University of Alabama in Huntsville
#1 Best Colleges in AlabamaBottom 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.
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What The Data Says
A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
Graduates earn 51% more than the national college median.
Social mobility rate of 2.35% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
Every $1 invested returns $18.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
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 admits a majority of applicants, with an acceptance rate of roughly 69%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,319. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 63%.
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
When weighing the true cost of attending University of Alabama in Huntsville, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $26,408 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 $18,796 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,192 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $20,705.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
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 national averages for graduates.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
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.
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 useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
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.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields University of Alabama in Huntsville 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 University of Alabama in Huntsville's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
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 admits a majority of applicants, with an acceptance rate of roughly 69%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,319. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 63%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Alabama in Huntsville? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending University of Alabama in Huntsville, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $26,408 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 $18,796 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,192 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $20,705.
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 national averages for 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 useful read on 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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.42 (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 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.
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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.42 (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 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note