University of South Alabama
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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
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, keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 71% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,147. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 53%.
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
When weighing the true cost of attending University of South Alabama, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $19,092 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 $17,648 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,657 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $24,929.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
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 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%?
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 genuine 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 useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields University of South Alabama 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 South Alabama's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of South Alabama? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
University of South Alabama, located in Mobile, Alabama, keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 71% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,147. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 53%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of South Alabama? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending University of South Alabama, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $19,092 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 $17,648 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,657 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $24,929.
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 national averages for 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 genuine 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 useful read on 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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.18 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (0.03), 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.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of South Alabama.
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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.18 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (0.03), 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.