University of Alabama at Birmingham vs. UNCW

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

University of Alabama at Birmingham UNCW
Location Birmingham, AL Wilmington, NC
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 21,639 17,843
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #427 #377
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uab.edu uncw.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of Alabama at Birmingham UNCW
Tuition (In State) $8,832 $4,443
Tuition (Out of State) $21,216 $19,063
Room & Board $13,120 $12,120
Avg Net Price $16,834 $18,709
Avg Grant Aid $11,142 $6,217
% Receiving Grant Aid 93% 56%

Admission

University of Alabama at Birmingham UNCW
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,947 16,860
Admitted 8,622 11,605
Acceptance Rate 86.7% 68.8%
Enrolled % 25.7% 20.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.82 3.56
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 23/30 24/29
SAT Range 1200/1410 1220/1370
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 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

University of Alabama at Birmingham UNCW
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (22%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Biology (8%)

Outcomes

University of Alabama at Birmingham UNCW
Graduation Rate 45% 67%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,400 $44,700
Making Student Loan Payments 52% 64%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $20,500
Median Loan Payment $222 $211

Diversity

University of Alabama at Birmingham UNCW
% Men 37% 34%
% Women 63% 66%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 59% 78%
% Black 25% 5%
% Hispanic 3% 7%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

University of Alabama at Birmingham UNCW
% In-State 82% 80%
% Out-of-State 16% 19%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Alabama at Birmingham is larger than than UNCW based on total student enrollment (21,639 students vs. 17,843 students)

University of Alabama at Birmingham vs. UNCW Cost Comparison

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

  • University of Alabama at Birmingham is 98.8% more expensive to attend than UNCW for in-state tuition ($8,832.00 vs. $4,443.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 11.3% higher at University of Alabama at Birmingham than University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($21,216.00 vs. $19,063.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Alabama at Birmingham than UNCW ($16,834 vs. $18,709)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Wilmington are 8.3% lower than costs at University of Alabama at Birmingham ($12,120 vs. $13,120)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Alabama at Birmingham than University of North Carolina at Wilmington (93% vs. 56%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Alabama at Birmingham students is 79.2% larger than aid received University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($11,142 vs. $6,217)

University of Alabama at Birmingham vs. UNCW Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of North Carolina at Wilmington (1162) is 15 points higher than at University of Alabama at Birmingham (1147)
  • Incoming University of Alabama at Birmingham students have at the same average ACT score (25) as students at UNCW (25)
  • Accepted freshman University of Alabama at Birmingham students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at UNCW (3.56)
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham has a higher acceptance rate (86.7%) than UNCW (68.8%)

University of Alabama at Birmingham vs. UNCW Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of Alabama at Birmingham 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 University of Alabama at Birmingham.

  • The graduation rate at UNCW is higher than University of Alabama at Birmingham (67% vs. 45%)
  • Graduates from University of Alabama at Birmingham earn on average $1,700 more per year than UNCW graduates after ten years. ($46,400 vs. $44,700)
  • University of North Carolina at Wilmington students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than University of Alabama at Birmingham graduates. ($20,500 vs. $21,500)
  • UNCW graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than University of Alabama at Birmingham graduates. ($211 vs. $222)
  • More UNCW graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Alabama at Birmingham students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 52%)

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