Auburn, Alabama Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Auburn, Alabama: median public in-state tuition $12,890 (+133.8% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $65,337 (+20.1% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 92.3% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $21,428 (+61.5% vs U.S.) 26,816 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 2 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 26,816 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $12,890 (+133.8% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $65,337 (+20.1% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 92.3% (+4.3 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $24,323 (+144.0% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $21,428 (+61.5% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $14,456
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 82.0%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 94.8%
Download the data
Full profile payload including top-college lists and peer comparisons.
Overview
Colleges and universities in Auburn serve students across Alabama with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 2 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 26,816 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $12,890. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Auburn, Alabama and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Auburn 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn, Alabama | $12,890 | $24,323 | $21,428 | 82.0% | 26,816 |
| 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: Auburn, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn, Alabama | $65,337 | 92.3% | 94.8% | 4.5% | — | 81.1% | 0.32 |
| 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn, Alabama | $12,890 | $24,323 | $21,428 | 82.0% | 26,816 | $65,337 | 92.3% |
| Tuscaloosa | $12,126 | $14,908 | $22,750 | 49.2% | 37,119 | $47,321 | 91.3% |
| Birmingham | $13,450 | $19,200 | $20,500 | 38.4% | 26,462 | $54,501 | 90.6% |
| Mobile | $16,411 | $19,074 | $19,160 | 52.7% | 14,140 | $49,379 | 91.5% |
| 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% |
| Huntsville | $8,661 | $18,796 | $23,852 | 44.6% | 8,748 | $52,128 | 84.4% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top college in Auburn, 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.
-
Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 82.0%, Auburn University
Auburn University
Top college in Auburn, 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.
-
Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 92.3%, Auburn University
Auburn University
Most selective college in Auburn, 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.
-
Rank 1, Admission Rate, 45.9%, Auburn University
Auburn University
Top college in Auburn, 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.
-
Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $82,217, Auburn University
Auburn University
Top college in Auburn, 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.
-
Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $110,927, Auburn University
Auburn University
Top college in Auburn, 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.
-
Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $54,629, Auburn University
Auburn University
Top college in Auburn, 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.
-
Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $61,406, Auburn University
Auburn University
Top college in Auburn, 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.
-
Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $65,337, Auburn University
Auburn University
Top college in Auburn, 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.
-
Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $181,146, Auburn University
Auburn University
Most affordable college in Auburn, 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.
-
Rank 1, Net Price, $24,323, Auburn University
Auburn University
Top college in Auburn, 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.
-
Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 94.8%, Auburn University
Auburn University
In-state tuition: Auburn, Alabama vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Auburn, Alabama median in-state tuition is $12,890, +133.8% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Auburn, Alabama vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Auburn, Alabama is $21,428 (+61.5% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $14,456.
Median earnings (10 years out): Auburn, Alabama vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Auburn, Alabama center around $65,337 (+20.1% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Auburn, Alabama vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 92.3% at the median Auburn, Alabama campus (+4.3 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
Auburn, Alabama median public in-state tuition is $12,890, about +133.8% vs the national median. Versus the Southeast region, tuition is +158.2%.
Median graduate debt is $21,428 (+61.5% 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 Auburn, Alabama are $65,337, about +20.1% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 92.3% 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% (+4.3 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 94.8% 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 4.5% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 81.1% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Auburn University (92.3%)—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 Auburn, Alabama is 82.0% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Auburn?
This city profile covers 2 campuses in Auburn, Alabama with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Auburn?
Median in-state tuition in Auburn is $12,890 and median net price is $24,323. For Alabama overall, medians are $5,340 and $10,721; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Auburn?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Auburn is $65,337 vs $44,391 for Alabama and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Auburn colleges?
Median completer debt in Auburn is $21,428 vs $21,170 for Alabama and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Auburn?
Top campuses on this page include Auburn University (graduation) and Auburn University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Auburn?
Among 2 College Scorecard campuses in Auburn, Alabama, none are flagged as HBCUs or tribal colleges in IPEDS, and none meet our 25% Hispanic-enrollment HSI proxy or report a religious affiliation in IPEDS.
Sources & related
- Alabama college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON