
Mobile, ALprivate nonprofitumobile.edu
Admit rate has ranged 46%–84% 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 Mobile is a private Christian university in Alabama that operates with a distinctive, faith-forward mission, offering over 75 academic programs in a close-knit campus environment. Its admissions process is notably accessible, with a high acceptance rate and a policy that waives standardized test requirements for students with a solid high school GPA. The campus culture is active and community-oriented, with a majority of students living on campus, though its financial model leans heavily on loans rather than no-loan aid policies.
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.
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
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.
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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.
The University of Mobile maintains an accessible admissions process, characterized by a high . The university's own application portal states that students with a high school GPA of 2.75 or greater are not required to submit ACT or SAT scores, though an ACT score of 21 or higher is recommended for scholarship consideration. When test scores are submitted, they typically fall within a middle range; sources report SAT scores between 990–1120 or 910–1060. The admissions rate—the percentage of admitted students who enroll—is reported to be around 19%, with some variation between genders (a 24% yield for men versus 18% for women). The university does not appear to have an Early Decision program, as one source explicitly lists its Early Decision Acceptance Rate as 'N/A'. Demonstrated interest is a factor commonly evaluated in admissions via the (section C7), though the specific weight given to it by the University of Mobile is not detailed in the provided sources.
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.
Academics at the University of Mobile are framed by its stated core values: 'Christ-Centered, Academically-Focused, Student-Devoted and Distinctively-Driven.' The university offers over 75 academic programs, ranging from on-campus to online formats, with a stated emphasis on experiential, hands-on learning and faculty mentorship. Popular undergraduate majors, according to available data, include Speech Communication and Rhetoric, Accounting, Elementary Education and Teaching, and Pre-Medical Studies. The institution has been recognized among the top 10 colleges in Alabama for academics, and it ranks as the #1 best college in the city of Mobile. The academic approach is intentionally integrated with its Christian identity, aiming to prepare students for both professional success and service.
Student life at the University of Mobile is portrayed as vibrant and highly engaged, with a significant majority of students—68%—living in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing. The Student Life Department organizes a full calendar of events including concerts, free food, giveaways, games, and orientation activities. A wide array of student groups exists, covering academic, social, athletic, service-oriented, and religious interests, fostering a tight-knit campus community. The active social media presence of the Student Life office highlights a culture of welcome and ongoing campus events, reinforcing the university's commitment to a devoted, on-campus student experience.
Post-graduation outcomes for University of Mobile alumni show a median salary of $39,717 one year after graduation, increasing to $46,035 five years out. The six-year graduation rate is 56%, with a four-year graduation rate of 42%. The university's commencement ceremonies celebrate hundreds of graduates each year; for example, a recent spring ceremony honored over 300 graduates. These figures paint a picture of a university where a little over half of students persist to graduation within six years, and alumni see moderate growth in earnings in the years following their degree.
The —the average cost after grants and scholarships—for students at the University of Mobile is consistently reported around $22,382. The university awards more than $14 million in financial aid and scholarships annually. Need-based scholarships are awarded to full-time students based on demonstrated financial need as interpreted by the university. The institution offers a Net Price Calculator for families to estimate costs. Notably, the university's financial aid policy includes federal student loans (both subsidized and unsubsidized) as part of aid packages. The provided sources do not indicate that the University of Mobile has a 'no-loan' policy, which is defined as meeting 100% of a student's demonstrated need without including loans in the financial aid package. Instead, loans remain a standard component of aid for those who qualify.
The University of Mobile carves out a distinct niche as a faith-based institution that is deeply integrated into its local community while maintaining a broad academic portfolio. It stands out for its deliberately accessible admissions gate, notably waiving test scores for students with a 2.75+ GPA—a policy that lowers barriers to entry. Its identity is unequivocally 'Christ-Centered,' a principle that informs not just campus ministry but its stated academic and student-life missions. The campus culture is notably residential and active, with over two-thirds of students living on campus and a dedicated Student Life department curating a full slate of social events. While its graduation rates and alumni earnings are moderate, the university positions itself as a place of mentorship and hands-on learning, aiming to develop students professionally and personally within a supportive, values-driven framework. It’s a university that knows its mission and its student body, offering a specific type of collegiate experience rooted in faith, community, and practical education.