University of Alabama at Birmingham vs. USF Main Campus

Should I go to University of Alabama at Birmingham or University of South Florida Main Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if University of Alabama at Birmingham or USF Main Campus 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 Florida Main Campus comparison
University of Alabama at Birmingham University of South Florida Main Campus College 3 College 4
University of Alabama at Birmingham University of South Florida Main Campus
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Overview

University of Alabama at Birmingham USF Main Campus
Location Birmingham, AL Tampa, FL
Setting Midsize City Large City
Enrollment 21,160 48,572
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #430 #413
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uab.edu usf.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of Alabama at Birmingham USF Main Campus
Tuition (In State) $8,832 $4,559
Tuition (Out of State) $21,864 $15,473
Room & Board $13,590 $13,595
Avg Net Price $17,413 $11,578
Avg Grant Aid $11,333 $10,012
% Receiving Grant Aid 95% 81%

Admission

University of Alabama at Birmingham USF Main Campus
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 10,919 65,187
Admitted 9,655 26,699
Acceptance Rate 88.4% 41%
Enrolled % 21.7% 21.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.82 3.64
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 22/30 24/29
SAT Range 1130/1400 1140/1330
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Jun 1, 2026 May 1, 2026

Academics

University of Alabama at Birmingham USF Main Campus
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 22:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (22%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Education (8%)

Outcomes

University of Alabama at Birmingham USF Main Campus
Graduation Rate 45% 52%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,400 $46,500
Making Student Loan Payments 52% 57%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $19,147
Median Loan Payment $222 $197

Diversity

University of Alabama at Birmingham USF Main Campus
% Men 15% 9%
% Women 26% 14%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 59% 51%
% Black 25% 11%
% Hispanic 3% 21%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 2% 5%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

University of Alabama at Birmingham USF Main Campus
% In-State 82% 80%
% Out-of-State 16% 13%

Campus

University of Alabama at Birmingham USF Main Campus
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 Florida Main Campus is larger than than University of Alabama at Birmingham based on total student enrollment (48,572 students vs. 21,160 students)

University of Alabama at Birmingham vs. USF Main Campus Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Alabama at Birmingham or USF Main Campus?

  • University of Alabama at Birmingham is 93.7% more expensive to attend than USF Main Campus for in-state tuition ($8,832.00 vs. $4,559.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 41.3% higher at University of Alabama at Birmingham than University of South Florida Main Campus ($21,864.00 vs. $15,473.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Florida Main Campus than University of Alabama at Birmingham ($11,578 vs. $17,413)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Alabama at Birmingham are 0% lower than costs at University of South Florida Main Campus ($13,590 vs. $13,595)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Alabama at Birmingham than University of South Florida Main Campus (95% vs. 81%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Alabama at Birmingham students is 13.2% larger than aid received University of South Florida Main Campus ($11,333 vs. $10,012)

University of Alabama at Birmingham vs. USF Main Campus Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of South Florida Main Campus (1177) is 30 points higher than at University of Alabama at Birmingham (1147)
  • Incoming USF Main Campus students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at University of Alabama at Birmingham (25)
  • Accepted freshman University of Alabama at Birmingham students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at USF Main Campus (3.64)
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham has a higher acceptance rate (88.4%) than USF Main Campus (41%)

University of Alabama at Birmingham vs. USF Main Campus Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of Alabama at Birmingham or USF Main Campus? 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 USF Main Campus and University of Alabama at Birmingham.

  • The graduation rate at USF Main Campus is higher than University of Alabama at Birmingham (52% vs. 45%)
  • Graduates from University of South Florida Main Campus earn on average $100 more per year than University of Alabama at Birmingham graduates after ten years. ($46,500 vs. $46,400)
  • University of South Florida Main Campus students graduate with a $2,353 lower median federal student loan debt than University of Alabama at Birmingham graduates. ($19,147 vs. $21,500)
  • USF Main Campus graduates are paying $25 less per month on federal student loans than University of Alabama at Birmingham graduates. ($197 vs. $222)
  • More USF Main Campus graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Alabama at Birmingham students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 52%)

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