Alabama vs. Mississippi State

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

Alabama Mississippi State
Location Tuscaloosa, AL Mississippi State, MS
Setting Small City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 38,644 22,649
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #404 #523
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ua.edu msstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Alabama Mississippi State
Tuition (In State) $11,100 $9,248
Tuition (Out of State) $31,460 $25,294
Room & Board $14,426 $10,964
Avg Net Price $20,592 $15,364
Avg Grant Aid $15,683 $14,252
% Receiving Grant Aid 82% 98%

Admission

Alabama Mississippi State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 54,072 18,830
Admitted 43,290 14,158
Acceptance Rate 80.1% 75.2%
Enrolled % 18.6% 23.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.76 3.58
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 23/31 21/29
SAT Range 1130/1410 1070/1280
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 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Alabama Mississippi State
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 (23%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • General Studies (6%)
  • Psychology (6%)

Outcomes

Alabama Mississippi State
Graduation Rate 66% 60%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,900 $47,500
Making Student Loan Payments 59% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,750 $23,250
Median Loan Payment $245 $240

Diversity

Alabama Mississippi State
% Men 43% 49%
% Women 57% 51%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 78% 72%
% Black 11% 20%
% Hispanic 4% 2%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Alabama Mississippi State
% In-State 35% 59%
% Out-of-State 64% 40%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • The University of Alabama is larger than than Mississippi State based on total student enrollment (38,644 students vs. 22,649 students)

Alabama vs. Mississippi State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Alabama or Mississippi State?

  • The University of Alabama is 20% more expensive to attend than Mississippi State for in-state tuition ($11,100.00 vs. $9,248.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 24.4% higher at Alabama than Mississippi State University ($31,460.00 vs. $25,294.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mississippi State University than Alabama ($15,364 vs. $20,592)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mississippi State University are 31.6% lower than costs at The University of Alabama ($10,964 vs. $14,426)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Mississippi State University than The University of Alabama (98% vs. 82%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Alabama students is 10% larger than aid received Mississippi State University ($15,683 vs. $14,252)

Alabama vs. Mississippi State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at The University of Alabama (1181) is 41 points higher than at Mississippi State (1140)
  • Incoming Alabama students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Mississippi State (25)
  • Accepted freshman Alabama students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at Mississippi State (3.58)
  • Alabama has a higher acceptance rate (80.1%) than Mississippi State (75.2%)

Alabama vs. Mississippi State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Alabama or Mississippi State? 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 Mississippi State and Alabama.

  • The graduation rate at Alabama is higher than Mississippi State University (66% vs. 60%)
  • Graduates from The University of Alabama earn on average $2,400 more per year than Mississippi State graduates after ten years. ($49,900 vs. $47,500)
  • Mississippi State University students graduate with a $500 lower median federal student loan debt than Alabama graduates. ($23,250 vs. $23,750)
  • Mississippi State graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than Alabama graduates. ($240 vs. $245)
  • More Mississippi State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Alabama students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 59%)

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