University of South Alabama vs. Shorter

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

University of South Alabama Shorter
Location Mobile, AL Rome, GA
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 13,768 1,447
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #750 #977
Religious Affiliation - Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website southalabama.edu shorter.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of South Alabama Shorter
Tuition (In State) $8,976 $23,514
Tuition (Out of State) $17,952 $23,514
Room & Board $8,830 $9,784
Avg Net Price $13,613 $16,692
Avg Grant Aid $8,500 $18,168
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 100%

Admission

University of South Alabama Shorter
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 12,593 783
Admitted 8,247 759
Acceptance Rate 65.5% 96.9%
Enrolled % 23.3% 35.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.69 3.25
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Moderate Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/26 17/23
SAT Range 1015/1200 900/1130
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 Jul 15, 2026 Aug 25, 2026

Academics

University of South Alabama Shorter
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (27%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Engineering (6%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Business (26%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

University of South Alabama Shorter
Graduation Rate 39% 47%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,200 $49,300
Making Student Loan Payments 45% 38%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,500 $28,418
Median Loan Payment $253 $293

Diversity

University of South Alabama Shorter
% Men 7% 4%
% Women 28% 5%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 59% 62%
% Black 24% 24%
% Hispanic 3% 5%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 5% 4%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

University of South Alabama Shorter
% In-State 73% 81%
% Out-of-State 26% 16%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of South Alabama is larger than than Shorter based on total student enrollment (13,768 students vs. 1,447 students)

University of South Alabama vs. Shorter Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of South Alabama or Shorter?

  • Shorter University is 162% more expensive to attend than University of South Alabama for in-state tuition ($23,514.00 vs. $8,976.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 31% higher at Shorter than University of South Alabama ($23,514.00 vs. $17,952.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Alabama than Shorter ($13,613 vs. $16,692)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Alabama are 10.8% lower than costs at Shorter University ($8,830 vs. $9,784)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Shorter University than University of South Alabama (100% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Shorter University students is 113.7% larger than aid received University of South Alabama ($18,168 vs. $8,500)

University of South Alabama vs. Shorter Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of South Alabama (1045) is 76 points higher than at Shorter (969)
  • Incoming University of South Alabama students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Shorter (21)
  • Accepted freshman University of South Alabama students have a 0.44 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at Shorter (3.25)
  • Shorter has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) than University of South Alabama (65.5%)

University of South Alabama vs. Shorter Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of South Alabama or Shorter? 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 Shorter and University of South Alabama.

  • The graduation rate at Shorter is higher than University of South Alabama (47% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from Shorter University earn on average $4,100 more per year than University of South Alabama graduates after ten years. ($49,300 vs. $45,200)
  • University of South Alabama students graduate with a $3,918 lower median federal student loan debt than Shorter graduates. ($24,500 vs. $28,418)
  • University of South Alabama graduates are paying $40 less per month on federal student loans than Shorter graduates. ($253 vs. $293)
  • More University of South Alabama graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shorter students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 38%)

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