$21,682
$48,001 – $75,000
$21,508
$75,001 – $110,000
$21,608
Over $110,000
$19,031
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,50010%percentile
$5,78425%percentile
$31,000Medianpercentile
$32,26375%percentile
$45,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $18,236
↓ $12,764
No Pell $12,000
↓ $19,000
Dependent students $17,000
↓ $14,000
Independent students $21,500
↓ $9,500
Female students $18,750
↓ $12,250
Male students $14,573
↓ $16,427
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $11,000, less than completers ($31,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
32% of full-time students who enrolled at Alabama State University graduate within six years, and 65% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
32%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
65%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Alabama State University earn a median of $34,502 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$34,502
Earning > $25K
57%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$28,300
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$33,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$29,000
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$32,500
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$34,300
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
24.7 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Concerning. Only 49% of graduates are actively reducing principal even seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Alabama State University is home to 3,477 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 34% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
3,477
Part-Time
7%
First-Generation
34%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Black 86.3%2,999
International 2.5%87
White 1.8%62
Hispanic 1.4%50
Other 1.4%47
Asian 0.2%7
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Alabama State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityMontgomery, Alabama
Housing
Mostly residential2,079 beds on campus
Adult Learners
7%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Historically Black College / University (HBCU)
What You Can Study
Alabama State University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
45 distinct programs across
18 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Alabama State University is 16:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
16:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$12,370
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$119M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$72,136
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
203 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
59
29%
$88,406
Associate Professors
53
26%
$75,223
Assistant Professors
59
29%
$66,538
Instructors
32
16%
$49,646
Pros & Cons of Alabama State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Alabama State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Below-average post-graduation earnings
Higher than typical student debt at graduation
Most students take on federal loans
Best for:
Based on the data, Alabama State University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Alabama State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Alabama State University.
Is Alabama State University hard to get into?
Alabama State University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 97.6%.
What is the acceptance rate at Alabama State University?
Alabama State University has an acceptance rate of 97.6%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Alabama State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Alabama State University scored between 749 and 967 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Alabama State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Alabama State University scored between 15 and 20 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Alabama State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Alabama State University is $20,435 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Alabama State University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $34,502 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $20,435 per year. That's roughly 1.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Alabama State University known for?
Alabama State University is best known for its programs in Biology, Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Rehabilitation. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Alabama State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Alabama State University are $34,502, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Alabama State University accredited?
Yes. Alabama State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Alabama State University?
Alabama State University enrolls 3,477 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Alabama State University?
Alabama State University graduates 32% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Alabama State University a public or private college?
Alabama State University is a Public institution.
Where is Alabama State University located?
Alabama State University is located in Montgomery, Alabama.
What programs does Alabama State University offer?
Alabama State University offers 45 distinct programs. The most popular include Biology, Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Rehabilitation.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Alabama State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Alabama State University is 16:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Alabama
Other colleges in Alabama share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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