Alabama vs. UTC

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

Alabama UTC
Location Tuscaloosa, AL Chattanooga, TN
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 38,644 11,283
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #404 #788
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ua.edu utc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Alabama UTC
Tuition (In State) $11,100 $7,992
Tuition (Out of State) $31,460 $24,110
Room & Board $14,426 $9,500
Avg Net Price $20,592 $14,417
Avg Grant Aid $15,683 $9,309
% Receiving Grant Aid 82% 94%

Admission

Alabama UTC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 54,072 8,345
Admitted 43,290 6,897
Acceptance Rate 80.1% 82.6%
Enrolled % 18.6% 32.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.76 3.61
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 23/31 20/26
SAT Range 1130/1410 1023/1210
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 May 1, 2025

Academics

Alabama UTC
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 (22%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

Alabama UTC
Graduation Rate 66% 39%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,900 $40,600
Making Student Loan Payments 59% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,750 $20,792
Median Loan Payment $245 $214

Diversity

Alabama UTC
% Men 43% 42%
% Women 57% 58%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 78% 75%
% Black 11% 11%
% Hispanic 4% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 7%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Alabama UTC
% In-State 35% 89%
% Out-of-State 64% 11%

Campus

Alabama UTC
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 UTC based on total student enrollment (38,644 students vs. 11,283 students)

Alabama vs. UTC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Alabama or UTC?

  • The University of Alabama is 38.9% more expensive to attend than UTC for in-state tuition ($11,100.00 vs. $7,992.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 30.5% higher at Alabama than The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga ($31,460.00 vs. $24,110.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga than Alabama ($14,417 vs. $20,592)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga are 51.9% lower than costs at The University of Alabama ($9,500 vs. $14,426)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga than The University of Alabama (94% vs. 82%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Alabama students is 68.5% larger than aid received The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga ($15,683 vs. $9,309)

Alabama vs. UTC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at The University of Alabama (1181) is 94 points higher than at UTC (1087)
  • Incoming Alabama students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at UTC (24)
  • Accepted freshman Alabama students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at UTC (3.61)
  • UTC has a higher acceptance rate (82.6%) than Alabama (80.1%)

Alabama vs. UTC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Alabama is higher than The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (66% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from The University of Alabama earn on average $9,300 more per year than UTC graduates after ten years. ($49,900 vs. $40,600)
  • The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga students graduate with a $2,958 lower median federal student loan debt than Alabama graduates. ($20,792 vs. $23,750)
  • UTC graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than Alabama graduates. ($214 vs. $245)
  • More Alabama graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UTC students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 56%)

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