University of Alabama at Birmingham: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Birmingham, Alabama · Public · Open access · CDS 2024-2025
University of Alabama at Birmingham is a public university in Birmingham, Alabama that admits about 88% of applicants, making it a open access school. The average family pays about $17,727 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Biology, General and Psychology, General, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 64% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 12.7 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
University of Alabama at Birmingham is a public institution located in Birmingham, Alabama. For the most recent reporting cycle, University of Alabama at Birmingham admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 88%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1251 and an ACT composite around 27. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $17,727 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price. For parents weighing whether University of Alabama at Birmingham 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 at Birmingham?
University of Alabama at Birmingham 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 at Birmingham weight in admissions?
University of Alabama at Birmingham reports the following factor importance in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). These are the criteria the admissions committee weighs when reviewing applications.
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Academic GPA
- • Standardized test scores
- • Class rank
- • Application essay
- • Recommendations
- • Interview
- • Extracurricular activities
- • Talent/ability
- • Character/personal qualities
- • First generation status
- • Alumni/ae relation
- • Geographical residence
- • State residency
- • Religious affiliation/commitment
- • Volunteer work
- • Work experience
- • Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores University of Alabama at Birmingham typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 560–700, with an EBRW midpoint near 637. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 22–30. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.
| 25th percentile | 1190 |
| 50th percentile | 1340 |
| 75th percentile | 1430 |
| % submitting SAT | 4% |
| 25th percentile | 23 |
| 50th percentile | 26 |
| 75th percentile | 30 |
| % submitting ACT | 43% |
- • 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 | 24% |
| Top 25% of class | 47% |
| Top 50% of class | 76% |
| % submitting class rank | 34% |
How much does University of Alabama at Birmingham actually cost?
Published tuition is $8,832 for in-state students and $21,864 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $13,590 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $17,727 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 33% of students receive Pell Grants, a useful indicator of how much need-based aid the school distributes.
| In-state tuition | $11,640 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $28,980 |
| Room and board | $13,240 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $17,727 |
| Application fee | $40 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for University of Alabama at Birmingham
| Notification date | 8/1 |
| Rolling admissions | Yes |
Will my child graduate from University of Alabama at Birmingham?
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.
Most popular majors at University of Alabama at Birmingham
The most popular undergraduate programs at University of Alabama at Birmingham, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Biology, General and Psychology, General. Across all programs, University of Alabama at Birmingham confers roughly 1,453 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing program report a median income of about $84,228 five years after entering college. Major popularity is a practical signal of where a school concentrates its teaching strength and where your child will find the deepest course offerings and peer community.
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 362 | $84,228 |
| Biology, General | 248 | $55,561 |
| Psychology, General | 230 | $44,287 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 137 | $58,386 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 134 | $62,800 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 122 | $47,189 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 113 | $63,551 |
| Public Health | 107 | $49,049 |
Is University of Alabama at Birmingham safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), University of Alabama at Birmingham disclosed 148 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 12.7 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 26 violent offenses and 21 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Per-1,000-student rates matter more than raw counts when comparing schools, because larger universities mechanically report more incidents. Under the federal Clery Act, every college that receives federal aid must publish these numbers annually.
What is campus life like at University of Alabama at Birmingham?
About 26% of undergraduates at University of Alabama at Birmingham live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. 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
How parents track GPA toward selective schools like University of Alabama at Birmingham
Solyo helps parents track grades pulled directly from school emails, calculate GPA the same way colleges like University of Alabama at Birmingham 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 at Birmingham
What GPA do I need for University of Alabama at Birmingham?
University of Alabama at Birmingham 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 at Birmingham typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 560–700, with an EBRW midpoint near 637. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 22–30.
How much does University of Alabama at Birmingham actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at University of Alabama at Birmingham after grants and scholarships is $17,727 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 at Birmingham 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 at Birmingham is a target school. If both fall below the 25th-percentile mark, treat it as a reach and balance the application list accordingly.
What is the acceptance rate at University of Alabama at Birmingham?
University of Alabama at Birmingham accepts about 88% of applicants out of roughly 11,379 who apply each year. It admits the majority of qualified applicants.
Is University of Alabama at Birmingham test-optional?
Yes. University of Alabama at Birmingham is test-optional, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at University of Alabama at Birmingham?
About 64% of students at University of Alabama at Birmingham graduate within six years, and 44% finish in four years. 80% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does University of Alabama at Birmingham look for in applicants?
University of Alabama at Birmingham rates course rigor and GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is University of Alabama at Birmingham a public or private school, and where is it located?
University of Alabama at Birmingham is a public institution located in Birmingham, Alabama.
What are the most popular majors at University of Alabama at Birmingham?
The largest undergraduate majors at University of Alabama at Birmingham by annual graduates are Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Biology, General and Psychology, General. The school awards about 1,453 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is University of Alabama at Birmingham safe? What is its campus crime rate?
University of Alabama at Birmingham reported 148 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 12.7 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 University of Alabama at Birmingham?
At University of Alabama at Birmingham, 26% of undergraduates live on campus, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Data sourced from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by University of Alabama at Birmingham, the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act campus safety disclosures. Solyo extracts admissions data from official Common Data Set publications and refreshes it annually.