Alabama vs. IU

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

Alabama IU
Location Tuscaloosa, AL Bloomington, IN
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 38,644 47,005
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #404 #200
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ua.edu iub.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Alabama IU
Tuition (In State) $11,100 $10,012
Tuition (Out of State) $31,460 $37,685
Room & Board $14,426 $12,228
Avg Net Price $20,592 $16,234
Avg Grant Aid $15,683 $10,336
% Receiving Grant Aid 82% 74%

Admission

Alabama IU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 54,072 50,080
Admitted 43,290 41,272
Acceptance Rate 80.1% 82.4%
Enrolled % 18.6% 23.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.76 3.74
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 23/31 27/32
SAT Range 1130/1410 1180/1400
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

Academics

Alabama IU
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (29%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Work and Family Studies (7%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Business (21%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Education (7%)

Outcomes

Alabama IU
Graduation Rate 66% 72%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,900 $56,200
Making Student Loan Payments 59% 72%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,750 $22,500
Median Loan Payment $245 $232

Diversity

Alabama IU
% Men 43% 51%
% Women 57% 49%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 78% 71%
% Black 11% 4%
% Hispanic 4% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 2% 11%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

Alabama IU
% In-State 35% 51%
% Out-of-State 64% 42%

Campus

Alabama IU
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

  • Indiana University Bloomington is larger than than Alabama based on total student enrollment (47,005 students vs. 38,644 students)

Alabama vs. IU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Alabama or IU?

  • The University of Alabama is 10.9% more expensive to attend than IU for in-state tuition ($11,100.00 vs. $10,012.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 19.8% higher at IU than The University of Alabama ($37,685.00 vs. $31,460.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Indiana University Bloomington than Alabama ($16,234 vs. $20,592)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana University Bloomington are 18% lower than costs at The University of Alabama ($12,228 vs. $14,426)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at The University of Alabama than Indiana University Bloomington (82% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Alabama students is 51.7% larger than aid received Indiana University Bloomington ($15,683 vs. $10,336)

Alabama vs. IU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Indiana University Bloomington (1199) is 18 points higher than at Alabama (1181)
  • Incoming Alabama students have at the same average ACT score (27) as students at IU (27)
  • Accepted freshman Alabama students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at IU (3.74)
  • IU has a higher acceptance rate (82.4%) than Alabama (80.1%)

Alabama vs. IU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at IU is higher than The University of Alabama (72% vs. 66%)
  • Graduates from Indiana University Bloomington earn on average $6,300 more per year than Alabama graduates after ten years. ($56,200 vs. $49,900)
  • Indiana University Bloomington students graduate with a $1,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Alabama graduates. ($22,500 vs. $23,750)
  • IU graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than Alabama graduates. ($232 vs. $245)
  • More IU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Alabama students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 59%)

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