University of West Alabama
#1 Best Education Colleges in Alabama- Graduation Rate
- 36% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $44,232 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $12,684 B-
- 26% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 43% A-
- Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 21.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $21.6 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Education Colleges in Alabama.
Every $1 spent returns $21.6 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,046,274.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduation of 36% — 36% below the national average.
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Social mobility rate of 2.49% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $21.6 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why University of West Alabama Matters
University of West Alabama is a public university in Livingston, AL and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: durable upward mobility for the students it enrolls.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 2,974
- Setting
- Rural
- Primary Strengths
- Education, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Psychology
Why students choose University of West 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
Selective — admits about 43% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 860–1120. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $12,684 a year after grants and scholarships — 26% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $44,232 ten years after enrolling — 8% above the typical college, against $24,944 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.5% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 17% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.09 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Nearly 3,000 students call the University of West Alabama home, with an acceptance rate of 43%. This means that nearly half of applicants gain entry, creating a diverse student body eager to access a variety of educational pathways.
Looking at the outcomes, graduates from the University of West Alabama earn a median salary of $44,232 a decade after graduation. While graduation rates sit at 36%, this school serves a significant number of Pell Grant recipients—58%—indicating a strong commitment to supporting low-income students and increasing access to higher education.
The net price for attending the University of West Alabama is $12,684, and graduates carry an average debt of $24,944. Students who thrive here often pursue degrees in Education, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Psychology, or Communications. This institution caters to those seeking affordable education with promising earning potential, particularly in fields that are vital to community development.
Rankings
- #1 Best Education Colleges in Alabama
- #1 Most Affordable Online Bachelor's in English
- #1 Most Affordable Online Master's in English
- #2 Best Online Bachelor's in Education
- #2 Best Online Bachelor's in English
- #2 Best Online Bachelor's in Public Health
- #2 Best Online Master's in Education
- #2 Best Online Master's in English
Can I Get In?
How selective University of West 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 West Alabama? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Livingston, Alabama, University of West Alabama reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 43%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,015. The graduation rate is roughly 36%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 43%
- Retention Rate
- 65%
- SAT Average
- 1015
- ACT Midpoint
- 19
- SAT Range
- 860–1120
- ACT Range
- 16–21
- Full-Time Faculty
- 34%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,001
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 18:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.60
- First-Gen Students
- 40%
- Applicants
- 3,131
- Admitted
- 2,156
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 West Alabama? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of West Alabama is $20,090, 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 $12,684. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,179 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $24,944 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $10,990
- Out-of-State
- $20,090
- Avg Net Price
- $12,684
- Median Debt
- $24,944
- Pell Grant Rate
- 58%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 66%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $12,179
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $12,523
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $14,606
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 West 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 West Alabama Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of West Alabama report median earnings of $44,232, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $37,106
- 8 Years
- $39,584
- 10 Years
- $44,232
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.56x
- Earning > $25K
- 50%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (100)
- 32%
- 100% (100)
- 32%
- 100% (100)
- 32%
- 100% (100)
- 32%
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 West Alabama Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, University of West Alabama delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $12,684/year ($50,736 total). Graduates earn $44,232 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,097,010 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,046,274 (21.6× your investment). The median debt is $24,944, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 36% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $50,736
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,097,010
- Net Return
- $1,046,274
- ROI Multiple
- 21.6×
- Cost Per Year
- $12,684
- Median Debt
- $24,944
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 36%
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 West Alabama Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
University of West 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 2.49%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 18.1% 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 13.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $60,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.49%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 13.7%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 18.1%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $81,791
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $428,997
- Investment Income
- $2,460
Top Programs
The fields University of West 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.
- Education 21% $44,027 early-career
- Health Professions 18% $61,913 early-career
- Business & Marketing 8% $41,405 early-career
- Psychology 6% $31,771 early-career
- Communications 5%
- Biology & Biomedical 2%
- Criminal Justice 2%
- Social Sciences 1%
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 West 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+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of West Alabama? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Livingston, Alabama, University of West Alabama reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 43%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,015. The graduation rate is roughly 36%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of West Alabama? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of West Alabama is $20,090, 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 $12,684. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,179 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $24,944 in federal student loans.
Is University of West Alabama Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of West Alabama report median earnings of $44,232, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does University of West Alabama Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
University of West 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 2.49%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 18.1% 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 13.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $60,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is University of West Alabama? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at University of West Alabama. Its economic connectedness score is 1.09, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of West Alabama.
- Delaware State UniversityDover, DE · Close peer39% grad $49,307 earn 47% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar net price
- East Central UniversityAda, OK · Close peer34% grad $44,962 earn 58% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Alcorn State UniversityAlcorn State, MS · Close peer51% grad $36,421 earn 45% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar size · similar net price
- Coppin State UniversityBaltimore, MD · Close peer26% grad $46,490 earn 46% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- University of South Carolina AikenAiken, SC · Close peer40% grad $45,603 earn 79% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of Arkansas at Pine BluffPine Bluff, AR · Close peer40% grad $35,550 earn 41% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University of West Alabama? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at University of West Alabama. Its economic connectedness score is 1.09, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note