University of Alabama at Birmingham vs. U of A

Should I go to University of Alabama at Birmingham or University of Arizona? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if University of Alabama at Birmingham or U of A 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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University of Alabama at Birmingham vs. University of Arizona comparison
University of Alabama at Birmingham University of Arizona College 3 College 4
University of Alabama at Birmingham University of Arizona
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Overview

University of Alabama at Birmingham U of A
Location Birmingham, AL Tucson, AZ
Setting Midsize City Large City
Enrollment 21,160 53,001
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #430 #269
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uab.edu arizona.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of Alabama at Birmingham U of A
Tuition (In State) $8,832 $11,871
Tuition (Out of State) $21,864 $39,340
Room & Board $13,590 $14,400
Avg Net Price $17,413 $18,144
Avg Grant Aid $11,333 $16,511
% Receiving Grant Aid 95% 97%

Admission

University of Alabama at Birmingham U of A
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 10,919 56,466
Admitted 9,655 48,369
Acceptance Rate 88.4% 85.7%
Enrolled % 21.7% 18.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.82 3.48
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 22/30 21/30
SAT Range 1130/1400 1160/1420
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 Jun 1, 2025

Academics

University of Alabama at Birmingham U of A
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (22%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)

Outcomes

University of Alabama at Birmingham U of A
Graduation Rate 45% 61%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,400 $54,000
Making Student Loan Payments 52% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $19,000
Median Loan Payment $222 $196

Diversity

University of Alabama at Birmingham U of A
% Men 15% 10%
% Women 26% 11%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 59% 52%
% Black 25% 4%
% Hispanic 3% 25%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 2% 6%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

University of Alabama at Birmingham U of A
% In-State 82% 50%
% Out-of-State 16% 44%

Campus

University of Alabama at Birmingham U of A
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Arizona is larger than than University of Alabama at Birmingham based on total student enrollment (53,001 students vs. 21,160 students)

University of Alabama at Birmingham vs. U of A Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Alabama at Birmingham or U of A?

  • University of Arizona is 34.4% more expensive to attend than University of Alabama at Birmingham for in-state tuition ($11,871.00 vs. $8,832.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 79.9% higher at U of A than University of Alabama at Birmingham ($39,340.00 vs. $21,864.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Alabama at Birmingham than U of A ($17,413 vs. $18,144)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Alabama at Birmingham are 6% lower than costs at University of Arizona ($13,590 vs. $14,400)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Arizona than University of Alabama at Birmingham (97% vs. 95%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Arizona students is 45.7% larger than aid received University of Alabama at Birmingham ($16,511 vs. $11,333)

University of Alabama at Birmingham vs. U of A Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman University of Alabama at Birmingham students have a 0.34 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at U of A (3.48)
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham has a higher acceptance rate (88.4%) than U of A (85.7%)

University of Alabama at Birmingham vs. U of A Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of Alabama at Birmingham or U of A? 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 U of A and University of Alabama at Birmingham.

  • The graduation rate at U of A is higher than University of Alabama at Birmingham (61% vs. 45%)
  • Graduates from University of Arizona earn on average $7,600 more per year than University of Alabama at Birmingham graduates after ten years. ($54,000 vs. $46,400)
  • University of Arizona students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than University of Alabama at Birmingham graduates. ($19,000 vs. $21,500)
  • U of A graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than University of Alabama at Birmingham graduates. ($196 vs. $222)
  • More U of A graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Alabama at Birmingham students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 52%)

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