
Huntsville, ALpublicwww.uah.edu/
Admit rate has ranged 74%–83% 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.
The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) is a public research university with a strong emphasis on engineering and business, nestled in the tech-heavy city of Huntsville. With a 69% acceptance rate and a mid-range SAT score of 1060–1285, UAH offers a balanced mix of accessibility and academic rigor. Known for its clean campus, diverse food options, and a culture that prioritizes involvement over partying, UAH graduates 60% of its students within six years, many of whom enter thriving local industries.
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
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
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.
UAH has an Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. of 69%, admitting 5,232 out of 7,630 applicants in 2024. The middle 50% of admitted students scored between 1060 and 1285 on the SAT or 23–30 on the ACT. A strong candidate typically has a 3.0 GPA and a 21 ACT or 1060 SAT score. The university is Test-optionalA policy where you choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. If you don't, the rest of your application carries more weight. but considers scores if submitted.
UAH offers a competitive edge with small class sizes and a broad range of undergraduate programs. The most popular majors are Engineering and Business, Management, and Marketing. The business school and nursing program are particularly well-regarded. Exploratory Advising helps undecided students find majors that fit their skills and interests.
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.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
UAH’s campus life is active but not a party scene, with students praising the cleanliness of dining facilities and the availability of popular food options like Chick-fil-A. Intramural sports, Greek life, and campus events like Homecoming and Family Weekend keep students engaged. The culture is described as inclusive, with a focus on building friendships and personal development.
UAH has a six-year graduation rate of 60%, with 42% graduating in four years. The university’s outcomes are solid, placing it in the top 40% of comparable institutions. Many graduates find employment in Huntsville’s thriving tech and engineering sectors.
In-state tuition and fees are $12,132, with the average Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. after aid at $18,588. UAH automatically considers all new freshmen and transfers for academic scholarships, and Need-based aidFinancial aid awarded based on your family's ability to pay, as measured by forms like the FAFSA, rather than on achievements. is available. The net price calculator helps estimate costs, with the average aid package reducing the total cost to around $21,213.
UAH stands out for its strong engineering and business programs, its location in a tech-centric city, and its balance of accessibility and academic quality. The campus culture is engaging but not overwhelming, with a focus on student involvement and personal growth. Graduates benefit from Huntsville’s robust job market, particularly in aerospace and defense.