University of South Alabama vs. UTC

Should I go to University of South Alabama or The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if University of South Alabama or UTC 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. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga comparison
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University of South Alabama The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
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Overview

University of South Alabama UTC
Location Mobile, AL Chattanooga, TN
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 13,768 11,380
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #750 #815
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website southalabama.edu utc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of South Alabama UTC
Tuition (In State) $8,976 $8,232
Tuition (Out of State) $17,952 $16,296
Room & Board $8,830 $10,052
Avg Net Price $13,613 $13,801
Avg Grant Aid $8,500 $9,834
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 93%

Admission

University of South Alabama UTC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 12,593 9,096
Admitted 8,247 7,006
Acceptance Rate 65.5% 77%
Enrolled % 23.3% 34%
Avg High School GPA 3.69 3.61
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/26 20/25
SAT Range 1015/1200 1005/1185
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Jul 15, 2026 May 1, 2026

Academics

University of South Alabama UTC
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (27%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Engineering (6%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

University of South Alabama UTC
Graduation Rate 39% 39%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,200 $40,600
Making Student Loan Payments 45% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,500 $20,792
Median Loan Payment $253 $214

Diversity

University of South Alabama UTC
% Men 7% 5%
% Women 28% 8%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 59% 75%
% Black 24% 11%
% Hispanic 3% 3%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 7%
% International 5% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

University of South Alabama UTC
% In-State 73% 88%
% Out-of-State 26% 11%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of South Alabama is larger than than UTC based on total student enrollment (13,768 students vs. 11,380 students)

University of South Alabama vs. UTC Cost Comparison

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

  • University of South Alabama is 9% more expensive to attend than UTC for in-state tuition ($8,976.00 vs. $8,232.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 10.2% higher at University of South Alabama than The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga ($17,952.00 vs. $16,296.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Alabama than UTC ($13,613 vs. $13,801)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Alabama are 13.8% lower than costs at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga ($8,830 vs. $10,052)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of South Alabama than The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (94% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga students is 15.7% larger than aid received University of South Alabama ($9,834 vs. $8,500)

University of South Alabama vs. UTC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (1087) is 42 points higher than at University of South Alabama (1045)
  • Incoming UTC students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at University of South Alabama (23)
  • Accepted freshman University of South Alabama students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at UTC (3.61)
  • UTC has a higher acceptance rate (77%) than University of South Alabama (65.5%)

University of South Alabama vs. UTC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at University of South Alabama is the same as at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (39% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from University of South Alabama earn on average $4,600 more per year than UTC graduates after ten years. ($45,200 vs. $40,600)
  • The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga students graduate with a $3,708 lower median federal student loan debt than University of South Alabama graduates. ($20,792 vs. $24,500)
  • UTC graduates are paying $39 less per month on federal student loans than University of South Alabama graduates. ($214 vs. $253)
  • More UTC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of South Alabama students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 45%)

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