Mobile, Alabama Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Mobile, Alabama: median public in-state tuition $16,411 (+197.7% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $49,379 (-9.2% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 91.5% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $19,160 (+44.4% vs U.S.) 14,140 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 8 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 14,140 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $16,411 (+197.7% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $49,379 (-9.2% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 91.5% (+3.5 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $19,074 (+91.3% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $19,160 (+44.4% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $14,456
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 52.7%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 74.0%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Mobile serve students across Alabama with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 8 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 14,140 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $16,411. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Mobile, Alabama and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Mobile vs Alabama & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile, Alabama | $16,411 | $19,074 | $19,160 | 52.7% | 14,140 |
| Alabama (state median) | $5,340 | $10,721 | $21,170 | 43.0% | 220,102 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Mobile, Alabama vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile, Alabama | $49,379 | 91.5% | 74.0% | 4.8% | — | 63.2% | 0.52 |
| Alabama (state median) | $44,391 | 90.0% | 70.6% | 7.7% | — | 58.2% | 0.55 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Alabama (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile, Alabama | $16,411 | $19,074 | $19,160 | 52.7% | 14,140 | $49,379 | 91.5% |
| Tuscaloosa | $12,126 | $14,908 | $22,750 | 49.2% | 37,119 | $47,321 | 91.3% |
| Auburn | $12,890 | $24,323 | $21,428 | 82.0% | 26,816 | $65,337 | 92.3% |
| Auburn | $12,890 | $24,323 | $21,428 | 82.0% | 26,816 | $65,337 | 92.3% |
| Birmingham | $13,450 | $19,200 | $20,500 | 38.4% | 26,462 | $54,501 | 90.6% |
| Montgomery | $10,712 | $21,006 | $25,562 | 35.0% | 11,020 | $40,539 | 89.2% |
| Troy | $10,176 | $16,527 | $25,000 | 50.3% | 9,805 | $42,062 | 86.2% |
| Troy | $10,176 | $16,527 | $25,000 | 50.3% | 9,805 | $42,062 | 86.2% |
| Troy | $10,176 | $16,527 | $25,000 | 50.3% | 9,805 | $42,062 | 86.2% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top 3 colleges in Mobile, Alabama by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 56.9%, University of Mobile
University of Mobile
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 52.7%, University of South Alabama
University of South Alabama
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Rank 3, Graduation Rate, 52.1%, Spring Hill College
Spring Hill College
Top 3 colleges in Mobile, Alabama by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 92.6%, Spring Hill College
Spring Hill College
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 91.5%, University of Mobile
University of Mobile
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Rank 3, Employment Outcome, 90.0%, University of South Alabama
University of South Alabama
Top 3 most selective colleges in Mobile, Alabama (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 71.0%, University of South Alabama
University of South Alabama
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Rank 2, Admission Rate, 76.6%, Spring Hill College
Spring Hill College
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Rank 3, Admission Rate, 77.9%, University of Mobile
University of Mobile
Top 2 colleges in Mobile, Alabama by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $81,499, University of South Alabama
University of South Alabama
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $66,307, University of Mobile
University of Mobile
Top 3 colleges in Mobile, Alabama by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $100,166, University of South Alabama
University of South Alabama
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $79,845, University of Mobile
University of Mobile
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Rank 3, Early-Career Earnings, $72,755, Spring Hill College
Spring Hill College
Top 3 colleges in Mobile, Alabama by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $41,358, Spring Hill College
Spring Hill College
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $41,307, University of South Alabama
University of South Alabama
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Rank 3, Mid-Career Earnings, $37,411, University of Mobile
University of Mobile
Top 3 colleges in Mobile, Alabama by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $50,757, Spring Hill College
Spring Hill College
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $44,838, University of South Alabama
University of South Alabama
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Rank 3, 8-Yr Earnings, $41,687, University of Mobile
University of Mobile
Top 3 colleges in Mobile, Alabama by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $51,500, Spring Hill College
Spring Hill College
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $49,379, University of South Alabama
University of South Alabama
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Rank 3, 10-Yr Earnings, $43,611, University of Mobile
University of Mobile
Top 3 colleges in Mobile, Alabama by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $138,556, Spring Hill College
Spring Hill College
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $137,465, University of South Alabama
University of South Alabama
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $92,997, University of Mobile
University of Mobile
Top 3 most affordable colleges in Mobile, Alabama (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $17,648, University of South Alabama
University of South Alabama
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Rank 2, Net Price, $20,449, Spring Hill College
Spring Hill College
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Rank 3, Net Price, $22,382, University of Mobile
University of Mobile
Top 3 colleges in Mobile, Alabama by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 75.7%, University of South Alabama
University of South Alabama
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 74.0%, University of Mobile
University of Mobile
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Rank 3, First-Year Retention, 70.2%, Spring Hill College
Spring Hill College
In-state tuition: Mobile, Alabama vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Mobile, Alabama median in-state tuition is $16,411, +197.7% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Mobile, Alabama vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Mobile, Alabama is $19,160 (+44.4% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $14,456.
Median earnings (10 years out): Mobile, Alabama vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Mobile, Alabama center around $49,379 (-9.2% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Mobile, Alabama vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 91.5% at the median Mobile, Alabama campus (+3.5 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Mobile, Alabama median public in-state tuition is $16,411, about +197.7% vs the national median. Versus the Southeast region, tuition is +228.8%.
Median graduate debt is $19,160 (+44.4% above the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Mobile, Alabama are $49,379, about -9.2% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 91.5% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (+3.5 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 74.0% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 4.8% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 63.2% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Spring Hill College (92.6%), University of Mobile (91.5%), University of South Alabama (90.0%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Mobile, Alabama is 52.7% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Mobile?
This city profile covers 8 campuses in Mobile, Alabama with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Mobile?
Median in-state tuition in Mobile is $16,411 and median net price is $19,074. For Alabama overall, medians are $5,340 and $10,721; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Mobile?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Mobile is $49,379 vs $44,391 for Alabama and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Mobile colleges?
Median completer debt in Mobile is $19,160 vs $21,170 for Alabama and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Mobile?
Top campuses on this page include University of Mobile (graduation) and Spring Hill College (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Mobile?
Among 8 campuses in Mobile, Alabama, 1 historically Black college or university (HBCU, IPEDS HBCU flag), including Bishop State Community College; 2 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Southern Baptist (1), Roman Catholic (1).
Sources & related
- Alabama college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON