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Auburn Ole Miss Kentucky LSU Clemson Georgia UofSC Florida State Arkansas Florida ASU IU| The University of Alabama | The University of Tennessee | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Alabama | Tennessee | ||
| Location | Tuscaloosa, AL | Knoxville, TN | ||
| Setting | Small City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 39,622 | 36,304 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #403 | #222 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | ua.edu | tennessee.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Alabama | Tennessee | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,100 | $11,332 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $32,400 | $29,522 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,840 | $12,500 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $21,761 | $20,885 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $16,394 | $11,491 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 72% | 85% |
Admission |
Alabama | Tennessee | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 58,418 | 50,488 | ||
| Admitted | 44,295 | 23,221 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 75.8% | 46% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.7% | 28.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.76 | 3.66 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 24/31 | 25/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1170/1400 | 1190/1340 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Required to be considered for admission | ||
| Application Deadline | May 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Alabama | Tennessee | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 18:1 | ||
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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 | 6% | 9% | ||
| % Women | 10% | 11% | ||
| 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 | 36% | 58% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 63% | 41% | ||
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 (39,622 students vs. 36,304 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 9.7% higher at Alabama than The University of Tennessee ($32,400.00 vs. $29,522.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of Tennessee than Alabama ($20,885 vs. $21,761)
- 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 ($12,500 vs. $14,840)
- More students receive financial grant aid at The University of Tennessee than The University of Alabama (85% vs. 72%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Alabama students is 42.7% larger than aid received The University of Tennessee ($16,394 vs. $11,491)
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 (75.8%) than Tennessee (46%)
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/