The University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is the state's flagship public research university, set on a sprawling campus in Tuscaloosa anchored by Denny Chimes and the historic Quad. Known nationally for Crimson Tide football, one of the country's largest Greek systems, and aggressive merit scholarships that pull students in from out of state, it now enrolls roughly 35,600 undergraduates — well over half of them from outside Alabama. Admission is fairly accessible for a flagship: about 71% of some 62,000 applicants are admitted, and enrolled first-years carry an average high school GPA near 3.85. Alabama is test-optional, and business and marketing programs account for nearly a third of the bachelor's degrees it confers.
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Alabama admissions statistics
Acceptance Rate
Overall acceptance rate, plus the in-state and out-of-state admit rates the school reports separately.
Admit rate by residency
% admittedEarly Admissions
Alabama does not offer an Early Decision or Early Action plan; all applicants apply through Regular Decision.
Standardized Tests
Alabama is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Class Rank
Where Alabama's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
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.
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.
Out-of-state students pay $22,858 more — entirely in tuition. Room, board, and other costs are identical regardless of residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
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Frequently asked questions about Alabama admissions
What GPA do you need to get into the University of Alabama?＋
Enrolled first-year students at Alabama report an average high school GPA of about 3.85 on a 4.0 scale, and there is no hard cutoff. Rigor of your high school course load and your GPA are both weighed as very important factors, so a strong, demanding transcript is the best way to position yourself.
Is it hard to get into the University of Alabama?＋
No — Alabama is fairly accessible for a flagship, admitting about 71% of applicants from a pool of roughly 62,000 and enrolling around 8,100 first-years. Admission is rolling with a December 5th priority date, and test scores, GPA, and the rigor of your high school record are the factors weighed most heavily.
What ACT or SAT score do you need for University of Alabama merit scholarships?＋
Alabama ties automatic merit scholarships to your GPA and test scores, so submitting strong scores can unlock substantial aid even though the school is test-optional. Among enrolled students who reported scores, the middle 50% scored 22 to 31 on the ACT and 1100 to 1360 on the SAT, with 31% of ACT submitters scoring 30 or above.
What are my chances of getting into the University of Alabama from out of state?＋
Non-residents are admitted at nearly the same rate as Alabamians — and they make up most of the applicant pool. In Fall 2025, Alabama admitted about 70.3% of out-of-state applicants (33,908 of 48,210) versus 73.6% of in-state applicants (9,931 of 13,498). State residency is only a 'considered' factor in admissions, so non-residents are not at a disadvantage the way they are at many state flagships, and they account for the large majority of each class.
Is the University of Alabama test-optional?＋
Yes, Alabama is currently test-optional, and you can be admitted without submitting an SAT or ACT score. That said, scores still matter for money: they feed Alabama's automatic merit-scholarship grid, where the middle 50% of enrolled students scored 1100 to 1360 on the SAT and 22 to 31 on the ACT.
How much does the University of Alabama cost for out-of-state students?＋
Annual tuition and required fees are about $35,342 for out-of-state students versus $12,484 for Alabama residents, with on-campus food and housing adding roughly $13,616. Many non-residents offset the higher sticker price with Alabama's automatic merit scholarships; separately, about 43% of first-years receive need-based aid averaging near $19,857.
What are the most popular majors at the University of Alabama?＋
Business and marketing is by far the largest area at roughly 30% of bachelor's degrees awarded, followed by the social sciences at about 11% and communication and journalism at 10%. Health professions and engineering round out the most popular fields.
Does the application essay matter at the University of Alabama?＋
The essay is a 'considered' factor in Alabama's review rather than a make-or-break one, since GPA, course rigor, and test scores carry the most weight. Because the school is test-optional and admission is largely numbers-driven, a clear, well-revised essay is still a worthwhile place to add context and show who you are.
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).