University of South Alabama — College Profile

About

The University of South Alabama is a major public research institution renowned for its comprehensive healthcare education, anchored by its distinguished College of Medicine, highly ranked College of Nursing, and strong programs in engineering and marine sciences. As the upper Gulf Coast's only academic medical center, USA provides undergraduates with exceptional hands-on clinical training and coastal research opportunities through USA Health and regional environmental partnerships. Campus life is centered on a vibrant, 1,200-acre wooded campus where NCAA Division I Sun Belt athletics, spirited Jaguar game days at Hancock Whitney Stadium, and an active residential community define the student experience.

Wikipedia:The University of South Alabama (USA) is a public research university in Mobile, Alabama, United States. It was created by the Alabama Legislature in May 1963, and replaced the existing extension programs operated by the University of Alabama. The first classes were held in June 1964 with an enrollment of 276 students; the first commencement was held in June 1967.

Location

Mobile, AL, 36688-0002 · City campus

✈

Nearest airport from college

MSY · New Orleans

133 mi away

Open in Google Maps

Cost & aid

Cost of attendance

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition & fees$10,116$19,092

Housing & food (on campus)$11,366$11,366

Books & supplies$864$864

Cost of attendance$25,476$40,978

Average net price$17,648Not published

Out-of-state prices

Tuition & fees$19,092

In-state: $10,116

Housing & food (on campus)$11,366

Books & supplies$864

Cost of attendance$40,978

In-state: $25,476

Average net priceNot published

In-state: $17,648

Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: www.southalabama.edu

How it’s made up · out-of-state, 2026-27

University of South Alabama’s own figures for 2026-2027, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.

Tuition$22,030

Books & supplies$864

Personal expenses$3,078

Transportation$2,322

Total published by the school$40,978

Source: www.southalabama.edu · checked Sep 28, 2026

Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24

$0–30k

$12,657

$30–48k

$13,265

$48–75k

$16,277

$75–110k

$23,252

$110k+

$25,322

Your family's actual price → University of South Alabama net price calculator

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Merit aid · 2025-26

Awarded without financial need. Students with financial need can get merit awards too; they're counted as need-based aid.

Average award$5,755

First-years who got one622

Source: University of South Alabama's Common Data Set — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures (PDF).

Outcomes

Completion

Within 6 yrs

53%

Entered 2017–18

Within 4 yrs

37%

Back for yr 2

76%

Transferred

27%

8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students

47% graduated · 33% transferred · 1% still enrolled · 19% left or unknown

Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021

6 yrs after entry$41,307

10 yrs after entry$49,379

Debt

Median at graduation$24,929

Monthly payment$264

Middle 50% owe$6.1k–$27.3k

90th percentile$40,000

Admissions

Getting in · applied for fall 2024

Admit rate

71%

Test policy

Test optional

Per College Scorecard

SAT average

1147

R 500–610 · M 470–580

ACT midpoint

Comp 20–26 · E 19–26 · M 17–25

SAT middle 50%: 970–1190

40080012001600

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Essay prompts

If University of South Alabama asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body

Gender

Men 38%Women 62%

Who enrolls

Faculty ratio

19 : 1

Pell grant

38%

First-gen

33%

Family income

$36,199

Independent

20%

Veterans

Age at entry

21.0

Part-time

12%

Race & ethnicity

White

60%

Hispanic

Black

23%

Asian

Two or more

Non-resident

AI/AN

Unknown

Varsity sports

NCAA Division I-FBS · EADA 2024-25

Baseball
Men's
Basketball
Men's · Women's
Cross Country
Men's · Women's
Football
Men's
Golf
Men's · Women's
Soccer
Women's
Softball
Women's
Tennis
Men's · Women's
Track and Field (Indoor)
Men's · Women's
Track and Field (Outdoor)
Men's · Women's
Volleyball
Women's

Programs & Earnings

Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings

Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021

After 6 yrs

$41,307

After 10 yrs

$49,379

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing347

Biology, General134

Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences112

Psychology, General100

Health/Medical Preparatory Programs99

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods90

Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General76

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions59

Computer Science50

Mechanical Engineering50

Business Administration, Management and Operations50

Criminal Justice and Corrections48

Communication and Media Studies41

Computer and Information Sciences, General40

Accounting and Related Services37

Chemical Engineering36

Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.

Institutional

Resources

Endowment

$710M

Full-time faculty

65%

Faculty salary

$7,761/mo

Teaching spend

$11,135

per student

Federal loans

47%

Classification

Carnegie type

Doctoral University

Research activity

R2 — high research

$70M research spending · 53 research doctorates a year

Undergraduate profile

Four-year, selective admissions