Alabama State vs. FSW

Deciding between Alabama State University and Florida SouthWestern State College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Alabama State University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Alabama State Montgomery, AL
  • FSW Fort Myers, FL
  • Setting
  • Alabama State Midsize City
  • FSW Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Alabama State 4,081
  • FSW 14,301
  • Type
  • Alabama State Public 4 Year
  • FSW Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Alabama State #1014
  • FSW
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Alabama State -
  • FSW -
  • Status
  • Alabama State Non-profit
  • FSW Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Alabama State
  • FSW
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Alabama State $11,248
  • FSW $3,401
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Alabama State $19,576
  • FSW $12,979
  • Room & Board
  • Alabama State $7,816
  • FSW $11,185
  • Average Net Price
  • Alabama State $13,138
  • FSW $8,356
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Alabama State $11,583
  • FSW $5,938
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Alabama State 87%
  • FSW 80%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Alabama State 7,229
  • FSW -
  • Admitted
  • Alabama State 7,052
  • FSW -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Alabama State 97.6%
  • FSW Open
  • Enrolled
  • Alabama State 15%
  • FSW Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Alabama State 860
  • FSW
  • Typical ACT score
  • Alabama State 17
  • FSW
  • Average High School GPA
  • Alabama State 2.95
  • FSW 3.06
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Alabama State B
  • FSW B
  • Admissions Standards
  • Alabama State Extremely Easy
  • FSW Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Alabama State
  • FSW
  • ACT Range
  • Alabama State 15/20
  • FSW
  • SAT Range
  • Alabama State 749/967
  • FSW
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Alabama State Test optional
  • FSW Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • Alabama State Jul 31, 2027
  • FSW
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Alabama State 15:1
  • FSW 27:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Alabama State
    • Education (18%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • FSW
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (56%)
    • Health Professions (26%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)
    • Business (5%)
    • Education (4%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Alabama State 26%
  • FSW -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Alabama State $29,500
  • FSW $37,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Alabama State 20%
  • FSW 43%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Alabama State $32,091
  • FSW $9,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Alabama State $331
  • FSW $93
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Alabama State 36%
  • FSW 36%
  • % Women
  • Alabama State 64%
  • FSW 64%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Alabama State Extremely Low
  • FSW High
  • HBCU
  • Alabama State Yes
  • FSW No
  • % White
  • Alabama State 2%
  • FSW 51%
  • % Asian
  • Alabama State 0%
  • FSW 2%
  • % Black
  • Alabama State 93%
  • FSW 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • Alabama State 1%
  • FSW 28%
  • % Native American
  • Alabama State 0%
  • FSW 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Alabama State 0%
  • FSW 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Alabama State 1%
  • FSW 2%
  • % International
  • Alabama State 2%
  • FSW 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Alabama State 1%
  • FSW 4%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Alabama State 43%
  • FSW 93%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Alabama State 52%
  • FSW 0%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Alabama State Yes
  • FSW Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Alabama State No
  • FSW No
  • Meal Plan
  • Alabama State Yes
  • FSW No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Alabama State No
  • FSW Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Alabama State No
  • FSW Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Alabama State University in Montgomery, AL with Florida SouthWestern State College in Fort Myers, FL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Florida SouthWestern State College is larger than Alabama State based on total student enrollment (14,301 students vs. 4,081 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Alabama State University is located in Montgomery, AL (Midsize City setting); Florida SouthWestern State College is in Fort Myers, FL (Large Suburban setting).
  • Alabama State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Florida SouthWestern State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Alabama State University 15:1; Florida SouthWestern State College 27:1.

Alabama State vs. FSW Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Alabama State or FSW? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Florida SouthWestern State College than Alabama State ($8,356 vs. $13,138).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Alabama State University are 30.1% lower than at Florida SouthWestern State College ($7,816 vs. $11,185).
  • Alabama State University is 230.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than FSW (about $7,847 more per year; $11,248.00 vs. $3,401.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 50.8% higher at Alabama State than at Florida SouthWestern State College (about $6,597 more per year; $19,576.00 vs. $12,979.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Alabama State University than at Florida SouthWestern State College (87% vs. 80%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Alabama State University students is 95.1% larger than aid received by Florida SouthWestern State College students ($11,583 vs. $5,938).

Alabama State vs. FSW Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Alabama State or FSW? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between FSW and Alabama State.

  • Florida SouthWestern State College reports an open admissions policy.
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Alabama State University 749/967.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Alabama State University 15/20.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Alabama State - Test optional; FSW - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Alabama State Jul 31, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman FSW students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.06) than students at Alabama State (2.95).

Alabama State vs. FSW Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Alabama State and FSW? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Graduates from Florida SouthWestern State College earn a median of about $7,900 more per year than Alabama State graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,400 vs. $29,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Florida SouthWestern State College graduates have a $23,091 lower median loan debt than Alabama State graduates ($9,000 vs. $32,091).
  • Among borrowers, FSW graduates have an estimated $238 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Alabama State graduates ($93 vs. $331).
  • More FSW graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Alabama State students, three years after graduation. (43% vs. 20%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.