B
Good
Score: 62/100
Overall (traditional)
C+
Outcome Rating
56/100 · earnings-weighted

University of South Alabama

4-Year Public
📍 Mobile, Alabama 36688
University of South Alabama campus, Mobile, AL
University of South Alabama campus, Mobile, AL. Photo: BigDwiki, CC0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Outcomes
B
69/100
Affordability
C+
59/100
Resources
C+
59/100
Experience
B+
79/100
Prestige
C
48/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

13,768
Total Enrollment
53%
Graduation Rate
76%
Retention Rate
18.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
65%
Acceptance Rate
$13,613
Avg Net Price
🏠 Housing Market Near University of South Alabama ▼

5% of first-year students live off campus and not with family (U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS). Upper-year students at most universities move off campus at much higher rates, so near-campus rental demand is typically larger than this figure suggests.

The campus ZIP (36688) has no residential market, so these figures average 2 nearby ZIP codes within 3 miles of campus (36609, 36618).

Avg Home Value
$190,615
Avg Monthly Rent
$1,226
1-Year Change
+1.0%

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at University of South Alabama, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$49,379
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$41,307
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$24,929
Median debt at graduation
52.7%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
1,147
Average SAT
23
Median ACT
38%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 50% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 53rd percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (AL wage index 0.78). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at University of South Alabama

Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering$81,499$100,166+-0%#103 of 258#27$22,500
Chemical Engineering$71,116$93,943-4%#101 of 158#39$20,116
Mechanical Engineering$67,175$89,052-3%#214 of 318#59$24,000
Computer Science$55,256$80,317-25%#298 of 349#243$25,750
Civil Engineering$59,547$78,187-10%#211 of 233#85$26,366
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$69,447$78,024-12%#806 of 966#470$20,000
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions$59,611$69,490-2%#123 of 253#88$25,500
Information Science/Studies$56,344$64,455-24%#124 of 148#105$28,000
Accounting and Related Services$48,795$64,410-15%#625 of 796#438$26,036
Statistics$32,181$62,719-32%#49 of 50#41$22,532
Finance and Financial Management Services$41,657$62,084-26%#425 of 452#352$27,000
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences—$61,632+2%#64 of 138#27—
Computer Engineering$59,626————$25,000
Computer and Information Sciences$47,253$59,602-35%#442 of 459#397$26,328
Business/Commerce$50,515$59,513-13%#209 of 271#118$29,363
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services—$54,204-8%#167 of 215#90$21,999
Biology$25,950$54,090-5%#557 of 841#294$26,000
English Language and Literature$40,486$51,718+6%#197 of 576#50$21,201
Criminal Justice and Corrections$36,216$50,822-8%#472 of 660#257$25,750
Marketing$38,600$50,483-27%#494 of 516#450$24,974
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$41,105$48,956+3%#296 of 680#84$25,000
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$26,888$48,602-5%#232 of 345#113$26,000
Business Administration, Management and Operations$44,348$48,021-30%#1123 of 1176#1021$23,500
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs$32,868$47,019-24%#44 of 48#38$28,000
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies$33,557$46,912-8%#43 of 63#23$26,500
Communication and Media Studies$30,153$46,828-17%#531 of 660#367$24,870
Social Work$33,771$46,667-10%#348 of 420#225$28,500
History$29,744$44,887-11%#378 of 459#227$26,000
Psychology$23,700$43,384-14%#864 of 1027#594$23,561
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies$31,630$43,023-15%#55 of 63#37$25,419
Hospitality Administration/Management$28,310$41,515-27%#134 of 137#123$18,125
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services—$40,641-19%#79 of 90#59$22,000
Fine and Studio Arts$20,527$29,506-29%#412 of 423#376$30,066
Music$27,050————$22,625

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The University of South Alabama Town Property Report

  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 36617 (12.6% cap, Mobile)

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🏆 Where University of South Alabama Ranks

Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.

🥉
Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic)
of 100 schools
#7
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs, Other
of 35 schools
#11
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General
of 81 schools
#12
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
of 100 schools
#19
Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology
of 61 schools
#20
Secondary Education and Teaching
of 100 schools
#21
Nursing Practice
of 100 schools
#24
Physician Assistant
of 100 schools
#29
Biomedical Sciences, General
of 100 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $8,976 $17,952
Room $4,480
Board $4,350
Total Cost (On-Campus) $25,809 $34,785

Financial Aid

97%
Receive Any Aid
42%
Receive Pell Grants
52%
Take Out Loans
$13,613
Avg Net Price

Net Price by Family Income

Family Income Average Net Price
$0 - $30,000$10,148
$30,001 - $48,000$11,633
$48,001 - $75,000$15,456
$75,001 - $110,000$21,143
$110,001+$21,878

Student Demographics

13,768
Total Students
68%
Women
84%
Traditional Age (18-24)
5%
Off-Campus Renters

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 62%
Hispanic 5%
Black 21%
Asian 4%
Two or More 4%
Non-Resident 2%

🏠 Living Arrangements

On Campus 73%
Off-Campus (Renters) 5%
With Family 22%
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~743 students need off-campus housing

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 40%
Hybrid (Some Online) 31%
Fully Online 29%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 84%
25-64 (Adult) 12%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at University of South Alabama?
University of South Alabama has an acceptance rate of 65%. This indicates a less selective admissions process with good chances for qualified applicants.
How much does it cost to attend University of South Alabama?
Tuition at University of South Alabama is $8,976 for in-state students and $17,952 for out-of-state students . However, the average net price after financial aid is $13,613.
What is the graduation rate at University of South Alabama?
The graduation rate at University of South Alabama is 53%. This graduation rate is below average. Consider factors like program type and student demographics when evaluating.
Is University of South Alabama a good school?
University of South Alabama has a Repit College Score of 62/100 (Grade: B). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (B): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (C+): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (C+): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (B+): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (C): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend University of South Alabama?
University of South Alabama has a total enrollment of 13,768 students. Most students (84%) are traditional college-age (18-24).
Is there rental demand near University of South Alabama?
Yes! Approximately 5% of students at University of South Alabama live off-campus (not with family). That's roughly 743 students who need rental housing near campus.

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for University of South Alabama — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

🎓 Similar Colleges to University of South Alabama

Compare with other 4-Year public institutions of similar size.

C+
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, AL · 21,160 students
C+
University of Alabama in Huntsville
Huntsville, AL · 8,743 students
C+
University of North Alabama
Florence, AL · 10,059 students
B
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL · 39,622 students
C+
Jacksonville State University
Jacksonville, AL · 9,672 students
C+
Alabama A & M University
Normal, AL · 6,614 students

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology