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 39,622 47,527
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #403 #209
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ua.edu iub.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Alabama IU
Tuition (In State) $11,100 $10,312
Tuition (Out of State) $32,400 $39,004
Room & Board $14,840 $13,380
Avg Net Price $21,761 $16,282
Avg Grant Aid $16,394 $9,857
% Receiving Grant Aid 72% 74%

Admission

Alabama IU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 58,418 54,279
Admitted 44,295 43,624
Acceptance Rate 75.8% 80.4%
Enrolled % 18.7% 21.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.76 3.74
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 24/31 27/32
SAT Range 1170/1400 1170/1400
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, 2026

Academics

Alabama IU
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 18:1
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 6% 12%
% Women 10% 11%
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 36% 54%
% Out-of-State 63% 41%

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 (47,527 students vs. 39,622 students)

Alabama vs. IU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Alabama or IU?

  • The University of Alabama is 7.6% more expensive to attend than IU for in-state tuition ($11,100.00 vs. $10,312.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 20.4% higher at IU than The University of Alabama ($39,004.00 vs. $32,400.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Indiana University Bloomington than Alabama ($16,282 vs. $21,761)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana University Bloomington are 10.9% lower than costs at The University of Alabama ($13,380 vs. $14,840)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Indiana University Bloomington than The University of Alabama (74% vs. 72%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Alabama students is 66.3% larger than aid received Indiana University Bloomington ($16,394 vs. $9,857)

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 (80.4%) than Alabama (75.8%)

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/