Auburn University vs. The University of Alabama

Once a year these two split the whole state down the middle for the Iron Bowl, so start by picturing which side you'd wake up on. Auburn keeps you in a true college town, where students roll the oaks at Toomer's Corner with toilet paper after a win and the land-grant roots run through engineering, business, and agriculture. The place draws a stronger student on paper and asks more of your transcript, and it will start requiring test scores soon, so plan for that. Alabama plays a bigger game in Tuscaloosa. Denny Chimes rings over a sprawling Quad, the Greek system ranks among the largest anywhere, and aggressive merit money pulls in so many out-of-staters that most of the student body now comes from beyond Alabama. You'd live on campus there, where almost everyone does their first year. Both run on SEC football and sorority bid day, but Auburn feels tighter and more selective while Alabama feels vast and easy to enter. Be honest about which scale fits you.

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AuburnAuburn, AL

Acceptance rate

Total applicants, admitted students, and enrolled students for the most recent admission cycle.

46.9%acceptance rate
Applied
59,121
Admitted
27,724
Enrolled
6,112

Early action

Auburn offers non-binding Early Action — an earlier decision with no commitment to enroll.

Early Decision
Not offered
Early Action
Non-binding
Restrictive EA
Not offered

Standardized tests

Auburn is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.

SAT Accepted?

ACT Accepted?

Test Optional?

SAT Scores

4001600
25th Percentile
1280
50th Percentile
1320
75th Percentile
1370

ACT Scores

136
25th Percentile
26
50th Percentile
29
75th Percentile
31

Class rank

Where Auburn's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.

Top tenth of class35%
Top quarter of class65%
Top half of class93%

Based on the 34% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. Auburn does not publish an average GPA.

Admissions factors

How Auburn weighs each part of your application.

→ Importance

Rigor of High School Record

Academic GPA

Standardized Test Scores

Application Essay

Recommendations

Extracurricular Activities

Character / Personal Qualities

Talent / Ability

First Generation

Level of Applicant's Interest

Class Rank

Volunteer Work

Work Experience

Geographical Residence

State Residency

Alumni Relation

Racial / Ethnic Status

Religious Affiliation

Cost of attendance

Estimated full-time annual cost from Auburn's Common Data Set. Only tuition changes with residency.

$38,048
In-State
$60,752
Out-of-State
In-StateOut-of-State
Tuition & Fees
$13,318$36,022
Room & Board
$17,210$17,210
Other Expenses
$7,520$7,520
Total
$38,048$60,752

What families actually pay

$0–30k~$17k
$30–48k~$18k
$48–75k~$21k
$75–110k~$26k
$110k+~$30k

Average net price — what was left to pay after grant aid — for students receiving federal financial aid, covering in-state students only.

% of undergrads with Pell grants12.5%

Source: College Scorecard (2026)

Financial aid

Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.

Receiving Aid
32%
Avg. Package
$14,687
Avg. Need Met
60%

Popular majors

Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.

Business & Marketing
Engineering
Biological & Life Sciences
Health Professions
Communication & Journalism
Agriculture
Education
Other
Business
28%
Engineering
16%
Life Sci
12%
Health
6%
Comm
4%
Agriculture
4%
Education
3%
Other
27%

Student-faculty ratio

The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.

N/A

Student outcomes

First-years who return94%
Graduate within six years82%
Median earnings, 4 yrs after graduation~$73k
Median federal loan debt at graduation~$21k

Median yearly income of former students who received federal aid, across every major, measured four years after graduating (2017–18 and 2018–19 graduates, earnings measured 2022–2023). Debt covers federal loans of students who completed.

Source: College Scorecard (2026)

Programs

Auburn’s most popular programs and median pay after graduation. Income data from the US Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

  • Business Administration & Management

    603 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$80kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$21k median debt
  • Finance

    326 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$84kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$20k median debt
  • Biology

    321 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$83kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$23k median debt
  • Nursing

    234 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$73kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$20k median debt
  • Psychology

    212 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$51kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$19k median debt
Show all 32 programs

Median pay data is measured from graduates who received federal student aid.

Source: College Scorecard (2026) · IPEDS (2023-24) · ABET

Campus life

On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.

First-Years On Campus
59%
In Fraternities
30%
In Sororities
53%

Place

How the federal government classifies the area around the campus, and what a normal year of weather looks like there.

Setting
Small city
Location
Auburn, AL

Average temperature

Monthly high and low, °F
5635J
6139F
6845M
7551A
8160M
8768J
8971J
8871A
8466S
7554O
6543N
5838D
Snow a year
1 in
Precipitation a year
57 in
Days at 90°F or above
49
Days below 32°F
44

Thirty-year averages, measured at the nearest weather station rather than on campus — they describe the area, not the campus.

Source: IPEDS (HD2024) · NOAA 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, AUBURN NO.2, AL US station, 1.3 mi from campus

Enrollment by gender

49%
51%
Male
13,634
Female
13,993

Student diversity

Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.

White82.8%
Hispanic5%
Other5%
Black3.9%
Asian and Pacific Islander3%
Native American<1%
AlabamaTuscaloosa, AL

Acceptance rate

Overall acceptance rate, plus the in-state and out-of-state admit rates the school reports separately.

Alabama OIRAIn-state vs. out-of-state admit rates from Alabama OIRA (Fall 2025).
71.2%acceptance rate
Applied
61,994
Admitted
44,124
Enrolled
8,127

Admit rate by residency

% admitted
In-state73.6%
9,931 admitted of 13,498 applicants
Out-of-state70.3%
33,908 admitted of 48,210 applicants

Early admissions

Alabama does not offer an Early Decision or Early Action plan; all applicants apply through Regular Decision.

Early Decision
Not offered
Early Action
Not offered
Restrictive EA
Not offered

Standardized tests

Alabama is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.

SAT Accepted?

ACT Accepted?

Test Optional?

SAT Scores

4001600
25th Percentile
1100
50th Percentile
1210
75th Percentile
1360

ACT Scores

136
25th Percentile
22
50th Percentile
26
75th Percentile
31

Class rank

Where Alabama's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.

Top tenth of class23%
Top quarter of class47.6%
Top half of class78.6%

Based on the 37.5% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. Alabama does not publish an average GPA.

Admissions factors

How Alabama weighs each part of your application.

→ Importance

Rigor of High School Record

Academic GPA

Standardized Test Scores

Application Essay

Recommendations

Extracurricular Activities

Character / Personal Qualities

Talent / Ability

First Generation

Level of Applicant's Interest

Class Rank

Volunteer Work

Work Experience

Geographical Residence

State Residency

Alumni Relation

Racial / Ethnic Status

Religious Affiliation

Cost of attendance

Estimated full-time annual cost from Alabama's Common Data Set. Only tuition changes with residency.

$33,028
In-State
$55,886
Out-of-State
In-StateOut-of-State
Tuition & Fees
$12,484$35,342
Room & Board
$13,616$13,616
Other Expenses
$6,928$6,928
Total
$33,028$55,886

What families actually pay

$0–30k~$19k
$30–48k~$20k
$48–75k~$22k
$75–110k~$26k
$110k+~$27k

Average net price — what was left to pay after grant aid — for students receiving federal financial aid, covering in-state students only.

% of undergrads with Pell grants18.4%

Source: College Scorecard (2026)

Financial aid

Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.

Receiving Aid
43%
Avg. Package
$19,857
Avg. Need Met
63%

Popular majors

Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.

Business & Marketing
Social Sciences
Communication
Health Professions
Engineering
Other
Business
30%
Social Sci.
11%
Communication
10%
Health
8%
Engineering
7%
Other
34%

Student-faculty ratio

The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.

19:1

Student outcomes

First-years who return88%
Graduate within six years74%
Median earnings, 4 yrs after graduation~$70k
Median federal loan debt at graduation~$23k

Median yearly income of former students who received federal aid, across every major, measured four years after graduating (2017–18 and 2018–19 graduates, earnings measured 2022–2023). Debt covers federal loans of students who completed.

Source: College Scorecard (2026)

Programs

Alabama’s most popular programs and median pay after graduation. Income data from the US Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

Show all 34 programs

Median pay data is measured from graduates who received federal student aid.

Source: College Scorecard (2026) · IPEDS (2023-24) · ABET

Campus life

On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.

First-Years On Campus
95%
In Fraternities
30%
In Sororities
44%

Place

How the federal government classifies the area around the campus, and what a normal year of weather looks like there.

Setting
Midsize city
Location
Tuscaloosa, AL

Average temperature

Monthly high and low, °F
5736J
6240F
7147M
7854A
8563M
9170J
9473J
9373A
8867S
7955O
6744N
5939D
Snow a year
0 in
Precipitation a year
58 in
Days at 90°F or above
93
Days below 32°F
40

Thirty-year averages, measured at the nearest weather station rather than on campus — they describe the area, not the campus.

Source: IPEDS (HD2024) · NOAA 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, TUSCALOOSA ACFD, AL US station, 4.1 mi from campus

Enrollment by gender

43%
57%
Male
15,393
Female
20,228

Student diversity

Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.

White69.17%
Black12.51%
Other8.33%
Hispanic8.09%
Asian and Pacific Islander1.57%
Native American<1%

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Auburn vs. Alabama: frequently asked questions

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.

Source: Auburn University Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-08-20. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Auburn. Banner photo by Vestaviahills, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Source: The University of Alabama Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-06-08. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Alabama. Banner photo by Carol M. Highsmith, via Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain).