Head-to-Head Comparison
The University of Alabama vs Auburn University
- Alabama Wins
- 17
- Tied
- 13
- Auburn Wins
- 22
Direct Answer
For overall financial value, The University of Alabama offers a significantly safer investment tier. While Auburn University achieves a higher graduation rate (81% vs 74%), its annual cost of attendance sits at $24,323 compared to The University of Alabama's $22,420. Students who choose The University of Alabama benefit from a cost structure that keeps debt manageable while maintaining competitive graduate earnings of $59,221 at ten years.
52 data points compared · Sources: College Scorecard, Opportunity Insights, Times Higher Education, IPEDS
When to Pick Each School
Alabama
- Lower cost: Average net price of $22,420, roughly $1,903 a year less
- Social mobility: Chetty mobility rate of 1.6%, the stronger record of moving students up the income ladder
Auburn
- Higher earnings: Median earnings of $65,337 ten years after enrollment, 10% more than The University of Alabama
- Higher grad rate: 81% of students finish, the higher completion rate of the pair
- Less debt: Median debt of $21,000, the lower of the two
- More selective: Admits 46% of applicants, which makes for a more competitive peer group
The Actual Decision
What are you really choosing between?
Alabama graduates concentrate in Business & Marketing (30% of degrees); Auburn in Business & Marketing (27%). If you already know the field you want, the choice is mostly made for you.
Based on each school's share of degrees by field (College Scorecard). It shows where graduates actually concentrate, not the only path a school offers.
Which School Fits You?
Pick Auburn University over The University of Alabama. Median earnings of $65,337 ten years after enrollment vs $59,221.
Pick The University of Alabama over Auburn University. Net price $22,420 vs $24,323.
Pick The University of Alabama over Auburn University. 1.6% mobility rate vs 1.1%.
Pick Auburn University over The University of Alabama. 81% completion rate vs 74%.
Key Metrics at a Glance
Graduation Rate
Earnings (10yr)
Avg Net Price
Median Debt
The Analysis
Verdict
The University of Alabama and Auburn University are close on paper, but Auburn University wins the head-to-head, leading on 4 of the core measures (selectivity, cost, earnings, completion, mobility, and debt). The right pick still depends on how you weight them.
Getting in
Auburn University is the harder admit. It takes 46% of applicants, while The University of Alabama takes 77%. Its entering class also posts the higher average SAT, 1,285 to 1,345.
So what: If test scores and a high-scoring peer group matter to you, Auburn University sets the higher bar. The less selective school is easier to get into, which can work in your favor rather than against it.
What it costs
On price, The University of Alabama comes out ahead. Its average net price after aid is $22,420, about $1,903 a year below Auburn University's $24,323. Graduates of Auburn University also borrow less: median debt of $21,000, against $22,750.
So what: Over four years, the gap adds up to about $7,612 before any change in aid. Choosing The University of Alabama leaves that money available for graduate school, savings, or simply less borrowing.
What graduates earn
Ten years after enrollment, Auburn University graduates report median earnings of $65,337, compared with $59,221 at The University of Alabama. That is a 10% advantage. Set against borrowing, Auburn University has the lower debt-to-earnings ratio, 0.32x to 0.38x.
So what: An earnings gap of 10% this early in a career tends to widen, since raises build on the higher base. Of the measures on this page, this one carries the most financial weight.
Finishing the degree
Auburn University graduates a larger share of its students, 81% versus 74%. More of its students stay on track to a degree.
So what: A completion gap of 7% is a risk measure. Students at the school with the lower rate face higher odds of leaving with debt and no degree, the most expensive outcome in higher education.
Moving people up
The University of Alabama does more to move students up the income ladder. Its Chetty mobility rate is 1.6%; at Auburn University, it is 1.1%. The University of Alabama also enrolls the larger share of low-income students: 6.5% come from the bottom income quintile, versus 3.3%.
So what: For first-generation and low-income students, The University of Alabama offers the stronger statistical shot at reaching the top of the income distribution. The gap is wide enough to weigh in any access-minded decision.
Recommendation
Bottom line: pick The University of Alabama to keep costs and debt down; pick Auburn University for the higher earnings ceiling.
Data certainty: High. Both schools report 6 of 6 core signals used here, so every comparison above matches reported data against reported data.
Counterintuitive Insights
The cheaper school is not the lower-earning one here. The University of Alabama saves about $1,903 a year, yet Auburn University graduates earn $6,116 more ten years after enrollment. The cost advantage and the earnings premium sit at different schools, so your time horizon decides which counts more.
Auburn University is harder to get into, with a 46% admit rate, but The University of Alabama posts the higher mobility rate, at 1.6%. Selectivity and income mobility measure different things; here, the easier admit does more for the low-income students it enrolls.
Their academic identities diverge. The University of Alabama concentrates enrollment in Communications, Social Sciences, while Auburn University leans toward Engineering, Biology & Biomedical. That split shapes which recruiters come to campus and what your classmates study.
Who Should Look Elsewhere
- Engineering-focused students: Auburn University has the stronger engineering programs.
No strong negative signals — Auburn competes well across the dimensions measured.
Full Data Breakdown
Overview 5 metrics
Admissions 4 metrics
Admissions Strategy (Common Data Set) 4 metrics
Cost & Financial Aid 9 metrics
Academics 5 metrics
Student Body 6 metrics
Outcomes 6 metrics
Social Mobility (Chetty) 4 metrics
Social Capital 3 metrics
Research (Times HE) 4 metrics
Online Education (IPEDS) 2 metrics
The Overviews
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL · Public
Over 33,000 students call the University of Alabama home, making it one of the largest public universities in the nation. This campus buzzes with activity and opportunity, alongside a diverse range of programs. With a 77% acceptance rate, it opens its doors to a broad spectrum of applicants.
The 10-year earnings for graduates sit at an impressive $59,221, highlighting the potential for financial success post-graduation. While the university has an 18% Pell Grant rate, it indicates a commitment to supporting low-income students, though the mobility data is not available. This suggests a need for further exploration into how well the university helps students from disadvantaged backgrounds ascend economically.
Tuition and fees at the University of Alabama amount to a net price of $22,420, with a median debt of $22,750. Students who thrive here often pursue degrees in Business, Engineering, or Health Professions. Those who engage actively in campus life and utilize available resources tend to fare best.
Auburn University
Auburn, AL · Public
Auburn University has a graduation rate of 81%, reflecting the institution's commitment to student success. With nearly 27,000 enrolled students, Auburn combines a vibrant campus life with strong academic outcomes. This high graduation rate indicates that students are well-supported in their educational journeys.
The economic mobility data specific to Auburn is not available, but the average earnings for graduates ten years after enrollment stand at $65,337. This figure suggests that Auburn graduates tend to find stable employment and earn competitive salaries in their fields. The university's focus on programs like Business & Marketing, Engineering, and Health Professions positions students for strong career trajectories.
In terms of cost, the net price for attending Auburn is $24,323, with a median debt of $21,000 upon graduation. These figures suggest that students who manage their finances wisely can graduate with a manageable debt load. Auburn is a good fit for students who value a solid education and seek to enter high-demand fields after graduation.
Rankings They Appear On
The University of Alabama and Auburn University appear together in 5 rankings. On the Best Business Colleges in Alabama, The University of Alabama ranks #1 — The University of Alabama outranks Auburn University by 1 positions.
Top Degree Programs
Both schools share Business Administration as their top enrolled program field, comprising 30% of Alabama's student body and 27% of Auburn's.
Career Pathways
Program strengths at these schools feed into careers like Registered Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Physician Assistant (for Alabama) and Software Developer, Data Scientist, Cybersecurity Analyst (for Auburn).
The two schools feed different job markets. The University of Alabama is strongest in Communications, Social Sciences, while Auburn University concentrates in Engineering, Biology & Biomedical. Those concentrations determine which recruiters show up on campus and where alumni cluster by industry. Match the school's program strengths to the field you plan to enter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it harder to get into The University of Alabama or Auburn University?
Auburn University is harder to get into, admitting 46% of applicants compared with 77% at The University of Alabama.
Which is more affordable, The University of Alabama or Auburn University?
The University of Alabama is more affordable, with an average net price of $22,420 after aid versus $24,323 at Auburn University.
Do The University of Alabama or Auburn University graduates earn more?
Auburn University graduates earn more: median earnings of $65,337 ten years after enrollment, versus $59,221 at The University of Alabama.
Which has a better graduation rate, The University of Alabama or Auburn University?
Auburn University has the higher graduation rate, 81% versus 74%.
The University of Alabama vs Auburn University: which is better for social mobility?
The University of Alabama is the stronger driver of upward mobility, with a Chetty mobility rate of 1.6% versus 1.1%.
Should you choose The University of Alabama or Auburn University?
It depends on what you weigh most. Choose The University of Alabama if affordability and lower debt come first; choose Auburn University if you're optimizing for post-grad earnings. The two schools win on different measures, so the better fit is the one whose strengths match your priorities.
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