University of Alabama at Birmingham vs. UofSC

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

University of Alabama at Birmingham UofSC
Location Birmingham, AL Columbia, SC
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 21,160 36,579
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #430 #210
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uab.edu sc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of Alabama at Birmingham UofSC
Tuition (In State) $8,832 $12,288
Tuition (Out of State) $21,864 $34,534
Room & Board $13,590 $12,558
Avg Net Price $17,413 $26,068
Avg Grant Aid $11,333 $6,762
% Receiving Grant Aid 95% 91%

Admission

University of Alabama at Birmingham UofSC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 10,919 46,682
Admitted 9,655 28,706
Acceptance Rate 88.4% 61.5%
Enrolled % 21.7% 25.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.82 3.69
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 22/30 26/32
SAT Range 1130/1400 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 Jun 1, 2025 Dec 1, 2024

Academics

University of Alabama at Birmingham UofSC
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (22%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Business (35%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Psychology (6%)

Outcomes

University of Alabama at Birmingham UofSC
Graduation Rate 45% 70%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,400 $51,700
Making Student Loan Payments 52% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $23,250
Median Loan Payment $222 $240

Diversity

University of Alabama at Birmingham UofSC
% Men 15% 8%
% Women 26% 14%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 59% 77%
% Black 25% 10%
% Hispanic 3% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

University of Alabama at Birmingham UofSC
% In-State 82% 54%
% Out-of-State 16% 45%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of South Carolina Columbia is larger than than University of Alabama at Birmingham based on total student enrollment (36,579 students vs. 21,160 students)

University of Alabama at Birmingham vs. UofSC Cost Comparison

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

  • University of South Carolina Columbia is 39.1% more expensive to attend than University of Alabama at Birmingham for in-state tuition ($12,288.00 vs. $8,832.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 57.9% higher at UofSC than University of Alabama at Birmingham ($34,534.00 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 UofSC ($17,413 vs. $26,068)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Columbia are 8.2% lower than costs at University of Alabama at Birmingham ($12,558 vs. $13,590)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Alabama at Birmingham than University of South Carolina Columbia (95% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Alabama at Birmingham students is 67.6% larger than aid received University of South Carolina Columbia ($11,333 vs. $6,762)

University of Alabama at Birmingham vs. UofSC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of South Carolina Columbia (1220) is 73 points higher than at University of Alabama at Birmingham (1147)
  • Incoming UofSC students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at University of Alabama at Birmingham (25)
  • Accepted freshman University of Alabama at Birmingham students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at UofSC (3.69)
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham has a higher acceptance rate (88.4%) than UofSC (61.5%)

University of Alabama at Birmingham vs. UofSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at UofSC is higher than University of Alabama at Birmingham (70% vs. 45%)
  • Graduates from University of South Carolina Columbia earn on average $5,300 more per year than University of Alabama at Birmingham graduates after ten years. ($51,700 vs. $46,400)
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham students graduate with a $1,750 lower median federal student loan debt than UofSC graduates. ($21,500 vs. $23,250)
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than UofSC graduates. ($222 vs. $240)
  • More UofSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Alabama at Birmingham students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 52%)

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