Alabama vs. UofSC

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

Alabama UofSC
Location Tuscaloosa, AL Columbia, SC
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 38,644 35,653
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #404 #208
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ua.edu sc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Alabama UofSC
Tuition (In State) $11,100 $12,288
Tuition (Out of State) $31,460 $33,528
Room & Board $14,426 $11,780
Avg Net Price $20,592 $22,427
Avg Grant Aid $15,683 $6,880
% Receiving Grant Aid 82% 98%

Admission

Alabama UofSC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 54,072 42,188
Admitted 43,290 27,022
Acceptance Rate 80.1% 64.1%
Enrolled % 18.6% 24.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.76 3.69
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 23/31 27/32
SAT Range 1130/1410 1180/1380
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 Dec 1, 2024

Academics

Alabama UofSC
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 (35%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Psychology (6%)

Outcomes

Alabama UofSC
Graduation Rate 66% 70%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,900 $51,700
Making Student Loan Payments 59% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,750 $23,250
Median Loan Payment $245 $240

Diversity

Alabama UofSC
% Men 43% 42%
% Women 57% 58%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 78% 77%
% Black 11% 10%
% Hispanic 4% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Alabama UofSC
% In-State 35% 52%
% Out-of-State 64% 47%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • The University of Alabama is larger than than UofSC based on total student enrollment (38,644 students vs. 35,653 students)

Alabama vs. UofSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Alabama or UofSC?

  • University of South Carolina Columbia is 10.7% more expensive to attend than Alabama for in-state tuition ($12,288.00 vs. $11,100.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 6.6% higher at UofSC than The University of Alabama ($33,528.00 vs. $31,460.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of Alabama than UofSC ($20,592 vs. $22,427)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Columbia are 22.5% lower than costs at The University of Alabama ($11,780 vs. $14,426)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of South Carolina Columbia than The University of Alabama (98% vs. 82%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Alabama students is 128% larger than aid received University of South Carolina Columbia ($15,683 vs. $6,880)

Alabama vs. UofSC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of South Carolina Columbia (1220) is 39 points higher than at Alabama (1181)
  • Incoming UofSC students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Alabama (27)
  • Accepted freshman Alabama students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at UofSC (3.69)
  • Alabama has a higher acceptance rate (80.1%) than UofSC (64.1%)

Alabama vs. UofSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at UofSC is higher than The University of Alabama (70% vs. 66%)
  • Graduates from University of South Carolina Columbia earn on average $1,800 more per year than Alabama graduates after ten years. ($51,700 vs. $49,900)
  • University of South Carolina Columbia students graduate with a $500 lower median federal student loan debt than Alabama graduates. ($23,250 vs. $23,750)
  • UofSC graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than Alabama graduates. ($240 vs. $245)
  • More UofSC 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/