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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools
University of South Alabama vs. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga comparison
University of South Alabama The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga College 3 College 4
University of South Alabama The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

University of South Alabama UTC
Location Mobile, AL Chattanooga, TN
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 13,438 11,283
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #684 #788
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website southalabama.edu utc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of South Alabama UTC
Tuition (In State) $8,616 $7,992
Tuition (Out of State) $17,232 $24,110
Room & Board $8,510 $9,500
Avg Net Price $15,664 $14,417
Avg Grant Aid $7,686 $9,309
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 94%

Admission

University of South Alabama UTC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 12,550 8,345
Admitted 8,203 6,897
Acceptance Rate 65.4% 82.6%
Enrolled % 19.7% 32.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.69 3.61
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/26 20/26
SAT Range 1003/1200 1023/1210
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 15, 2025 May 1, 2025

Academics

University of South Alabama UTC
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 16:1
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 32% 42%
% Women 68% 58%
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% 89%
% Out-of-State 25% 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 (13,438 students vs. 11,283 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 7.8% more expensive to attend than UTC for in-state tuition ($8,616.00 vs. $7,992.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 39.9% higher at UTC than University of South Alabama ($24,110.00 vs. $17,232.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga than University of South Alabama ($14,417 vs. $15,664)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Alabama are 11.6% lower than costs at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga ($8,510 vs. $9,500)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at University of South Alabama as The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (94% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga students is 21.1% larger than aid received University of South Alabama ($9,309 vs. $7,686)

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 (82.6%) than University of South Alabama (65.4%)

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/