Auburn University
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Why Auburn University Matters
Auburn University is a public research university in Auburn, AL ranked #350-400 in the world by Times Higher Education, and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a top-tier research enterprise and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 10% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R1 · Very High Research
- Enrollment
- 26,816
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Engineering, Biology & Biomedical, Health Professions
Why students choose Auburn University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Selective — admits about 46% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1260–1390. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $24,323 a year after grants and scholarships — 42% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $65,337 ten years after enrolling — 60% above the typical college, against $21,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.1% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 73% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.50 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Auburn University has a graduation rate of 81%, reflecting the institution's commitment to student success. With nearly 27,000 enrolled students, Auburn combines a vibrant campus life with strong academic outcomes. This high graduation rate indicates that students are well-supported in their educational journeys.
The economic mobility data specific to Auburn is not available, but the average earnings for graduates ten years after enrollment stand at $65,337. This figure suggests that Auburn graduates tend to find stable employment and earn competitive salaries in their fields. The university's focus on programs like Business & Marketing, Engineering, and Health Professions positions students for strong career trajectories.
In terms of cost, the net price for attending Auburn is $24,323, with a median debt of $21,000 upon graduation. These figures suggest that students who manage their finances wisely can graduate with a manageable debt load. Auburn is a good fit for students who value a solid education and seek to enter high-demand fields after graduation.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Auburn University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Auburn University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Auburn, Alabama, Auburn University reviews applicants selectively, with an acceptance rate near 46%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,345. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 81%.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Auburn University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
When weighing the true cost of attending Auburn University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $34,922 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $24,323 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,681 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $21,000.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Auburn University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Auburn University earn a median of $65,337, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
How Auburn Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Auburn University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Auburn University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 1.07%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower — only about 3.3% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 32% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $123,200, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Auburn University produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 193 patents tied to its graduates, and ranks among research universities with a 19/100 research score.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Auburn University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Auburn University's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Auburn University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
Based in Auburn, Alabama, Auburn University reviews applicants selectively, with an acceptance rate near 46%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,345. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 81%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Auburn University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Auburn University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $34,922 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $24,323 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,681 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $21,000.
Is Auburn University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of Auburn University earn a median of $65,337, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.
Does Auburn University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +
Auburn University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 1.07%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower — only about 3.3% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 32% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $123,200, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Auburn University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks +
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Auburn University, with an economic connectedness score of 1.50 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
How Research-Intensive Is Auburn University? World Rank, Teaching & Citations +
On the global stage, Times Higher Education places Auburn University at #350-400 worldwide. Its profile spans a research score of 19/100, teaching at 34/100, and citation impact of 10/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
Compare Auburn University
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Auburn University.
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Auburn University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Auburn University, with an economic connectedness score of 1.50 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.