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% admitted
AccessibleHighly selective
Avg SAT
1345
In-state tuition
$12,890
per year, before aid
Net price (avg)
$24,323
after aid, what families pay

Ranked #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?

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Quick answer

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.

Actual GPA distribution of admitted students
4.00
64.0%
3.75–3.99
20.3%
3.50–3.74
10.4%
3.25–3.49
3.8%
3.00–3.24
1.2%
2.50–2.99
0.3%
Below 2.50
0.1%
From the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Auburn University.

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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

How Auburn University reads an application: what each weighting means for your child, plus waitlist, transfer and early-round odds

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.

SAT Composite
25th percentilen/a
50th percentile1345
75th percentilen/a
% submitting SAT19%
ACT Composite
25th percentile26
50th percentilen/a
75th percentile31
% submitting ACT72%
Current testing policy
  • • 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 class35%
Top 25% of class65%
Top 50% of class93%
% 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 borrowed35%
Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed$34,342
Financial aid formsFAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list
Application fee— (waivers available)

Application deadlines and early decision data for Auburn University

Regular admission
Early admission
Offers Early ActionYes

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

Freshman retention
94.2%
returned for sophomore year
4-year graduation
null%
finished on time
6-year graduation
82%
finished within 6 years

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

MajorGraduates / yearMedian earnings (5 yrs out)
Business Administration, Management and Operations545$76,513
Biology, General315$78,788
Finance and Financial Management Services313$83,481
Marketing250$67,766
Mechanical Engineering238$91,940
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing215$71,237
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences202n/a
Psychology, General159$48,338
Bachelor's-degree completions from federal IPEDS data; earnings from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

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

Total offenses
75
2.8 per 1,000 students
Violent crime
20
0.75 per 1,000
Sexual assault / VAWA
6
0.22 per 1,000
Burglary
9
reported incidents
Clery Act 2024, rates per 26,816 enrolled.

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.

Live on campus
17%
of undergraduates
Classes under 20 students
33%
of course sections
Classes of 100 or more
6%
of course sections
In fraternities
30%
of men
In sororities
53%
of women
From the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Auburn University.

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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