University of West Alabama is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Livingston, Alabama. It enrolls 2,974 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.
Good
66/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes12
Value75
Affordability88
Selectivity48
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 42.7%, University of West Alabama is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
42.7%
Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
860 – 1120
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
16 – 21
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 West Alabama is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
52.2 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending University of West 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 $12,684 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$12,684
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
58%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
66%
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)
$10,990
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$20,090
Room & Board (on-campus)
$8,230
Room & Board (off-campus)
$7,264
Books & Supplies
$1,206
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,600
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,600
Total Cost of Attendance
$22,758
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
$12,179
$30,001 – $48,000
$12,523
$48,001 – $75,000
$14,606
$75,001 – $110,000
$18,550
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.
$2,75010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$24,944Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$39,50090%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 $14,250
↓ $10,694
No Pell $10,500
↓ $14,444
Dependent students $15,500
↓ $9,444
Independent students $10,115
↓ $14,829
Female students $13,000
↓ $11,944
Male students $12,500
↓ $12,444
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $10,500, less than completers ($24,944), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
23% of full-time students who enrolled at University of West Alabama graduate within six years, and 63% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
23%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
63%
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 University of West Alabama earn a median of $44,232 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$44,232
Earning > $25K
73%
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
$34,300
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$46,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$36,300
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$41,100
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$48,900
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $12,600, about 27% 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 ↑
17.9 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 64% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
University of West Alabama is home to 2,974 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 40% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
2,974
Part-Time
19%
First-Generation
40%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 49.6%1,476
Black 38.9%1,158
Other 3.4%100
Hispanic 2.6%76
International 2.1%62
Asian 0.3%9
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at University of West Alabama. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: RemoteLivingston, Alabama
Housing
Partly residential920 beds available
Adult Learners
44%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Predominantly Black Institution (PBI)
What You Can Study
University of West Alabama offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
47 distinct programs across
15 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 West Alabama is 17:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
17:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$13,526
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$429,016
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$68,871
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
116 instructional faculty across 6 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
32
28%
$86,668
Associate Professors
28
24%
$71,556
Assistant Professors
26
22%
$63,685
Instructors
23
20%
$53,487
Lecturers
4
3%
$35,882
No Rank
3
3%
$64,071
Pros & Cons of University of West Alabama
A quick at-a-glance summary of how University of West Alabama tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Most students take on federal loans
Frequently Asked Questions about University of West Alabama
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about University of West Alabama.
Is University of West Alabama hard to get into?
University of West Alabama is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 42.7%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.
What is the acceptance rate at University of West Alabama?
University of West Alabama has an acceptance rate of 42.7%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for University of West Alabama?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of West Alabama scored between 860 and 1120 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 West Alabama?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of West Alabama scored between 16 and 21 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does University of West Alabama cost?
The average net price after aid at University of West Alabama is $12,684 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is University of West Alabama worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $44,232 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $12,684 per year. That's roughly 3.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is University of West Alabama known for?
University of West Alabama is best known for its programs in Teacher Education (K-12), Educational Administration, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do University of West Alabama graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering University of West Alabama are $44,232, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is University of West Alabama accredited?
Yes. University of West Alabama is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend University of West Alabama?
University of West Alabama enrolls 2,974 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at University of West Alabama?
University of West Alabama graduates 23% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is University of West Alabama a public or private college?
University of West Alabama is a Public institution.
Where is University of West Alabama located?
University of West Alabama is located in Livingston, Alabama.
What programs does University of West Alabama offer?
University of West Alabama offers 47 distinct programs. The most popular include Teacher Education (K-12), Educational Administration, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at University of West Alabama?
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of West Alabama is 17:1, 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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