University of South Alabama is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Mobile, Alabama. It enrolls 8,879 students (a large 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.
Good
66/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes43
Value54
Affordability63
Selectivity52
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 71%, University of South Alabama is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
71%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
970 – 1190
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
20 – 26
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 University of South Alabama is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
13.2 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending University of South Alabama 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 $17,648 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$17,648
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
38%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
47%
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)
$10,116
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$19,092
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,366
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,456
Books & Supplies
$864
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,517
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,517
Total Cost of Attendance
$25,476
Application fee: $35 (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
$12,657
$30,001 – $48,000
$13,265
$48,001 – $75,000
$16,277
$75,001 – $110,000
$23,252
Over $110,000
$25,322
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
$6,12525%percentile
$24,929Medianpercentile
$27,25075%percentile
$40,00090%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 $20,000
↓ $4,929
No Pell $14,000
↓ $10,929
Dependent students $17,000
↓ $7,929
Independent students $20,000
↓ $4,929
Female students $18,500
↓ $6,429
Male students $16,472
↓ $8,457
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($24,929), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
46% of full-time students who enrolled at University of South Alabama graduate within six years, and 76% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
46%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
76%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered University of South Alabama earn a median of $49,379 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$49,379
Earning > $25K
75%
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
$39,300
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$59,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$44,500
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$47,900
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$49,200
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $19,700, about 33% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
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 ↑
13.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 71% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
University of South Alabama is home to 8,879 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 33% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
8,879
Part-Time
12%
First-Generation
33%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 59.5%5,287
Black 23.2%2,056
Other 5.7%508
Hispanic 5.7%503
Asian 3.8%335
International 1.2%106
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at University of South Alabama. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityMobile, Alabama
Housing
Partly residential3,405 beds available
Adult Learners
12%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
University of South Alabama offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
106 distinct programs across
21 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 University of South Alabama is 18:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
18:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$15,858
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$522M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$70,416
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
802 instructional faculty across 5 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
164
20%
$91,132
Associate Professors
198
25%
$74,827
Assistant Professors
334
42%
$65,751
Instructors
105
13%
$51,885
Lecturers
1
0%
—
Pros & Cons of University of South Alabama
A quick at-a-glance summary of how University of South Alabama tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
Frequently Asked Questions about University of South Alabama
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about University of South Alabama.
Is University of South Alabama hard to get into?
Admissions at University of South Alabama are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 71%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at University of South Alabama?
University of South Alabama has an acceptance rate of 71%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for University of South Alabama?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of South Alabama scored between 970 and 1190 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 University of South Alabama?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of South Alabama scored between 20 and 26 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does University of South Alabama cost?
The average net price after aid at University of South Alabama is $17,648 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is University of South Alabama worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $49,379 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $17,648 per year. That's roughly 2.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is University of South Alabama known for?
University of South Alabama is best known for its programs in Nursing, Nursing, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do University of South Alabama graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering University of South Alabama are $49,379, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is University of South Alabama accredited?
Yes. University of South Alabama is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend University of South Alabama?
University of South Alabama enrolls 8,879 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at University of South Alabama?
University of South Alabama graduates 46% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is University of South Alabama a public or private college?
University of South Alabama is a Public institution.
Where is University of South Alabama located?
University of South Alabama is located in Mobile, Alabama.
What programs does University of South Alabama offer?
University of South Alabama offers 106 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Nursing, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at University of South Alabama?
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of South Alabama is 18:1, 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.
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