The University of Alabama in Huntsville

UAH is moderately selective. It admitted about 62.9% of roughly 7,956 applicants in the most recent cycle, so a solid academic record gives most applicants a realistic shot. Admission leans on grades over the rest of the file: academic GPA and test scores are the only factors UAH weighs, and the rigor of your courses, essays, and activities are not considered.

Enrolled first-years at UAH average about a 3.83 high school GPA, with roughly 55% carrying a 4.0. Academic GPA is one of only two factors UAH considers in admission, so strong grades are the clearest path in. There is no published hard cutoff, but an A-minus average puts you right at the typical admitted student.

Yes. UAH is test-optional, so you can apply without SAT or ACT scores and grades carry the most weight. Among enrolled first-years who did submit, the middle 50% scored 1200–1370 on the SAT and 23–31 on the ACT. If you send scores, they are weighed alongside GPA as one of the two factors UAH considers.

A 1300 is competitive at UAH. It sits right at the median for enrolled first-years, whose middle 50% scored 1200–1370 on the SAT (23–31 ACT). A score in that range, paired with a strong GPA, makes for a solid application, and because UAH is test-optional you can also apply on grades alone.

Out-of-state applicants are admitted at a slightly lower rate than Alabama residents but still face good odds. For Fall 2025, UAH admitted about 67% of in-state applicants and 52% of out-of-state applicants. Out-of-state students make up only about 14% of undergraduates, and the university offers automatic merit scholarships that narrow the cost gap for strong non-resident applicants.

Annual tuition and required fees run about $12,458 for Alabama residents and $27,148 for out-of-state students, keeping UAH among the more affordable STEM-focused public universities. About 55% of first-years receive need-based grant aid, with an average need-based award near $11,121, and UAH meets roughly 67% of demonstrated need on average.

UAH is known for engineering, computing, and aerospace, anchored by its location next to NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and Redstone Arsenal. Engineering is the most-conferred field at about 28% of bachelor's degrees, followed by business at 21%, with the sciences, health professions, and computer science rounding out the top areas. Those programs feed directly into Huntsville's defense and space research economy.

No. UAH does not consider application essays, recommendation letters, extracurriculars, or interviews in its admission decision. The review rests on academic GPA and, if submitted, standardized test scores. That makes UAH a largely numbers-driven admission, so your transcript and any scores you send do the heavy lifting.