Alabama vs. OSU

Should I go to The University of Alabama or Oregon State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Alabama or OSU 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

UO Tennessee Ole Miss Auburn LSU Portland State University Georgia Clemson Colorado State Kentucky Arkansas Western Washington University
The University of Alabama vs. Oregon State University comparison
The University of Alabama Oregon State University College 3 College 4
The University of Alabama Oregon State University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Alabama OSU
Location Tuscaloosa, AL Corvallis, OR
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 38,644 34,292
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #404 #363
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ua.edu oregonstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Alabama OSU
Tuition (In State) $11,100 $10,425
Tuition (Out of State) $31,460 $31,200
Room & Board $14,426 $14,238
Avg Net Price $20,592 $21,163
Avg Grant Aid $15,683 $9,260
% Receiving Grant Aid 82% 88%

Admission

Alabama OSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 54,072 25,651
Admitted 43,290 21,169
Acceptance Rate 80.1% 82.5%
Enrolled % 18.6% 21.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.76 3.61
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 23/31 21/28
SAT Range 1130/1410 1120/1370
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline May 1, 2025 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

Alabama OSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (29%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Work and Family Studies (7%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Engineering (15%)
  • Work and Family Studies (11%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (6%)

Outcomes

Alabama OSU
Graduation Rate 66% 61%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,900 $53,900
Making Student Loan Payments 59% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,750 $23,500
Median Loan Payment $245 $242

Diversity

Alabama OSU
% Men 43% 51%
% Women 57% 49%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 78% 67%
% Black 11% 1%
% Hispanic 4% 9%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 7%
% International 2% 6%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

Alabama OSU
% In-State 35% 57%
% Out-of-State 64% 41%

Campus

Alabama OSU
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 OSU based on total student enrollment (38,644 students vs. 34,292 students)

Alabama vs. OSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Alabama or OSU?

  • The University of Alabama is 6.5% more expensive to attend than OSU for in-state tuition ($11,100.00 vs. $10,425.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 0.8% higher at Alabama than Oregon State University ($31,460.00 vs. $31,200.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of Alabama than OSU ($20,592 vs. $21,163)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Oregon State University are 1.3% lower than costs at The University of Alabama ($14,238 vs. $14,426)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Oregon State University than The University of Alabama (88% vs. 82%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Alabama students is 69.4% larger than aid received Oregon State University ($15,683 vs. $9,260)

Alabama vs. OSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at The University of Alabama (1181) is 68 points higher than at OSU (1113)
  • Incoming Alabama students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at OSU (25)
  • Accepted freshman Alabama students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at OSU (3.61)
  • OSU has a higher acceptance rate (82.5%) than Alabama (80.1%)

Alabama vs. OSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Alabama is higher than Oregon State University (66% vs. 61%)
  • Graduates from Oregon State University earn on average $4,000 more per year than Alabama graduates after ten years. ($53,900 vs. $49,900)
  • Oregon State University students graduate with a $250 lower median federal student loan debt than Alabama graduates. ($23,500 vs. $23,750)
  • OSU graduates are paying $3 less per month on federal student loans than Alabama graduates. ($242 vs. $245)
  • More OSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Alabama students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 59%)

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