University of Alabama at Birmingham vs. Vanderbilt

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

University of Alabama at Birmingham Vanderbilt
Location Birmingham, AL Nashville, TN
Setting Midsize City Large City
Enrollment 21,639 13,710
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #427 #14
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uab.edu vanderbilt.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of Alabama at Birmingham Vanderbilt
Tuition (In State) $8,832 $58,130
Tuition (Out of State) $21,216 $58,130
Room & Board $13,120 $19,862
Avg Net Price $16,834 $25,606
Avg Grant Aid $11,142 $53,932
% Receiving Grant Aid 93% 65%

Admission

University of Alabama at Birmingham Vanderbilt
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,947 46,377
Admitted 8,622 3,093
Acceptance Rate 86.7% 6.7%
Enrolled % 25.7% 52.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.82 3.89
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Elite
Applicant Competition Extreme
ACT Range 23/30 34/35
SAT Range 1200/1410 1490/1570
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 Jan 1, 2025

Academics

University of Alabama at Birmingham Vanderbilt
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 7:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (22%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • Engineering (13%)
  • General Studies (9%)
  • Foreign Languages (6%)
  • Psychology (6%)

Outcomes

University of Alabama at Birmingham Vanderbilt
Graduation Rate 45% 92%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,400 $83,100
Making Student Loan Payments 52% 83%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $14,000
Median Loan Payment $222 $144

Diversity

University of Alabama at Birmingham Vanderbilt
% Men 37% 44%
% Women 63% 56%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 59% 55%
% Black 25% 8%
% Hispanic 3% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 5%
% International 2% 7%
% Unknown Race 1% 5%

Students

University of Alabama at Birmingham Vanderbilt
% In-State 82% 9%
% Out-of-State 16% 79%

Campus

University of Alabama at Birmingham Vanderbilt
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 Alabama at Birmingham is larger than than Vanderbilt based on total student enrollment (21,639 students vs. 13,710 students)

University of Alabama at Birmingham vs. Vanderbilt Cost Comparison

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

  • Vanderbilt University is 558.2% more expensive to attend than University of Alabama at Birmingham for in-state tuition ($58,130.00 vs. $8,832.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 174% higher at Vanderbilt than University of Alabama at Birmingham ($58,130.00 vs. $21,216.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Alabama at Birmingham than Vanderbilt ($16,834 vs. $25,606)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Alabama at Birmingham are 51.4% lower than costs at Vanderbilt University ($13,120 vs. $19,862)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Alabama at Birmingham than Vanderbilt University (93% vs. 65%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Vanderbilt University students is 384% larger than aid received University of Alabama at Birmingham ($53,932 vs. $11,142)

University of Alabama at Birmingham vs. Vanderbilt Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Vanderbilt University (1498) is 351 points higher than at University of Alabama at Birmingham (1147)
  • Incoming Vanderbilt students have a 9 point higher average ACT score (34) than students at University of Alabama at Birmingham (25)
  • Accepted freshman Vanderbilt students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at University of Alabama at Birmingham (3.82)
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham has a higher acceptance rate (86.7%) than Vanderbilt (6.7%)

University of Alabama at Birmingham vs. Vanderbilt Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Vanderbilt is higher than University of Alabama at Birmingham (92% vs. 45%)
  • Graduates from Vanderbilt University earn on average $36,700 more per year than University of Alabama at Birmingham graduates after ten years. ($83,100 vs. $46,400)
  • Vanderbilt University students graduate with a $7,500 lower median federal student loan debt than University of Alabama at Birmingham graduates. ($14,000 vs. $21,500)
  • Vanderbilt graduates are paying $78 less per month on federal student loans than University of Alabama at Birmingham graduates. ($144 vs. $222)
  • More Vanderbilt graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Alabama at Birmingham students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 52%)

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