University of South Alabama is a public research university in Mobile, Alabama, serving roughly 8,879 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 70.96% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $49,379 among students who received federal aid.

Key Facts

  • 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $10,116
  • 2024 Average Net Price: $17,648 After Financial Aid
  • 2024 Acceptance Rate: 70.96% Moderate Selectivity
  • 2024 Enrolled Students: 8,879 87.7% Full-Time
  • 2024 Graduation Rate: 52.67%
  • Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity
  • First-Generation Students: 33.4%
  • Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 6.1% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
  • Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 9.4% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
  • Full-Time Faculty: 65.2%
  • Average SAT Score: 1147
  • Undergraduate Enrollment: 10,431
  • Applicants (IPEDS): 12,593
  • Room & Board: $11,366 annual estimate

University of South Alabama: what the data shows

Common questions about University of South Alabama, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.

Where is University of South Alabama?

University of South Alabama is located in Mobile, AL (ZIP 36688-0002).

NCES locale classification: Suburb.

Is University of South Alabama public or private?

University of South Alabama is a Public institution.

How much does University of South Alabama cost?

Published tuition: $10,116 in-state, $19,092 out-of-state.

Average net price after aid: $17,648.

Family income bandAvg. net price
Family income $0–$30,000$12,657
$30,001–$48,000$13,265
$48,001–$75,000$16,277
$75,001–$110,000$23,252
$110,001+$25,322

Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $40,464.

How hard is it to get into University of South Alabama?

Admission rate: 70.96%.

Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1147 and midpoint ACT 23.

Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.

How big is University of South Alabama?

Total enrollment: 8,879 students.

Undergraduate enrollment: 10,431 students.

Graduate enrollment: 4,762 students.

About 88% enroll full-time in our extract.

What is the graduation rate at University of South Alabama?

150%-time completion rate: 52.67%.

First-year retention: 75.7%.

What do graduates of University of South Alabama earn?

Median earnings: $41,307 six years after entry; $49,379 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).

How much debt do students have?

Median federal loan debt among completers: $24,929.

37.96% of students receive Pell grants.

What is University of South Alabama known for?

Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:

See ROI & Programs for more.

Is University of South Alabama a good school?

We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 70.96%; completion rate 52.67%; median earnings $49,379 at 10 years; net price $17,648. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.

Tuition & Cost

Tuition Costs

$10,116
2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at University of South Alabama was $10,116.

Tuition comparison with similar institutions.

Average Net Price

$17,648
2024 Value

In 2024 University of South Alabama had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $17,648.

Average net price comparison with similar institutions.

Total Cost of Attendance

$70,592 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost

$17,648 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)

$40,464 4-Year In-State Tuition

$76,368 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition

$11,366 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)

$864 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)

$22,346 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)

$89,384 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)

4-year total cost breakdown for University of South Alabama.

Financial Aid by Income Level

37.96% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

47.33% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

Financial aid distribution by income level.

Student Loan Default Rate

0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)

The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at University of South Alabama was 0.00%.

Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.

Tuition tracker

Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for University of South Alabama in that year.

Reporting years in the table below: 20132023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).

Year In-state tuition & fees Out-of-state tuition & fees Average net price
2013$6,948$13,596$13,027
2014$7,188$14,076$14,327
2015$7,332$14,364$15,204
2016$7,548$14,796$14,755
2017$7,812$15,324$15,082
2018$8,396$16,292$14,871
2019$8,396$16,292$15,501
2020$8,396$16,292$16,826
2021$8,756$17,012$16,223
2022$9,116$17,732$16,717
2023$9,676$18,652$15,142

Sticker tuition and net price over time

Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.

College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).

Net price by family income

Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).

Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.

Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Acceptance Rate

70.96% Acceptance Rate

12,593 Total Applicants

8,247 Students Admitted

1,920 First-Time Students Enrolled

23.28% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)

This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.

Acceptance rate compared to national average.

Test Scores

SAT Average: 1147

ACT Average: 23

Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.

Academic Requirements

Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4

Estimated Median GPA: 3.20

Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.

Estimated GPA and test score ranges.

Enrollment & Student Demographics

University of South Alabama reported total enrollment of about 8,879 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 38% male and 62% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (59.5%), Black or African American (23.2%), and Hispanic or Latino (5.7%). About 37.96% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 33.4% of students are first-generation college students.

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

87.7% Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at University of South Alabama in 2024 is 8,879 students.

Undergraduate enrollment is about 10,431 students. Graduate enrollment is about 4,762 students.

Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.

Retention Rate over Time

75.7%
2024 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.

Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 59.5%.

Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).

College Scorecard student demographics.

Graduates & Outcomes

Time to Complete

36.71% 100% Completion Time

52.67% 150% Completion Time

In 2024, 36.71% of students graduating from University of South Alabama completed their program within 100% "normal time".

Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.

Completions by Sex (Top Programs)

  • Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 11% male / 89% female
  • Nursing Practice: 11% male / 89% female
  • Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology: 34% male / 66% female

IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).

Completions by Race & Ethnicity

Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.

Summed across program completion records in our extract.

ROI & Programs

Financial value and program information for University of South Alabama.

Return on Investment

$24,929 Median Student Debt

$49,379 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)

50.49% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio

599.50% Return on Investment

5.0 years Estimated Payback Period

Financial value analysis for University of South Alabama.

Top Programs by Completions

10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 88 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).

1. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 1,123 completions

2. Nursing Practice: 315 completions

3. Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology: 112 completions

4. 00.0300: 110 completions

5. Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 108 completions

6. Psychology, General: 106 completions

7. Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic): 87 completions

8. Business Administration and Management, General: 86 completions

9. Health/Medical Preparatory Programs, Other: 83 completions

Most popular programs at University of South Alabama.

Employment Outcomes

Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.

Earnings outcomes for University of South Alabama graduates.

Operations

Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for University of South Alabama from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).

Instructional Resources

  • Full-time faculty share: 65.2%
  • Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $7,761
  • Instructional expenditure per FTE: $11,135

Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.

Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.

About

University of South Alabama is a public institution located in Mobile, AL, classified as Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Nursing Practice, Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology. Enrollment is approximately 8,879 students. Student body composition includes White (59.5%), Black or African American (23.2%), Hispanic or Latino (5.7%). The admission rate is 70.96%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1147. The 150%-time completion rate is 52.67%. Approximately 37.96% of students receive Pell Grants. About 33.4% of students are first-generation college students.

Institution Type

Public

Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity

Location

Mobile, AL 36688-0002

Region: Southeast

Insights and Analysis

Diverse Program Offerings: With over 88 distinct degree programs, University of South Alabama provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is University of South Alabama located?

University of South Alabama is located in Mobile, AL.

What is University of South Alabama's acceptance rate?

The acceptance rate at University of South Alabama is 71.0% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 12,593 applicants and 8,247 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.

How much does University of South Alabama cost?

Reported tuition is $10,116 and average net price is $17,648 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $11,366 annually.

What is the student body demographics at University of South Alabama?

University of South Alabama reports undergraduate enrollment of about 10,431 students, White (59.5%), Black or African American (23.2%) in federal College Scorecard data.

How many first-generation students attend University of South Alabama?

About 33.4% of students at University of South Alabama are first-generation college students.

What test scores do students need for University of South Alabama?

Among enrolled students who submitted scores, University of South Alabama reports midpoint SAT about 1147 and midpoint ACT about 23.

What do graduates of University of South Alabama earn?

Median earnings are $41,307 six years after entry and $49,379 ten years after entry.

What is the graduation rate at University of South Alabama?

The 150%-time completion rate is 52.7% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.

How much debt do University of South Alabama students have?

Median federal loan debt among completers is $24,929.

Is University of South Alabama public or private?

University of South Alabama is a public institution located in Mobile, AL.

Is University of South Alabama an HBCU?

No. University of South Alabama is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.

Is University of South Alabama a tribal college?

No. University of South Alabama is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.

Data Sources

This page uses data from the following sources:

  • Mobile, Alabama city profile
  • Southeast regional profile
  • All state profiles
  • Regional profiles
  • National benchmarks
  • School directory
  • All schools in Alabama
  • Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.

    Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.

    Methodology

    Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.

    All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.