Alabama vs. IU

Deciding between The University of Alabama and Indiana University Bloomington? 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.

The University of Alabama
Indiana University Bloomington

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL
  • IU Bloomington, IN
  • Setting
  • Alabama Small City
  • IU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Alabama 40,846
  • IU 48,424
  • Type
  • Alabama Public 4 Year
  • IU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Alabama #416
  • IU #207
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Alabama -
  • IU -
  • Status
  • Alabama Non-profit
  • IU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Alabama
  • IU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Alabama $12,180
  • IU $12,144
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Alabama $34,172
  • IU $41,891
  • Room & Board
  • Alabama $15,016
  • IU $13,984
  • Average Net Price
  • Alabama $22,559
  • IU $17,270
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Alabama $17,503
  • IU $10,487
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Alabama 80%
  • IU 73%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Alabama 56,795
  • IU 67,658
  • Admitted
  • Alabama 43,531
  • IU 52,918
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Alabama 76.6%
  • IU 78.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Alabama 18.5%
  • IU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Alabama 1290
  • IU 1290
  • Typical ACT score
  • Alabama 27
  • IU 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Alabama 3.76
  • IU 3.74
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Alabama A-
  • IU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Alabama Very High
  • IU Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Alabama
  • IU
  • ACT Range
  • Alabama 24/31
  • IU 27/33
  • SAT Range
  • Alabama 1170/1400
  • IU 1170/1400
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Alabama Test optional
  • IU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Alabama May 1, 2027
  • IU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Alabama 19:1
  • IU 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Alabama
    • Business (29%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • IU
    • Business (21%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Education (7%)

  • Outcomes

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

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Alabama 43%
  • IU 50%
  • % Women
  • Alabama 57%
  • IU 50%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Alabama Low
  • IU Medium
  • HBCU
  • Alabama No
  • IU No
  • % White
  • Alabama 78%
  • IU 71%
  • % Asian
  • Alabama 1%
  • IU 4%
  • % Black
  • Alabama 11%
  • IU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Alabama 4%
  • IU 5%
  • % Native American
  • Alabama 0%
  • IU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Alabama 0%
  • IU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Alabama 3%
  • IU 4%
  • % International
  • Alabama 2%
  • IU 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Alabama 0%
  • IU 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Alabama 40%
  • IU 55%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Alabama 59%
  • IU 41%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, AL with Indiana University Bloomington in Bloomington, IN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Indiana University Bloomington is larger than Alabama based on total student enrollment (48,424 students vs. 40,846 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • The University of Alabama is located in Tuscaloosa, AL (Small City setting); Indiana University Bloomington is in Bloomington, IN (Small City setting).
  • The University of Alabama is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Indiana University Bloomington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: The University of Alabama 19:1; Indiana University Bloomington 18:1.

Alabama vs. IU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Alabama or IU? 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 Indiana University Bloomington than Alabama ($17,270 vs. $22,559).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana University Bloomington are 6.9% lower than at The University of Alabama ($13,984 vs. $15,016).
  • The University of Alabama is 0.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than IU (about $36 more per year; $12,180.00 vs. $12,144.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 22.6% higher at IU than at The University of Alabama (about $7,719 more per year; $41,891.00 vs. $34,172.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at The University of Alabama than at Indiana University Bloomington (80% vs. 73%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Alabama students is 66.9% larger than aid received by Indiana University Bloomington students ($17,503 vs. $10,487).

Alabama vs. IU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Alabama or IU? 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 IU and Alabama.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The University of Alabama (1290) is the same as at IU (1290).
  • Incoming IU students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 27 at Alabama).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The University of Alabama 1170/1400; Indiana University Bloomington 1170/1400.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The University of Alabama 24/31; Indiana University Bloomington 27/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Alabama - Test optional; IU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Alabama May 1, 2027.
  • 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 (78.2%) than Alabama (76.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.5% at Alabama vs. 18.2% at IU.

Alabama vs. IU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Alabama and IU? 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).

  • Indiana University Bloomington's six-year graduation rate (72%) is higher than The University of Alabama's (66%).
  • Graduates from Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of about $6,300 more per year than Alabama graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $49,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Indiana University Bloomington graduates have a $1,250 lower median loan debt than Alabama graduates ($22,500 vs. $23,750).
  • Among borrowers, IU graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.