Alabama State vs. University of West Alabama

Should I go to Alabama State University or University of West Alabama? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Alabama State or University of West Alabama is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Alabama State University vs. University of West Alabama comparison
Alabama State University University of West Alabama College 3 College 4
Alabama State University
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Overview

Alabama State University of West Alabama
Location Montgomery, AL Livingston, AL
Setting Midsize City Remote Rural
Enrollment 3,828 5,860
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1016 #1007
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website alasu.edu uwa.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Alabama State University of West Alabama
Tuition (In State) $8,328 $9,100
Tuition (Out of State) $16,656 $18,200
Room & Board $6,050 $7,820
Avg Net Price $13,176 $13,786
Avg Grant Aid $10,029 $9,291
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 89%

Admission

Alabama State University of West Alabama
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,731 3,131
Admitted 6,502 2,156
Acceptance Rate 96.6% 68.9%
Enrolled % 14.5% 14.4%
Avg High School GPA 2.95 3.16
Typical High School Grades B- B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/20 17/21
SAT Range 828/1041 880/980
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Jul 31, 2025 Aug 10, 2025

Academics

Alabama State University of West Alabama
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (18%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Education (27%)
  • Health Professions (24%)
  • Business (14%)
  • English and Literature (6%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

Alabama State University of West Alabama
Graduation Rate 26% 28%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $29,500 $38,500
Making Student Loan Payments 20% 36%
Median Student Loan Debt $32,091 $26,489
Median Loan Payment $331 $273

Diversity

Alabama State University of West Alabama
% Men 35% 25%
% Women 65% 75%
Racial Diversity Extremely Low Very High
HBCU Yes No
% White 2% 45%
% Black 93% 40%
% Hispanic 1% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 2%
% International 2% 6%
% Unknown Race 1% 4%

Students

Alabama State University of West Alabama
% In-State 37% 81%
% Out-of-State 62% 13%

Campus

Alabama State University of West Alabama
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of West Alabama is larger than than Alabama State based on total student enrollment (5,860 students vs. 3,828 students)

Alabama State vs. University of West Alabama Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Alabama State or University of West Alabama?

  • University of West Alabama is 9.3% more expensive to attend than Alabama State for in-state tuition ($9,100.00 vs. $8,328.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 9.3% higher at University of West Alabama than Alabama State University ($18,200.00 vs. $16,656.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Alabama State University than University of West Alabama ($13,176 vs. $13,786)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Alabama State University are 29.3% lower than costs at University of West Alabama ($6,050 vs. $7,820)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Alabama State University than University of West Alabama (97% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Alabama State University students is 7.9% larger than aid received University of West Alabama ($10,029 vs. $9,291)

Alabama State vs. University of West Alabama Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Alabama State or University of West Alabama? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between University of West Alabama or Alabama State .

  • The average SAT score at University of West Alabama (930) is 86 points higher than at Alabama State (844)
  • Incoming University of West Alabama students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (20) than students at Alabama State (18)
  • Accepted freshman University of West Alabama students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.16) than students at Alabama State (2.95)
  • Alabama State has a higher acceptance rate (96.6%) than University of West Alabama (68.9%)

Alabama State vs. University of West Alabama Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Alabama State or University of West Alabama? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between University of West Alabama and Alabama State.

  • The graduation rate at University of West Alabama is higher than Alabama State University (28% vs. 26%)
  • Graduates from University of West Alabama earn on average $9,000 more per year than Alabama State graduates after ten years. ($38,500 vs. $29,500)
  • University of West Alabama students graduate with a $5,602 lower median federal student loan debt than Alabama State graduates. ($26,489 vs. $32,091)
  • University of West Alabama graduates are paying $58 less per month on federal student loans than Alabama State graduates. ($273 vs. $331)
  • More University of West Alabama graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Alabama State students, three years after graduation. (36% vs. 20%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/