University of Alabama in Huntsville
#1 Best Colleges in Alabama- Graduation Rate
- 63% C+
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $61,767 A-
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $18,796 C-
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 69% B-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 18.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $18.5 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Colleges in Alabama.
Every $1 spent returns $18.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,317,292.
What The Data Says
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A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduates earn 51% more than the national college median.
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Social mobility rate of 2.35% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $18.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.8%
- Top 30%
- Patents
- 20
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 28
- Downstream influence
Why University of Alabama in Huntsville Matters
University of Alabama in Huntsville is a public research university in Huntsville, AL and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a top-tier research enterprise, a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network, and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
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
- 6,591
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Engineering, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose University of Alabama in Huntsville
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
Competitive — admits about 69% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1210–1410. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $18,796 a year after grants and scholarships — 10% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $61,767 ten years after enrolling — 51% above the typical college, against $20,705 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.4% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 20% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.42 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
The University of Alabama in Huntsville has a 10-year average earnings of $61,767 for its graduates. This figure places graduates in a strong position to manage their financial futures, making it an attractive option for students focused on return on investment.
Chetty/Opportunity Insights data indicates that while specific mobility rates are not available, the university's 63% graduation rate signals a solid foundation for students pursuing degrees in high-demand fields such as engineering, business, and health professions. Graduates are likely to find themselves in a favorable job market, especially in technology and healthcare, which are vital sectors in the Huntsville area.
From a financial perspective, the net price for attending the University of Alabama in Huntsville is $18,796, with a median debt of $20,705. This combination suggests that many students can graduate with manageable debt levels while still earning competitive salaries. The university is well-suited for students interested in STEM and business disciplines, who thrive in a supportive environment that emphasizes practical skills and career readiness.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective University of Alabama in Huntsville 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 University of Alabama in Huntsville? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Huntsville, Alabama, University of Alabama in Huntsville offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 69% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,319. The graduation rate is roughly 63%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 69%
- Retention Rate
- 84%
- SAT Average
- 1319
- ACT Midpoint
- 28
- SAT Range
- 1210–1410
- ACT Range
- 24–31
- Full-Time Faculty
- 66%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,639
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 17:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.52
- First-Gen Students
- 31%
- Applicants
- 5,581
- Admitted
- 4,359
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 University of Alabama in Huntsville? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Alabama in Huntsville is $26,408, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $18,796. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,192 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,705 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $12,132
- Out-of-State
- $26,408
- Avg Net Price
- $18,796
- Median Debt
- $20,705
- Pell Grant Rate
- 25%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 33%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $16,192
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $16,532
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $18,210
- Family Income $110K+
- $21,501
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at University of Alabama in Huntsville — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is University of Alabama in Huntsville Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Alabama in Huntsville earn a median of $61,767, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $55,610
- 8 Years
- $61,771
- 10 Years
- $61,767
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.34x
- Earning > $25K
- 69%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (222)
- 31%
- 100% (222)
- 31%
- 100% (222)
- 31%
- 100% (222)
- 31%
How University 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%?
College ROI Calculator
Is University of Alabama in Huntsville Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, University of Alabama in Huntsville delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $18,796/year ($75,184 total). Graduates earn $61,767 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,392,476 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,317,292 (18.5× your investment). The median debt is $20,705, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 63% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $75,184
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,392,476
- Net Return
- $1,317,292
- ROI Multiple
- 18.5×
- Cost Per Year
- $18,796
- Median Debt
- $20,705
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 63%
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 University of Alabama in Huntsville Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
University of Alabama in Huntsville is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.35%, among the highest in the country. About 7.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 29.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $91,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.35%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 29.6%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 7.9%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $124,045
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
University of Alabama in Huntsville produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 20 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.75%
- Top 30% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 20
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 28
- Downstream influence
- Inventors From Low-Income
- 0.41%
- Bottom-20% families
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-16,315,109
Top Programs
The fields University of Alabama in Huntsville awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Engineering 29% $76,041 early-career
- Business & Marketing 20% $58,011 early-career
- Health Professions 10% $60,068 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 9% $71,829 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 5% $30,854 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 4%
- Physical Sciences 4%
- Social Sciences 3%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for University of Alabama in Huntsville's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Alabama in Huntsville? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Huntsville, Alabama, University of Alabama in Huntsville offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 69% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,319. The graduation rate is roughly 63%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Alabama in Huntsville? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Alabama in Huntsville is $26,408, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $18,796. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,192 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,705 in federal student loans.
Is University of Alabama in Huntsville Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Alabama in Huntsville earn a median of $61,767, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does University of Alabama in Huntsville Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
University of Alabama in Huntsville is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.35%, among the highest in the country. About 7.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 29.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $91,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is University of Alabama in Huntsville? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Alabama in Huntsville. Its economic connectedness score is 1.42, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of Alabama in Huntsville.
- Salisbury UniversitySalisbury, MD · Close peer68% grad $61,515 earn 87% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of Minnesota-DuluthDuluth, MN · Close peer65% grad $62,616 earn 89% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of Missouri-Kansas CityKansas City, MO · Close peer56% grad $59,637 earn 72% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- State University of New York at CortlandCortland, NY · Close peer68% grad $60,236 earn 60% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Slippery Rock University of PennsylvaniaSlippery Rock, PA · Close peer66% grad $53,032 earn 71% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Winona State UniversityWinona, MN · Close peer59% grad $58,532 earn 75% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University of Alabama in Huntsville? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Alabama in Huntsville. Its economic connectedness score is 1.42, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note