
Mobile, ALprivate nonprofitshc.edu
Admit rate has ranged 50%–73% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Spring Hill College, Alabama's oldest Catholic college (founded 1830), blends Jesuit rigor with Deep South charm. With a 75% acceptance rate and strong outcomes (92% employed/grad school-bound), this Mobile campus thrives on tight-knit community—74% live on campus—and punches above its weight in business, health professions, and new AI/digital programs launching in 2025.
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
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Outcomes & value
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Campus & location
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Spring Hill operates with moderate selectivity, admitting about 75% of applicants—though admitted students typically post ACT scores between 17-24 or SAT scores of 930-1,340. The college emphasizes Holistic admissionsA review that weighs the whole applicant — grades, essays, activities, and context — rather than relying on test scores and GPA alone., requiring a minimum 2.5 GPA but no strict test cutoffs. Notably, 68% of first-years receive need-based aid, with average awards topping $21,335—making it accessible despite a $44,658 sticker price.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
The Jesuit core curriculum anchors 45+ majors, with business (especially accounting), health professions, and pre-law as standouts. Fall 2025 brings ambitious new programs in AI/Data Science and Digital Communication, signaling a tech-forward pivot. Small classes (student-faculty ratio: 13:1) and experiential learning define the vibe—think nursing simulations in the state-of-the-art Stanton Healthcare Center or biz students consulting for local startups.
This is a residential campus—74% of students live on-site, bonding over late-night pizza parties and floor socials. Jesuit values manifest in service trips (Hurricane Katrina recovery remains a touchstone) and campus ministry events open to all faiths. Greek life exists but doesn’t dominate; instead, Badger pride centers on NAIA athletics (especially basketball) and quirky traditions like the Gumbo Cookoff. Mobile’s jazz clubs and Mardi Gras parades provide off-campus flavor.
Spring Hill’s 92% career outcome rate (employment/grad school) outpaces the national 82% average, though 4-year graduation rates lag at 52-56%. Alumni networks thrive in Southern healthcare (thanks to partnerships with Ascension Providence) and regional business, with many grads landing at Mobile’s Airbus or Austal USA. The college is transparent about income disparities—sub-$30K families pay ~$26,970 net versus full freight for wealthier students.
The $44,658 sticker price drops to ~$20,271 net for aided students (54% of enrollees), with $25,965 average aid packages. Merit scholarships flow freely—no separate application needed—while Need-based aidFinancial aid awarded based on your family's ability to pay, as measured by forms like the FAFSA, rather than on achievements. leans heavily on grants over loans. Pro tip: Use their Net Price Calculator (takes <5 mins) to gauge real costs. High-need students often pay half the listed tuition, making SHC surprisingly affordable for a private college.
Spring Hill merges Jesuit intentionality (daily Mass in the grotto, justice-focused coursework) with Alabama’s easygoing warmth. It’s where you’ll find philosophy majors debating over crawfish boils, nursing students practicing in a simulation hospital, and everyone cheering at Badger basketball games. The new tech programs show adaptability, while the 92% outcomes rate proves the formula works—especially for students who thrive in a close-knit, service-driven community.