Alabama vs. Tennessee

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

Alabama Tennessee
Location Tuscaloosa, AL Knoxville, TN
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 38,644 33,805
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #404 #232
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ua.edu tennessee.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Alabama Tennessee
Tuition (In State) $11,100 $11,332
Tuition (Out of State) $31,460 $29,522
Room & Board $14,426 $12,150
Avg Net Price $20,592 $21,880
Avg Grant Aid $15,683 $10,593
% Receiving Grant Aid 82% 88%

Admission

Alabama Tennessee
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 54,072 36,290
Admitted 43,290 24,826
Acceptance Rate 80.1% 68.4%
Enrolled % 18.6% 27.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.76 3.66
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 23/31 25/31
SAT Range 1130/1410 1170/1330
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline May 1, 2025

Academics

Alabama Tennessee
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 (20%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Engineering (8%)

Outcomes

Alabama Tennessee
Graduation Rate 66% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,900 $56,300
Making Student Loan Payments 59% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,750 $20,000
Median Loan Payment $245 $206

Diversity

Alabama Tennessee
% Men 43% 45%
% Women 57% 55%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 78% 79%
% Black 11% 7%
% Hispanic 4% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 3%

Students

Alabama Tennessee
% In-State 35% 54%
% Out-of-State 64% 45%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • The University of Alabama is larger than than Tennessee based on total student enrollment (38,644 students vs. 33,805 students)

Alabama vs. Tennessee Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Alabama or Tennessee?

  • The University of Tennessee is 2.1% more expensive to attend than Alabama for in-state tuition ($11,332.00 vs. $11,100.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 6.6% higher at Alabama than The University of Tennessee ($31,460.00 vs. $29,522.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of Alabama than Tennessee ($20,592 vs. $21,880)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Tennessee are 18.7% lower than costs at The University of Alabama ($12,150 vs. $14,426)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at The University of Tennessee than The University of Alabama (88% vs. 82%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Alabama students is 48.1% larger than aid received The University of Tennessee ($15,683 vs. $10,593)

Alabama vs. Tennessee Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at The University of Tennessee (1214) is 33 points higher than at Alabama (1181)
  • Incoming Alabama students have at the same average ACT score (27) as students at Tennessee (27)
  • Accepted freshman Alabama students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at Tennessee (3.66)
  • Alabama has a higher acceptance rate (80.1%) than Tennessee (68.4%)

Alabama vs. Tennessee Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Alabama is higher than The University of Tennessee (66% vs. 63%)
  • Graduates from The University of Tennessee earn on average $6,400 more per year than Alabama graduates after ten years. ($56,300 vs. $49,900)
  • The University of Tennessee students graduate with a $3,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Alabama graduates. ($20,000 vs. $23,750)
  • Tennessee graduates are paying $39 less per month on federal student loans than Alabama graduates. ($206 vs. $245)
  • More Tennessee graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Alabama students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 59%)

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