Alabama vs. Tulane

Deciding between The University of Alabama and Tulane University of Louisiana? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

The University of Alabama
Tulane University of Louisiana

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL
  • Tulane New Orleans, LA
  • Setting
  • Alabama Small City
  • Tulane Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Alabama 40,846
  • Tulane 13,310
  • Type
  • Alabama Public 4 Year
  • Tulane Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Alabama #416
  • Tulane
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Alabama -
  • Tulane -
  • Status
  • Alabama Non-profit
  • Tulane Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Alabama
  • Tulane

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Alabama $12,180
  • Tulane $68,678
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Alabama $34,172
  • Tulane $68,678
  • Room & Board
  • Alabama $15,016
  • Tulane $18,868
  • Average Net Price
  • Alabama $22,559
  • Tulane $47,427
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Alabama $17,503
  • Tulane $39,654
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Alabama 80%
  • Tulane 60%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Alabama 56,795
  • Tulane 32,609
  • Admitted
  • Alabama 43,531
  • Tulane 4,559
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Alabama 76.6%
  • Tulane 14%
  • Enrolled
  • Alabama 18.5%
  • Tulane 40.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Alabama 1290
  • Tulane 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • Alabama 27
  • Tulane 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Alabama 3.76
  • Tulane 3.64
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Alabama A-
  • Tulane A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Alabama Very High
  • Tulane Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Alabama
  • Tulane Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Alabama 24/31
  • Tulane 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Alabama 1170/1400
  • Tulane 1400/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Alabama Test optional
  • Tulane Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Alabama May 1, 2027
  • Tulane Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Alabama 19:1
  • Tulane 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Alabama
    • Business (29%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • Tulane
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (18%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Psychology (5%)
    • Foreign Languages (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Alabama 66%
  • Tulane -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Alabama $49,900
  • Tulane $74,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Alabama 59%
  • Tulane 62%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Alabama $23,750
  • Tulane $27,529
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Alabama $245
  • Tulane $284

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Alabama 43%
  • Tulane 38%
  • % Women
  • Alabama 57%
  • Tulane 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Alabama Low
  • Tulane Medium
  • HBCU
  • Alabama No
  • Tulane No
  • % White
  • Alabama 78%
  • Tulane 70%
  • % Asian
  • Alabama 1%
  • Tulane 3%
  • % Black
  • Alabama 11%
  • Tulane 9%
  • % Hispanic
  • Alabama 4%
  • Tulane 6%
  • % Native American
  • Alabama 0%
  • Tulane 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Alabama 0%
  • Tulane 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Alabama 3%
  • Tulane 3%
  • % International
  • Alabama 2%
  • Tulane 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Alabama 0%
  • Tulane 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Alabama 40%
  • Tulane 14%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Alabama 59%
  • Tulane 80%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Alabama Yes
  • Tulane Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Alabama No
  • Tulane No
  • Meal Plan
  • Alabama Yes
  • Tulane Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Alabama Yes
  • Tulane No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Alabama Yes
  • Tulane Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, AL with Tulane University of Louisiana in New Orleans, LA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

The University of Alabama is larger than Tulane based on total student enrollment (40,846 students vs. 13,310 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • The University of Alabama is located in Tuscaloosa, AL (Small City setting); Tulane University of Louisiana is in New Orleans, LA (Large City setting).
  • The University of Alabama is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Tulane University of Louisiana is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: The University of Alabama 19:1; Tulane University of Louisiana 7:1.

Alabama vs. Tulane Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Alabama or Tulane? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of Alabama than Tulane ($22,559 vs. $47,427).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Alabama are 20.4% lower than at Tulane University of Louisiana ($15,016 vs. $18,868).
  • Tulane University of Louisiana is 463.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Alabama (about $56,498 more per year; $68,678.00 vs. $12,180.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 101% higher at Tulane than at The University of Alabama (about $34,506 more per year; $68,678.00 vs. $34,172.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at The University of Alabama than at Tulane University of Louisiana (80% vs. 60%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Tulane University of Louisiana students is 126.6% larger than aid received by The University of Alabama students ($39,654 vs. $17,503).

Alabama vs. Tulane Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Alabama or Tulane? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Tulane and Alabama.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Tulane University of Louisiana (1460) is 170 points higher than at Alabama (1290).
  • Incoming Tulane students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 27 at Alabama).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The University of Alabama 1170/1400; Tulane University of Louisiana 1400/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The University of Alabama 24/31; Tulane University of Louisiana 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Alabama - Test optional; Tulane - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Alabama May 1, 2027; Tulane Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Alabama students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at Tulane (3.64).
  • Alabama has a higher acceptance rate (76.6%) than Tulane (14%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.5% at Alabama vs. 40.3% at Tulane.

Alabama vs. Tulane Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Alabama and Tulane? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Graduates from Tulane University of Louisiana earn a median of about $24,300 more per year than Alabama graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,200 vs. $49,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, The University of Alabama graduates have a $3,779 lower median loan debt than Tulane graduates ($23,750 vs. $27,529).
  • Among borrowers, Alabama graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Tulane graduates ($245 vs. $284).
  • More Tulane graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Alabama students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 59%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.