University of Alabama Tuition and Fees

By Susan Guillory

(Last Updated – 06/2025)

The University of Alabama offers a range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs, each with its own tuition structure and associated fees. Tuition rates vary significantly depending on residency status — Alabama residents benefit from lower in-state rates, while out-of-state and international students pay higher out-of-state tuition.

Keep reading for a full understanding of the cost of attendance at the University of Alabama — including estimates for living expenses and optional fees — in addition to graduation rates, popular majors, and average starting salary for graduates.

Total Cost of Attendance

The University of Alabama, located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, is a well-respected public university known for its law school. University of Alabama tuition for the 2023-24 school year was $11,900 for in-state students and $33,200 for out-of-state students.

Recommended: Alabama Student Loan and Scholarship Information

Costs for 2023-24

Student Type	In-State	Out-State
Tuition & Fees	$11,900	$33,200
Books & Supplies	$800	$800
Food & Housing	$14,840	$14,840
Other Expenses	$5,842	$5,842
Total Cost of Attendance	$32,382	$54,682

Financial Aid

An overwhelming majority of students at the University of Alabama receive financial aid; 85% take out student loans or receive grants or scholarships.

Generally, financial aid is monetary assistance awarded to students based on personal need or merit. Students who qualify for financial aid can use it to pay for college costs like tuition, books, and living expenses.

The federal government is the largest provider of student financial aid. However, aid can also be given by state governments, colleges and universities, private lenders, and nonprofits. The different types include:

•  Scholarships: Scholarships can be awarded by schools and other organizations based on students’ academic excellence, athletic achievement, community involvement, job experience, field of study, or financial need.

•  Grants: Grants are generally based on financial need. These can come from federal, state, private, or nonprofit organizations.

•  Work-study: Federal Work-Study provides qualifying students with part-time employment to earn money for expenses while in school.

•  Federal student loans: are money borrowed directly from the U.S. Department of Education. It comes with fixed interest rates that are typically lower than private loans.

Colleges, universities, and state agencies use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) to determine financial aid eligibility. The FAFSA can be completed online, but note that state, federal, and school deadlines may differ.

You can find other financial aid opportunities on databases such as:

•  US Department of Education – Search for grants from colleges and universities by state

•  College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS) – A global college scholarship application used by select institutions to award financial aid

Recommended: The Differences Between Grants, Scholarships, and Loans

Private Student Loans

Of those students who take out student loans to help with University of Alabama tuition, 37% take out federal loans and 11% choose private loans. The average private student loan per year is $26,980.

Private loans are funded by private organizations such as banks, online lenders, credit unions, some schools, and state-based or -affiliated organizations. While federal student loans have interest rates that are regulated by Congress, private lenders follow a different set of regulations, so their qualifications and interest rates can vary widely.

What’s more, private loans have variable or fixed interest rates that may be higher than federal loan interest rates, which are always fixed. Private lenders may (but don’t always) require you to make payments on your loans, while you are still in school, compared to federal student loans which you don’t have to start paying back until after you graduate, leave school, or change your enrollment status to less than half-time.

Private loans don’t have a specific application window and can be applied for on an as-needed basis. However, if you think you may need to take out a private loan, it’s a good idea to submit your FAFSA first to see what federal aid you may qualify for, since it generally has better rates and terms.

If you’ve missed the FAFSA deadline or you’re struggling to pay for school during the year, private loans can potentially help you make your tuition payments. Just keep in mind that you will need enough lead time for your loan to process and for your lender to send money to your school.

Recommended: Guide to Private Student Loans

Projected 4-Year-Degree Price

To attend the University of Alabama for four years, tuition, fees, room and board, and other expenses would total $133,528 for students who live in Alabama and $218,728 for those from other states. According to CollegeData.com, the average total cost for four years for a public university in the U.S. is $115,360.

Here’s some Student Loan & Scholarship Information for you.

Undergraduate Tuition and Fees

Costs for 2023-24

Student Type	In-State	Out-State
Tuition & Fees	$11,900	$33,200
Room & Board	$14,840	$14,840
Total Cost of Attendance	$26,740	$48,040

In-state students paid $11,900 for tuition in 2023-24, and out-of-state students paid $33,200. Both had room and board fees of $14,840.

Graduate Tuition and Fees

Costs for 2023-24

Student Type	In-State	Out-State
Tuition	$11,100	$32,400
Fees	$640	$640
Total Cost of Attendance	$11,740	$33,040

Interested in graduate school? University of Alabama tuition for grad school students in 2023-24 was $11,100 (in-state) and $32,400 (out-of-state). There are graduate loans available to help with these costs.

Cost per Credit Hour

Students who attend the school part-time don’t pay the full University of Alabama tuition. Instead, in-state students pay $545 per credit hour and out-of-state students pay $1,520 per credit hour.

Campus Housing Expenses

Costs for 2023-24

Student Type	On-Campus	Off-Campus
Room & Board	$14,840	$400+/month*
Other Expenses	$5,842	$6,598

*Starting rate for a studio based on available apartments on U of A’s off-campus housing website in 2025.

U of A has 34 residence halls and 9,000 students live on campus. Freshmen are required to live on campus. The school also offers Living-Learning Communities (LLCs), where students with common interests or academic goals can build their own community.

Upperclassmen may choose to live on campus or off. There are many rentals available. This guide can help you find off-campus options.

University of Alabama Acceptance Rate

Fall 2023

Number of applications	58,418
Number accepted	44,398
Percentage Accepted	76%

Of the students who apply, 76% are accepted, making the University of Alabama acceptance rate high.

Admission Requirements

University of Alabama admissions require certain documents in addition to your application:

Required:

•  High school transcript and GPA

•  Secondary school record

•  Completion of college-preparatory program

Recommended:

•  Secondary school rank

•  Admission test scores

The deadline to apply to the University of Alabama, for both admission and scholarships, is January 10. You can apply here.

SAT and ACT Scores

No test scores are required for students entering in the fall of 2025. However, if you would like to submit your scores, it can be helpful to compare them to scores in the 25th and 75th percentile:

Subject	25th Percentile	75th Percentile
SAT Evidence-Based Reading/Writing	590	700
SAT Math	580	700
ACT Composite	24	31
ACT English	23	33
ACT Math	22	29

Popular Majors at the University of Alabama

The University of Alabama offers approximately 220 bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Here are the most popular majors for undergraduates.

1. Marketing

Marketing students learn how to identify and assess consumer and industrial market needs, as well as develop marketing programs, promotions, and pricing.

Undergraduate degrees in 2022-23: 510

2. Finance

This program teaches students about asset management, commercial and investment banking, corporate financial management, venture capital, and more, and graduates may go on to work in private, corporate, or public sectors.

Undergraduate degrees in 2022-23: 497

3. Nursing

U of A’s nursing program prepares students for a career as a nurse in diverse practices, including community health, mental health, adult health, pediatrics, or labor and delivery.

Undergraduate degrees in 2022-23: 374

4. Psychology

U of A offers both a BA and BS in psychology. Both are excellent foundations for master’s degrees in many fields. Students learn about behavior, human growth, and biology, and develop strong writing and research skills.

Undergraduate degrees in 2022-23: 334

5. Biology

Upon graduation, biology students are well-versed in all aspects of biology, and are ready to either continue their education or take jobs in medical, research, pharmaceutical sales, or education roles.

Undergraduate degrees in 2022-23: 226

6. Mechanical Engineering

A Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering provides a foundation in math and physical science. Students will learn to design, test, and build, as well as analyze and interpret data.

Undergraduate degrees in 2022-23: 224

7. Criminology

Students in this major learn about computer fraud investigation, crime scene analysis, and criminal investigation.

Undergraduate degrees in 2022-23: 219

8. Public Relations

Students in this major learn how to blend the interests of an organization with those of the public. They learn strategies to achieve program objectives, multimedia tactics to implement PR programs in a digital world, and the role that PR plays in the global market.

Undergraduate degrees in 2022-23: 212

9. Accounting

Not only do accounting students learn to balance the books, they also learn how to research, problem-solve, think critically, communicate, and work with others.

Undergraduate degrees in 2022-23: 207

10. Business

A business degree can prepare you for a variety of careers or it can be a great springboard to higher degrees. This program teaches students about enterprise, business operations, and economics.

Undergraduate degrees in 2022-23: 181

This resource can help you learn more about the programs of study at the University of Alabama.

Graduation Rate

The six-year graduation rate of students who began their studies in 2017 is 74%; the four-year graduation rate is 56%.

Post-Graduation Median Earnings

Median earnings of those who attended U of A is $59,000 a year, which is less than the national average for graduates of four-year schools at $68,680 a year.