Alabama vs. UNCW

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

Alabama UNCW
Location Tuscaloosa, AL Wilmington, NC
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 39,622 17,987
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #403 #390
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ua.edu uncw.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Alabama UNCW
Tuition (In State) $11,100 $4,443
Tuition (Out of State) $32,400 $20,111
Room & Board $14,840 $12,605
Avg Net Price $21,761 $18,606
Avg Grant Aid $16,394 $6,516
% Receiving Grant Aid 72% 54%

Admission

Alabama UNCW
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 58,418 17,370
Admitted 44,295 12,856
Acceptance Rate 75.8% 74%
Enrolled % 18.7% 21%
Avg High School GPA 3.76 3.56
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 24/31 24/28
SAT Range 1170/1400 1220/1360
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, 2026 Feb 1, 2026

Academics

Alabama UNCW
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (29%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Work and Family Studies (7%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Biology (8%)

Outcomes

Alabama UNCW
Graduation Rate 66% 67%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,900 $44,700
Making Student Loan Payments 59% 64%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,750 $20,500
Median Loan Payment $245 $211

Diversity

Alabama UNCW
% Men 6% 5%
% Women 10% 14%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 78% 78%
% Black 11% 5%
% Hispanic 4% 7%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 3%

Students

Alabama UNCW
% In-State 36% 77%
% Out-of-State 63% 22%

Campus

Alabama UNCW
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 UNCW based on total student enrollment (39,622 students vs. 17,987 students)

Alabama vs. UNCW Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Alabama or UNCW?

  • The University of Alabama is 149.8% more expensive to attend than UNCW for in-state tuition ($11,100.00 vs. $4,443.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 61.1% higher at Alabama than University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($32,400.00 vs. $20,111.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of North Carolina at Wilmington than Alabama ($18,606 vs. $21,761)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Wilmington are 17.7% lower than costs at The University of Alabama ($12,605 vs. $14,840)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at The University of Alabama than University of North Carolina at Wilmington (72% vs. 54%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Alabama students is 151.6% larger than aid received University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($16,394 vs. $6,516)

Alabama vs. UNCW Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at The University of Alabama (1181) is 19 points higher than at UNCW (1162)
  • Incoming Alabama students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at UNCW (25)
  • Accepted freshman Alabama students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at UNCW (3.56)
  • Alabama has a higher acceptance rate (75.8%) than UNCW (74%)

Alabama vs. UNCW Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at UNCW is higher than The University of Alabama (67% vs. 66%)
  • Graduates from The University of Alabama earn on average $5,200 more per year than UNCW graduates after ten years. ($49,900 vs. $44,700)
  • University of North Carolina at Wilmington students graduate with a $3,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Alabama graduates. ($20,500 vs. $23,750)
  • UNCW graduates are paying $34 less per month on federal student loans than Alabama graduates. ($211 vs. $245)
  • More UNCW graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Alabama students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 59%)

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