University of West Alabama
Livingston, AL 35470
About University of West Alabama
University of West Alabama is a public research university in Livingston, Alabama, serving roughly 2,974 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 42.65% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $44,232 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- University of West Alabama charges about 2.0× the national public median tuition ($10,990).
- Versus the Alabama median, sticker tuition is 10% above.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 34.70%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $44,232.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at University of West Alabama is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 772% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of West Alabama | $10,990 | $12,684 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,512 | — | 1,688 |
| Alabama (state median) | $10,024 | $10,721 | 63 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is University of West Alabama really?
Key findings
- University of West Alabama charges about 2.0× the national public median tuition ($10,990).
- Versus the Alabama median, sticker tuition is 10% above.
University of West Alabama tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $10,990
Finding University of West Alabama charges about 2.0× the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $10,990. That is about 2.0× the national public median ($5,512). Versus the Alabama median ($10,024), sticker tuition is 10% above. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is 8% below.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to public and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at University of West Alabama versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at University of West Alabama versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at University of West Alabama is $12,684.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $12,684 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $1,963 above the Alabama median net price.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At University of West Alabama, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
University of West Alabama: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for University of West Alabama—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
In-state tuition
$10,990
Out-of-state tuition
$20,090
Avg. net price
$12,684
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $12,179 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $12,523 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $14,606 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $18,550 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $43,960. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What University of West Alabama is known for
Top program completions
- Elementary Education and Teaching301
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General162
- Business Administration and Management, General162
- Secondary Education and Teaching142
- Special Education and Teaching, General127
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Selective — about half of applicants (or fewer) are admitted.
- Yield: 18% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 1015
- Midpoint ACT: 19
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is University of West Alabama a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
University of West Alabama is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for University of West Alabama.
Campus
Location
Livingston, AL
City / state
- ZIP
- 35470
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- Southeast
- Carnegie
- Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
Size
Enrollment
2,974
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 4,032
- Graduate
- 3,837
- Full-time share
- 81%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$24,944
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 58.17%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for University of West Alabama.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at University of West 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 West Alabama in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $7,660 | $14,170 | $13,221 |
| 2014 | $8,018 | $14,886 | $13,092 |
| 2015 | $8,734 | $15,878 | $12,733 |
| 2016 | $8,876 | $16,162 | $13,227 |
| 2017 | $9,204 | $16,818 | $13,512 |
| 2018 | $10,040 | $18,490 | $13,975 |
| 2019 | $10,990 | $20,090 | $15,514 |
| 2020 | $10,990 | $20,090 | $16,747 |
| 2021 | $10,990 | $20,090 | $16,258 |
| 2022 | $10,990 | $20,090 | $14,006 |
| 2023 | $10,990 | $20,090 | $13,832 |
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.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution is selective, accepting about half of all applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Average 1015 (middle 50% not reported)
Midpoint 19 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
Estimated from admission selectivity and test scores. Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
Estimated range · median 3.20
Estimated GPA band from selectivity and test scores — not an official requirement.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
University of West Alabama reported total enrollment of about 2,974 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 29% male and 71% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (49.6%), Black or African American (38.9%), and Race/ethnicity unknown (3.1%). About 58.17% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 40.3% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
80.9% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at University of West Alabama in 2024 is 2,974 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 4,032 students. Graduate enrollment is about 3,837 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
64.9%
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
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
14.43% 100% Completion Time
34.70% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 14.43% of students graduating from University of West Alabama completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Elementary Education and Teaching: 3% male / 97% female
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General: 29% male / 71% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 36% male / 64% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
University of West Alabama graduates earn a median of $44,232 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of University of West Alabama.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $44,232. Median federal loan debt: $24,944. Average net price used in cost models: $12,684.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway University of West Alabama graduates report median earnings of $44,232 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for University of West Alabama.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (44 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at University of West Alabama.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for University of West Alabama graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for University of West Alabama—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$429,016
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Alabama median 0.03× the median ($14.3M)
- Southeast median 0.02× the median ($19.4M)
- U.S. median 0.02× the median ($26.4M)
- Alabama median 0.01× the median ($8,561)
- Southeast median 0.01× the median ($9,308)
- U.S. median 0.01× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 34.0%
- Alabama median 15.2 pp below median (49.2%)
- Southeast median 25.4 pp below median (59.4%)
- U.S. median 23.9 pp below median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $8,001
- Alabama median 1.1× the median ($7,502)
- Southeast median 1.2× the median ($6,825)
- U.S. median 1.1× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $8,131
- Alabama median 1.1× the median ($7,192)
- Southeast median 1.2× the median ($6,602)
- U.S. median 1.1× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
University of West Alabama at a glance
University of West Alabama
University of West Alabama is a public institution in Livingston, AL, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Elementary Education and TeachingEducational Leadership and Administration, GeneralBusiness Administration and Management, General
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian49.6%Black or African American38.9%Race/ethnicity unknown3.1%
- Opportunity College (2025)
- Higher access & higher earnings · Browse OCU directory
Schools near University of West Alabama
Other campuses in Livingston, AL when available, plus nearby institutions in Alabama.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade D) within Alabama, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is University of West Alabama located?
University of West Alabama is located in Livingston, AL.
What is University of West Alabama's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at University of West Alabama is 42.6% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 2,041 applicants and 1,778 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is University of West Alabama's tuition?
University of West Alabama tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $10,990 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $12,684 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does University of West Alabama cost?
Reported tuition is $10,990 and average net price is $12,684 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $8,230 annually.
What explains University of West Alabama's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($12,684), completion (34.7% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($44,232). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at University of West Alabama?
University of West Alabama reports undergraduate enrollment of about 4,032 students, White (49.6%), Black or African American (38.9%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend University of West Alabama?
About 40.3% of students at University of West Alabama are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for University of West Alabama?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, University of West Alabama reports midpoint SAT about 1015 and midpoint ACT about 19.
What do graduates of University of West Alabama earn?
Median earnings are $37,106 six years after entry and $44,232 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at University of West Alabama?
The 150%-time completion rate is 34.7% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do University of West Alabama students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $24,944.
Is University of West Alabama public or private?
University of West Alabama is a public institution located in Livingston, AL.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
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 Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.