University of South Alabama
#2 Best Nursing Colleges in Alabama- Graduation Rate
- 53% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $49,379 B-
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $17,648 C
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 71% C+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 17.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $17.4 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Best Nursing Colleges in Alabama.
Every $1 spent returns $17.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,159,046.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 21% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $17.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why University of South Alabama Matters
University of South Alabama is a public research university in Mobile, AL and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong research base and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. 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
- R2 · High Research
- Enrollment
- 8,879
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Biology & Biomedical, Business & Marketing, Engineering
Why students choose University of South Alabama
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 71% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 970–1190. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $17,648 a year after grants and scholarships — 3% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $49,379 ten years after enrolling — 21% above the typical college, against $24,929 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 30% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.18 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Nearly 9,000 students call the University of South Alabama home, where the acceptance rate stands at a welcoming 71%. This accessibility opens doors for many who seek higher education in the vibrant city of Mobile.
The earnings data speaks volumes: graduates earn a median of $49,379 within ten years of completing their degrees. While the graduation rate is 53%, the opportunity for upward mobility is evident for students who engage with the strong programs in health professions, business, and engineering. The school does not have specific mobility metrics available, but the support structures in place suggest a focus on helping students succeed.
Financially, students face an average net price of $17,648 and a median debt of $24,929, which is manageable considering potential earnings. Those who thrive here often have a clear career path in fields like health, engineering, or business. The significant number of Pell Grant recipients, at 38%, indicates a commitment to supporting low-income students.
Rankings
- #2 Best Nursing Colleges in Alabama
- #4 Best Biology Colleges in Alabama
- #6 Best Computer Science Colleges in Alabama
- #6 Best Data Science Colleges in Alabama
- #7 Best Colleges in Alabama
- #8 Best Bachelor's Programs in Alabama
- #8 Best Master's Programs in Alabama
- #8 Best Psychology Colleges in Alabama
Can I Get In?
How selective University of South Alabama 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 South Alabama? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
University of South Alabama, located in Mobile, Alabama, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 71%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,147. The graduation rate is roughly 53%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 71%
- Retention Rate
- 76%
- SAT Average
- 1147
- ACT Midpoint
- 23
- SAT Range
- 970–1190
- ACT Range
- 20–26
- Full-Time Faculty
- 65%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,761
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 16:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.58
- First-Gen Students
- 33%
- Applicants
- 12,550
- Admitted
- 8,203
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 South Alabama? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of South Alabama is $19,092, 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 $17,648. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,657 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $24,929 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $10,116
- Out-of-State
- $19,092
- Avg Net Price
- $17,648
- Median Debt
- $24,929
- Pell Grant Rate
- 38%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 47%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $12,657
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $13,265
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $16,277
- Family Income $110K+
- $25,322
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 South Alabama — 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 South Alabama Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of South Alabama earn a median of $49,379, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $41,307
- 8 Years
- $44,838
- 10 Years
- $49,379
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.5x
- Earning > $25K
- 62%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (537)
- 26%
- 100% (537)
- 26%
- 100% (537)
- 26%
- 100% (537)
- 26%
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 South Alabama Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, University of South Alabama delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $17,648/year ($70,592 total). Graduates earn $49,379 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,229,638 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,159,046 (17.4× your investment). The median debt is $24,929, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 53% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $70,592
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,229,638
- Net Return
- $1,159,046
- ROI Multiple
- 17.4×
- Cost Per Year
- $17,648
- Median Debt
- $24,929
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 53%
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 South Alabama Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
University of South Alabama 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 1.95%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 11.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 17.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $76,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.95%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 17.4%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 11.2%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $104,208
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-53,135,000
Top Programs
The fields University of South Alabama 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.
- Health Professions 31% $66,061 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 13% $27,205 early-career
- Business & Marketing 11% $45,173 early-career
- Engineering 7% $81,057 early-career
- Psychology 6% $29,247 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 5% $74,862 early-career
- Education 5% $41,985 early-career
- Social Sciences 3% $30,854 early-career
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 South Alabama'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
- 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
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of South Alabama? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
University of South Alabama, located in Mobile, Alabama, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 71%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,147. The graduation rate is roughly 53%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of South Alabama? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of South Alabama is $19,092, 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 $17,648. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,657 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $24,929 in federal student loans.
Is University of South Alabama Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of South Alabama earn a median of $49,379, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does University of South Alabama Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
University of South Alabama 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 1.95%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 11.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 17.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $76,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is University of South Alabama? 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 South Alabama. Its economic connectedness score is 1.18, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of South Alabama.
- Tennessee Technological UniversityCookeville, TN · Close peer56% grad $48,501 earn 76% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Puerto Rico-MayaguezMayaguez, PR · Close peer48% grad $48,992 earn 57% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- The University of Tennessee-ChattanoogaChattanooga, TN · Close peer52% grad $51,151 earn 81% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- Morgan State UniversityBaltimore, MD · Close peer41% grad $50,698 earn 82% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar size
- University of MaineOrono, ME · Close peer56% grad $48,653 earn 97% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of Central OklahomaEdmond, OK · Close peer37% grad $48,351 earn 78% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar net price
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University of South Alabama? 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 South Alabama. Its economic connectedness score is 1.18, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note