Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Tennessee Ole Miss Auburn Georgia UL Lafayette Florida State Clemson Tulane Kentucky Arkansas Florida LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech| The University of Alabama | Louisiana State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Alabama | LSU | ||
| Location | Tuscaloosa, AL | Baton Rouge, LA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 38,644 | 37,348 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #404 | #367 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | ua.edu | lsu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Alabama | LSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,100 | $8,038 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $31,460 | $8,038 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,426 | $13,956 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $20,592 | $21,296 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $15,683 | $12,374 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 82% | 98% |
Admission |
Alabama | LSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 54,072 | 38,853 | ||
| Admitted | 43,290 | 29,419 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 80.1% | 75.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.6% | 25.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.76 | 3.77 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 23/31 | 23/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1130/1410 | 1140/1320 | ||
| 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 | Jul 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Alabama | LSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 22:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Alabama | LSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 66% | 60% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $49,900 | $56,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 59% | 67% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,750 | $20,900 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $245 | $216 |
Diversity |
Alabama | LSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 43% | 44% | ||
| % Women | 57% | 56% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 78% | 73% | ||
| % Black | 11% | 12% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 2% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 0% |
Students |
Alabama | LSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 35% | 65% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 64% | 34% | ||
Campus |
Alabama | LSU | ||
| 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 LSU based on total student enrollment (38,644 students vs. 37,348 students)
Alabama vs. LSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Alabama or LSU?
- The University of Alabama is 38.1% more expensive to attend than LSU for in-state tuition ($11,100.00 vs. $8,038.00)
- Out of state tuition is 291.4% higher at Alabama than Louisiana State University ($31,460.00 vs. $8,038.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of Alabama than LSU ($20,592 vs. $21,296)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Louisiana State University are 3.4% lower than costs at The University of Alabama ($13,956 vs. $14,426)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Louisiana State University than The University of Alabama (98% vs. 82%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Alabama students is 26.7% larger than aid received Louisiana State University ($15,683 vs. $12,374)
Alabama vs. LSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Alabama or LSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between LSU or Alabama .
- The average SAT score at The University of Alabama (1181) is 18 points higher than at LSU (1163)
- Incoming Alabama students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at LSU (26)
- Accepted freshman LSU students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at Alabama (3.76)
- Alabama has a higher acceptance rate (80.1%) than LSU (75.7%)
Alabama vs. LSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Alabama or LSU? 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 LSU and Alabama.
- The graduation rate at Alabama is higher than Louisiana State University (66% vs. 60%)
- Graduates from Louisiana State University earn on average $7,000 more per year than Alabama graduates after ten years. ($56,900 vs. $49,900)
- Louisiana State University students graduate with a $2,850 lower median federal student loan debt than Alabama graduates. ($20,900 vs. $23,750)
- LSU graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than Alabama graduates. ($216 vs. $245)
- More LSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Alabama students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 59%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/