The University of Alabama
PublicTuscaloosa, AL
The University of Alabama was founded in 1831 as the state's flagship university and holds R1 status, the highest federal classification for doctoral research activity. Known since 1913 by the nickname "the Capstone," it comprises 13 colleges and schools offering more than 200 degree programs. The university's National Merit Scholar enrollment ranks among the largest of any public university.
Admissions
Test scores for the Fall 2025 entering class come from The University of Alabama's own 2025-26 Common Data Set: 19% submitted SAT scores, 53% submitted ACT scores.
Cost & outcomes
Out-of-state students pay $24,006 more per year in tuition and fees (2.9x the in-state rate).
Tuition & fees are The University of Alabama's own published 2026-27 rates (source); other figures are from the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Tuition & fees are the sticker price for a full-time first-year undergrad, before financial aid, and don't include room and board.
Where do you stand against The University of Alabama's numbers?
Check your chances hereHow The University of Alabama weighs your application
From The University of Alabama's own Common Data Set, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?
See full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what The University of Alabama weighs in your application
Paying it back
"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.
Majors & earnings
Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.
Campus life
Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.
What matters in your application
From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.
Frequently asked questions
What does The University of Alabama look for in applicants?
Per The University of Alabama's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, standardized test scores as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.
What is The University of Alabama's acceptance rate?
The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, AL admits approximately 77% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.
What SAT score do I need for The University of Alabama?
Per The University of Alabama's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1100–1360 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).
What ACT score do I need for The University of Alabama?
Per The University of Alabama's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 22–31 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).
How much does The University of Alabama cost?
The University of Alabama's total cost of attendance is reported at $33,382 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.
What is out-of-state tuition at The University of Alabama?
For 2026-27, The University of Alabama's tuition and required fees are $36,724 for out-of-state students and $12,718 for in-state students -- $24,006 more per year for out-of-state students. That's before financial aid, and room and board are extra.
Does The University of Alabama require students to live on campus?
No -- The University of Alabama doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.
Related reading
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