University of Alabama: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Tuscaloosa, Alabama · Public · Open access · CDS 2025-2026
University of Alabama is a public institution located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. For the most recent reporting cycle, University of Alabama admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 76%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1287 and an ACT composite around 26. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $22,150 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price. For parents weighing whether University of Alabama is realistic for their teenager, the most useful planning step is comparing your child's current GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against these admitted-student ranges — not the headline acceptance rate alone.
What GPA does my child need for University of Alabama?
University of Alabama has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission. Parents tracking their child's GPA toward this tier of school can use Solyo's free calculator to see weighted, unweighted, and college-recalculated numbers side by side.
What does University of Alabama weight in admissions?
University of Alabama reports the following factor importance in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). These are the criteria the admissions committee weighs when reviewing applications.
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Academic GPA
- • Standardized test scores
- • Extracurricular activities
- • Volunteer work
- • Class rank
- • Application essay
- • Recommendations
- • Interview
- • Talent/ability
- • Character/personal qualities
- • First generation status
- • Alumni/ae relation
- • Geographical residence
- • State residency
- • Work experience
- • Religious affiliation/commitment
- • Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores University of Alabama typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 580–700, with an EBRW midpoint near 610. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 24–31. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.
| 25th percentile | 1100 |
| 50th percentile | 1210 |
| 75th percentile | 1360 |
| % submitting SAT | 19% |
| 25th percentile | 22 |
| 50th percentile | 26 |
| 75th percentile | 31 |
| % submitting ACT | 53% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Policy detail: Considered if submitted
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 | 23% |
| Top 25% of class | 47.6% |
| Top 50% of class | 78.6% |
| % submitting class rank | 37.5% |
How much does University of Alabama actually cost?
Published tuition is $11,900 for in-state students and $33,200 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $14,840 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $22,150 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 18% of students receive Pell Grants, a useful indicator of how much need-based aid the school distributes.
| In-state tuition | $11,684 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $34,542 |
| Room and board | $13,616 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $22,150 |
| Application fee | $40 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for University of Alabama
| Notification date | Rolling, beginning Mid-July |
| Reply deadline | May 1 |
| Rolling admissions | Yes |
Will my child graduate from University of Alabama?
Retention and graduation rates are the most overlooked numbers in college planning, but they predict actual outcomes far better than acceptance rate. They tell you whether admitted students stay and finish on time.
Other colleges in Alabama parents ask about
How parents track GPA toward selective schools like University of Alabama
Solyo helps parents track grades pulled directly from school emails, calculate GPA the same way colleges like University of Alabama recalculate it, and ask an AI college counselor specific questions about their teen's odds. The platform is built for parents — not students — and turns what's usually a fragmented planning process into a single dashboard.
Common questions parents ask about University of Alabama
What GPA do I need for University of Alabama?
University of Alabama has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission.
What SAT or ACT score does University of Alabama typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 580–700, with an EBRW midpoint near 610. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 24–31.
How much does University of Alabama actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at University of Alabama after grants and scholarships is $22,150 per year. That figure is more useful for budgeting than the published sticker price, because it reflects what families actually pay after aid is applied.
Is University of Alabama realistic for my child?
Compare your teen's current unweighted GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against the ranges above. If both numbers fall inside the school's middle-50, University of Alabama is a target school. If both fall below the 25th-percentile mark, treat it as a reach and balance the application list accordingly.
Data sourced from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by University of Alabama, and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Solyo extracts admissions data from official Common Data Set publications and refreshes it annually.