Auburn University: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Auburn, Alabama · Public · Selective · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- Tests required
- Early Action
- 59,121
- Applicants
- 27,724
- Admitted47%
- 6,112
- Enrolled
- 22%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Selective47% admittedRanked #100 (tie) in National Universities; Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #52 (tie), Business Programs #58 (tie), Computer Science #88 (tie), Nursing #27 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by Auburn University (see the source), read on 2026-10-21. The admission-factor grid was re-read from that file to confirm each weighting.
Is Auburn University a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places Auburn University against it in about a minute. No account needed.
Auburn University is a public university in Auburn, Alabama that admits about 47% of applicants, making it a selective school. The average family pays about $24,323 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Business Administration, Management and Operations, Biology, General and Finance and Financial Management Services, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 82% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 2.8 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Auburn University is a public institution located in Auburn, Alabama with a selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Auburn University admits between a quarter and half of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 47%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT around 1345. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $24,323 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Auburn University?
64% of enrolled students at Auburn University had a high school GPA of 4.0 or above, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
Compare Auburn University with the other schools on your list
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What does Auburn University weight in admissions?
Auburn University reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
Very Important
3- Academic GPA
- Standardized test scores
- Application essay
Important
11- Rigor of secondary school record
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent/ability
- Character/personal qualities
- First generation status
- Alumni/ae relation
- Geographical residence
- State residency
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
- Level of applicant's interest
Considered
1- Recommendations
Not Considered
3- Class rank
- Interview
- Religious affiliation/commitment
SAT and ACT scores Auburn University typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 630–700. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 26–31. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.
| 25th percentile | n/a |
| 50th percentile | 1345 |
| 75th percentile | n/a |
| % submitting SAT | 19% |
| 25th percentile | 26 |
| 50th percentile | n/a |
| 75th percentile | 31 |
| % submitting ACT | 72% |
- • Tests required: Standardized test scores are part of the standard application package.
- • Test-optional path ended: starting fall 2027 every first-year applicant must submit ACT or SAT. Fall 2026 allowed rare no-test admits with 3.6+ GPA.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on Auburn University's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 35% |
| Top 25% of class | 65% |
| Top 50% of class | 93% |
| % submitting class rank | % |
How much does Auburn University actually cost?
Published tuition is $12,890 for in-state students and $34,922 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $16,626 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $24,323 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 13% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | — |
| Room and board | $17,210 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $24,323 |
| Average need-based grant | $12,038 |
| Average merit award, no financial need | $8,190 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 35% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $34,342 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | — (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Auburn University
| Offers Early Action | Yes |
Will my child graduate from Auburn University?
These predict outcomes at Auburn University better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Auburn University
The most popular undergraduate programs at Auburn University, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Biology, General and Finance and Financial Management Services. Across all programs, Auburn University confers roughly 2,237 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Business Administration, Management and Operations program report a median income of about $76,513 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 545 | $76,513 |
| Biology, General | 315 | $78,788 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 313 | $83,481 |
| Marketing | 250 | $67,766 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 238 | $91,940 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 215 | $71,237 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | 202 | n/a |
| Psychology, General | 159 | $48,338 |
Is Auburn University safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Auburn University disclosed 75 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 2.8 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 20 violent offenses and 6 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at Auburn University?
About 17% of undergraduates at Auburn University live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 30% of men join a fraternity and 53% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in Alabama parents ask about
Colleges that admit at a similar rate
Next steps for Auburn University
Common questions parents ask about Auburn University
What GPA do I need for Auburn University?
64% of enrolled students at Auburn University had a high school GPA of 4.0 or above, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does Auburn University typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 630–700. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 26–31.
How much does Auburn University actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Auburn University after grants and scholarships is $24,323 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $12,890 and $34,922 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is Auburn University realistic for my child?
Auburn University admits 47% of applicants, so 630–700 SAT Math is target range and below 630 is a reach. Then check the $24,323 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Auburn University?
Auburn University accepts about 47% of applicants out of roughly 59,121 who apply each year. That makes it a selective school.
Is Auburn University test-optional?
No. Auburn University requires SAT or ACT scores for Fall 2027 applicants.
What is the graduation rate at Auburn University?
About 82% of students at Auburn University graduate within six years. 94% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does Auburn University look for in applicants?
Auburn University rates GPA, test scores and the application essay as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Auburn University a public or private school, and where is it located?
Auburn University is a public institution located in Auburn, Alabama.
What are the most popular majors at Auburn University?
The largest undergraduate majors at Auburn University by annual graduates are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Biology, General and Finance and Financial Management Services. The school awards about 2,237 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Auburn University safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Auburn University reported 75 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 2.8 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at Auburn University?
At Auburn University, 17% of undergraduates live on campus, 30% of men are in fraternities, 53% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Auburn University, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers