Alabama vs. ASU

Should I go to The University of Alabama or Appalachian State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Alabama or ASU 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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The University of Alabama vs. Appalachian State University comparison
The University of Alabama Appalachian State University College 3 College 4
The University of Alabama Appalachian State University
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Overview

Alabama ASU
Location Tuscaloosa, AL Boone, NC
Setting Small City Distant Town
Enrollment 38,644 20,436
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #404 #594
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ua.edu appstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Alabama ASU
Tuition (In State) $11,100 $4,242
Tuition (Out of State) $31,460 $20,246
Room & Board $14,426 $11,582
Avg Net Price $20,592 $13,084
Avg Grant Aid $15,683 $7,443
% Receiving Grant Aid 82% 47%

Admission

Alabama ASU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 54,072 22,255
Admitted 43,290 18,489
Acceptance Rate 80.1% 83.1%
Enrolled % 18.6% 21.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.76 3.96
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 23/31 21/27
SAT Range 1130/1410 1100/1270
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline May 1, 2025 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

Alabama ASU
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (29%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Work and Family Studies (7%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

Outcomes

Alabama ASU
Graduation Rate 66% 65%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,900 $41,600
Making Student Loan Payments 59% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,750 $20,500
Median Loan Payment $245 $211

Diversity

Alabama ASU
% Men 43% 42%
% Women 57% 58%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 78% 85%
% Black 11% 3%
% Hispanic 4% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

Alabama ASU
% In-State 35% 87%
% Out-of-State 64% 13%

Campus

Alabama ASU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • The University of Alabama is larger than than ASU based on total student enrollment (38,644 students vs. 20,436 students)

Alabama vs. ASU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Alabama or ASU?

  • The University of Alabama is 161.7% more expensive to attend than ASU for in-state tuition ($11,100.00 vs. $4,242.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 55.4% higher at Alabama than Appalachian State University ($31,460.00 vs. $20,246.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Appalachian State University than Alabama ($13,084 vs. $20,592)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Appalachian State University are 24.6% lower than costs at The University of Alabama ($11,582 vs. $14,426)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at The University of Alabama than Appalachian State University (82% vs. 47%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Alabama students is 110.7% larger than aid received Appalachian State University ($15,683 vs. $7,443)

Alabama vs. ASU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at The University of Alabama (1181) is 24 points higher than at ASU (1157)
  • Incoming Alabama students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at ASU (26)
  • Accepted freshman ASU students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Alabama (3.76)
  • ASU has a higher acceptance rate (83.1%) than Alabama (80.1%)

Alabama vs. ASU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Alabama or ASU? 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 ASU and Alabama.

  • The graduation rate at Alabama is higher than Appalachian State University (66% vs. 65%)
  • Graduates from The University of Alabama earn on average $8,300 more per year than ASU graduates after ten years. ($49,900 vs. $41,600)
  • Appalachian State University students graduate with a $3,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Alabama graduates. ($20,500 vs. $23,750)
  • ASU graduates are paying $34 less per month on federal student loans than Alabama graduates. ($211 vs. $245)
  • More ASU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Alabama students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 59%)

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