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University of South Alabama
Most applicants get into University of South Alabama — 71% were admitted — so the real questions are cost, fit and outcomes, covered below.
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University of South Alabama sits in Mobile proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. The university runs its own medical system, which colors both its budget and its biggest programs.
Its highest-earning path is Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering, where graduates median $100,166 four years out. Faculty pay averages $93,132 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 8,879 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 75.7% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1015 and 1200 — near the AL middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on University of South Alabama's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
You can apply to University of South Alabama without scores. Among admitted students who did submit, the middle half landed between 1015 and 1200; applicants below that range often simply apply without them.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 520 | 560 | 610 |
| SAT Math | 495 | 540 | 590 |
| ACT Composite | 19 | 22 | 26 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, University of South Alabama received 12,593 applications and admitted 8,247 (65.5%), with 1,920 enrolling.
How University of South Alabama compares
| University of South Alabama | Alabama median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 71% | 74.8% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $10,116 | $12,535 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $49,379 | $44,312 | $53,781 |
Ten years after enrolling, the median University of South Alabama student earns $49,379 — 11% above the Alabama median of $44,312 for college-goers.
Cost, size & completion
As a public university, University of South Alabama prices by residency: $10,116 in-state versus $19,092 out-of-state — a $8,976 gap that makes state lines part of the decision.
University of South Alabama enrolls 8,879 undergraduates — mid-sized, with the trade-offs University of South Alabama's scale implies: more programs than a small college, more anonymity too.
52.7% graduate within six years. Roughly 47% don't — ask a University of South Alabama tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at University of South Alabama
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $100,166 |
| Chemical Engineering | $93,943 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $89,052 |
| Computer Science | $80,317 |
| Civil Engineering | $78,187 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $78,024 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $69,490 |
| Information Science/Studies | $64,455 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $64,410 |
| Statistics | $62,719 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $62,084 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $61,632 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $59,602 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $59,513 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $54,204 |
| Biology, General | $54,090 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $51,718 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $50,822 |
| Marketing | $50,483 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $48,956 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $48,602 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $48,021 |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | $47,019 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies | $46,912 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $46,828 |
| Social Work | $46,667 |
| History | $44,887 |
| Psychology, General | $43,384 |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General | $43,023 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $41,515 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $40,641 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $29,506 |
Median earnings for these 32 University of South Alabama programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $49,379 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 22 additional University of South Alabama programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for University of South Alabama?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1015–1200 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 71% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is University of South Alabama's acceptance rate?
65.5% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 8,247 admitted from 12,593 applicants.
How much does University of South Alabama cost?
In-state tuition is $10,116; out-of-state students pay $19,092. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do University of South Alabama graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $49,379 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Alabama
- Samford University — 82.4% admitted
- Spring Hill College — 76.6% admitted
- Stillman College — 62.3% admitted
- United States Sports University — 61.4% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.