loading 6,000+ schools…

Compare University of Alabama at Birmingham vs Jacksonville State University

Birmingham, AL · Jacksonville, AL

University of Alabama at BirminghamJacksonville State University
Cost
Price after aid (average)$18,749/yr$14,279/yr
Price after aid (family income under $30k)$16,172/yr$12,472/yr
Typical loan debt at graduation$22,300$22,189
Price after aid ($30k–$48k income)$15,500/yr$12,622/yr
Price after aid ($48k–$75k income)$19,161/yr$15,343/yr
Price after aid ($75k–$110k income)$21,805/yr$17,480/yr
Price after aid (income over $110k)$22,597/yr$18,183/yr
Typical loan payment after graduation$236/mo$235/mo
Room & board (on campus)$14,170/yr$9,524/yr
Room & board (off campus)$14,840/yr$11,754/yr
Borrowers who default0%0%
Books & supplies$1,200/yr$970/yr
Other living costs (on campus)$5,781/yr$3,852/yr
Sticker price (before aid)$28,145/yr$24,257/yr
Tuition (in-state)$9,098/yr$12,894/yr
Tuition (out-of-state)$22,562/yr$23,334/yr
Students with Pell Grants34%43%
Students taking federal loans40%44%
Getting in
Students who get accepted88%78%
SAT range (middle 50%)1210–14501000–1290
SAT average12581059
ACT range (middle 50%)23–3017–24
ACT sections (middle 50%)English 23–32 · Math 20–27English 16–25 · Math 16–22
Admissions data fromFall 2023Fall 2023
Applications received10,91912,008
Students accepted9,6559,152
Students who enrolled2,0951,815
Accepted students who enroll22%20%
Enrolled who sent SAT scores5%6%
Enrolled who sent ACT scores49%45%
High-school GPARequiredRequired
High-school transcriptRequiredRequired
EssayNot consideredNot considered
Recommendation lettersNot consideredNot considered
Class rankNot consideredNot considered
College-prep programRequiredNot considered
Demonstrated competenciesNot consideredNot considered
Work experienceNot consideredNot considered
English proficiency testNot consideredRequired
Other admission testsNot consideredNot considered
Legacy consideredNot consideredNot considered
SAT/ACT policyOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Graduation & earnings
Students who graduate64%55%
Freshmen who come back80%65%
Typical earnings 10 years in$54,501/yr$45,235/yr
Earnings range 10 years in$33,873–$80,711$28,035–$64,633
Finish within 8 years (anywhere)58%58%
White students graduating65%59%
Black students graduating56%43%
Hispanic students graduating57%39%
Asian students graduating82%67%
Typical earnings 6 years in$46,572/yr$40,158/yr
Earn more than a HS grad73%64%
Graduate on time44%36%
Pell students who graduate55%49%
First-gen students who finish51%46%
Low-income students who finish48%37%
Students who transfer out19%26%
Typical earnings 8 years in$51,431/yr$43,146/yr
Majors & programs
Top 3 programsBusiness, Management & Marketing 21% · Health Professions 19% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 14%Health Professions 23% · Business, Management & Marketing 16% · Education 11%
Most popular programBusiness, Management & Marketing — 21% of degreesHealth Professions — 23% of degrees
2nd most popular programHealth Professions — 19% of degreesBusiness, Management & Marketing — 16% of degrees
3rd most popular programBiological & Biomedical Sciences — 14% of degreesEducation — 11% of degrees
4th most popular programPsychology — 9% of degreesLiberal Arts & General Studies — 8% of degrees
5th most popular programEngineering — 7% of degreesHomeland Security & Protective Services — 8% of degrees
Highest-paying major (1 year out)Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions — $105,760/yrRegistered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $80,009/yr
Degrees in STEM26%13%
Campus & students
Undergrad enrollment11,6357,036
Students per professor18 : 119 : 1
Graduate students8,9461,292
Average professor pay$12,612/mo$8,074/mo
Full-time professors77%65%
Fully onlineNoNo
Accredited bySouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on CollegesSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Median family income$34,489$35,734
SettingCity (midsize)Suburb (small)
LocationBirmingham, ALJacksonville, AL
RegionSoutheastSoutheast
Founded19691883
Public or privatePublicPublic
Main degree offeredBachelor's degreesBachelor's degrees
Carnegie classificationDoctoral Universities: Very High Research ActivityMaster's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Main or branch campusMain campusMain campus
International students2.4%3.8%
Men37%41%
Women63%59%
White students47%60%
Black students27%24%
Hispanic or Latino students8.6%5.2%
Asian students9.4%0.8%
Two or more races5.2%4.2%
Other / not reported0.9%2.5%
Special typeNoneNone
First-generation students34%36%
Part-time students18%9.4%
Students age 25+17%11%
Spent on teaching per student$17,855/yr$6,997/yr
Endowment$859.0M$21.1M
Campus life
Campus data from20232023
On-campus housingYes — dorms on campusYes — dorms on campus
Beds in campus housing3,4802,607
Required to live on campusNoNo
Room charge (campus housing)$8,550/yr$4,080/yr
Meal plan charge$6,030/yr$3,948/yr
Meal plan offeredYesYes
Meals per weekVaries by weekVaries by week
Academic calendarSemesterSemester
Federal designationNoneNone
Study abroadYesYes
Undergraduate researchYesYes
ROTCYes — Army, Air ForceYes — Army
Accepts AP creditYesYes
Accepts dual-enrollment creditNoNo
Credit for life experienceYesYes
Online classesYesYes
Whole degrees onlineYesYes
Weekend & evening classesNoNo
Teacher certificationYesYes
Academic & career counselingYesYes
Job help while you studyYesYes
Job placement for graduatesYesYes
On-campus day careNoYes
Program for students with intellectual disabilitiesNoNo
Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) schoolYesYes
Credit for military trainingYesYes
Student veteran organizationYesYes
Tuition payment planYesYes
Guaranteed (locked) tuitionNoNo
Prepaid tuition planNoNo
Athletics
Athletics data from2024-252024-25
College sports levelNCAA Division I-FBSNCAA Division I-FBS
Football teamYesYes
Varsity teams1719
Student athletes416421
Athletic scholarships$8.3M$7.4M
Athletics budget$40.8M$34.6M
Athletics revenue$43.9M$34.6M
Recruiting spend$783,382$694,630

Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.