Auburn University vs. The University of Alabama

Auburn is the tougher admit by a wide margin, taking about 45.9% of applicants against roughly 71% at Alabama. Auburn's enrolled first-years also post a higher average high school GPA, near 4.09 to Alabama's 3.85, and a higher SAT range. Alabama stays fairly accessible for a flagship and uses rolling admission with a December 5th priority date, so applying early there helps your odds.

Engineering runs deeper at Auburn, where it makes up about 16% of bachelor's degrees against roughly 7% at Alabama, sitting second only to business in its land-grant degree mix. Both campuses lead with business and marketing (about 26% of degrees at Auburn, 30% at Alabama), but Auburn's engineering and agriculture base is the stronger draw for a STEM-bound student. Someone aiming squarely at engineering finds more company at Auburn.

Out-of-state tuition and fees land close: about $34,922 a year at Auburn and $35,342 at Alabama, with Alabama meeting slightly more demonstrated need on average (63% versus 60%). Alabama tends to close the gap for non-residents through automatic merit scholarships tied to GPA and test scores, and its average need-based package runs larger, near $19,857 to Auburn's $14,687. In-state tuition sits close too, roughly $12,890 at Auburn and $12,484 at Alabama.

Non-residents have a real edge at Alabama: in Fall 2025 it admitted about 70.3% of out-of-state applicants versus 73.6% of in-state ones, and most of its class now comes from outside the state. Auburn publishes no separate out-of-state admit rate in its Common Data Set, so its overall 45.9% rate covers everyone, though it weighs state residency and geographical residence as important factors. For a non-resident, Alabama is both the easier admit and the more out-of-state-friendly campus.

Alabama runs larger, enrolling about 35,621 undergraduates to Auburn's 26,816. It also houses far more of its students on campus, about 95% versus 58% at Auburn, since first-years there are largely required to live in. Both field big Greek systems, with sororities drawing 47% of women at Auburn and 44% at Alabama.

Both are test-optional for now, but Auburn's policy is ending. Auburn stays test-optional only for applicants with at least a 3.6 GPA and will require the SAT or ACT starting with Fall 2027 first-years. Alabama remains test-optional with no announced end date, though strong scores there feed automatic merit scholarships, so submitting can still pay off.