University of South Alabama vs. The University of West Florida

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

University of South Alabama The University of West Florida
Location Mobile, AL Pensacola, FL
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 13,768 14,371
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #750 #735
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website southalabama.edu uwf.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of South Alabama The University of West Florida
Tuition (In State) $8,976 $4,319
Tuition (Out of State) $17,952 $16,587
Room & Board $8,830 $12,432
Avg Net Price $13,613 $8,908
Avg Grant Aid $8,500 $11,018
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 84%

Admission

University of South Alabama The University of West Florida
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 12,593 9,831
Admitted 8,247 5,591
Acceptance Rate 65.5% 56.9%
Enrolled % 23.3% 26.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.69 3.6
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Average
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 19/26 20/27
SAT Range 1015/1200 1020/1230
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Jul 15, 2025 Jun 1, 2025

Academics

University of South Alabama The University of West Florida
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 22:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (27%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Engineering (6%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

University of South Alabama The University of West Florida
Graduation Rate 39% 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,200 $41,200
Making Student Loan Payments 45% 55%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,500 $18,750
Median Loan Payment $253 $193

Diversity

University of South Alabama The University of West Florida
% Men 7% 11%
% Women 28% 21%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 59% 65%
% Black 24% 13%
% Hispanic 3% 9%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 5% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

University of South Alabama The University of West Florida
% In-State 73% 88%
% Out-of-State 26% 10%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • The University of West Florida is larger than than University of South Alabama based on total student enrollment (14,371 students vs. 13,768 students)

University of South Alabama vs. The University of West Florida Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of South Alabama or The University of West Florida?

  • University of South Alabama is 107.8% more expensive to attend than The University of West Florida for in-state tuition ($8,976.00 vs. $4,319.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 8.2% higher at University of South Alabama than The University of West Florida ($17,952.00 vs. $16,587.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of West Florida than University of South Alabama ($8,908 vs. $13,613)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Alabama are 40.8% lower than costs at The University of West Florida ($8,830 vs. $12,432)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of South Alabama than The University of West Florida (94% vs. 84%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The University of West Florida students is 29.6% larger than aid received University of South Alabama ($11,018 vs. $8,500)

University of South Alabama vs. The University of West Florida Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at The University of West Florida (1053) is 8 points higher than at University of South Alabama (1045)
  • Incoming University of South Alabama students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at The University of West Florida (23)
  • Accepted freshman University of South Alabama students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at The University of West Florida (3.6)
  • University of South Alabama has a higher acceptance rate (65.5%) than The University of West Florida (56.9%)

University of South Alabama vs. The University of West Florida Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of South Alabama or The University of West Florida? 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 The University of West Florida and University of South Alabama.

  • The graduation rate at The University of West Florida is higher than University of South Alabama (48% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from University of South Alabama earn on average $4,000 more per year than The University of West Florida graduates after ten years. ($45,200 vs. $41,200)
  • The University of West Florida students graduate with a $5,750 lower median federal student loan debt than University of South Alabama graduates. ($18,750 vs. $24,500)
  • The University of West Florida graduates are paying $60 less per month on federal student loans than University of South Alabama graduates. ($193 vs. $253)
  • More The University of West Florida graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of South Alabama students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 45%)

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