Admit rate has ranged 65%–79% 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 South Alabama (USA) is a public research university in Mobile, AL, known for its strong healthcare and engineering programs, laid-back Gulf Coast vibe, and a student body where nearly everyone gets financial aid. With a 71% acceptance rate and median SAT scores around 1080, it's accessible but punches above its weight in nursing and biomedical sciences. Campus life thrives with 2,400+ students living on-site and a steady stream of social events—though most Jaguars commute.
Admission requirements
Test scores required
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
TOEFL (non-native English)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
8,879
In-state tuition
$10,116
Out-of-state tuition
$19,092
Acceptance Rate
71%
On-Campus Housing
28%
6-Year Graduation Rate
53%
Students Receiving Aid
97%
Avg Financial Aid Package
$14,183
Median Alumni Salary (5 Yrs)
$55,913
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$49,379
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.8×
Median debt at graduation
$24,929
Graduation rate
53%
First-year retention
76%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
47%
Pell (lower-income) share
64%
First-generation share
33%
Endowment / student
$79,997
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering$68,219
Mechanical Engineering$66,240
Computer Science$63,005
Chemical Engineering$61,516
Civil Engineering$58,402
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
6
Per 1,000 students
0.68
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.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
108
Summer high
89°F
Winter low
47°F
Annual rain
67"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively High
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.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
384
Scholarly works
21,883
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.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
2.0%
Bottom → top quintile
17%
From bottom quintile
11%
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.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at University of South Alabama?
University of South Alabama's acceptance rate is approximately 71% (Mobile, AL), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for University of South Alabama?
Admitted students at University of South Alabama typically score 970–1190 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does University of South Alabama cost?
At University of South Alabama, the average net price (after aid) is about $17,648 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend University of South Alabama?
University of South Alabama enrolls approximately 8,879 undergraduate students.
Where is University of South Alabama located?
University of South Alabama is located in Mobile, AL.
Admissions
Getting into South Alabama isn't a bloodsport—the school admits 71% of applicants, with recent SAT ranges hovering between 1030-1178 and ACT scores typically 19-26. While test scores are considered (they recommend submitting if you've got an ACT ≥21 or SAT ≥1060), they're not mandatory. The Common Application is accepted, but deadlines are forgiving with a regular decision cutoff of July 15. Notably, 97% of students receive some form of financial aid, making it a pragmatic choice for cost-conscious Alabamians and out-of-staters alike.
USA offers 115+ academic programs across 10 colleges, but its heartbeat is healthcare and STEM. Nursing and engineering dominate the conversation, with 5% of graduates emerging from education programs and another 5% from psychology. The College of Nursing is particularly notable, feeding into Mobile's robust medical sector. Pre-med and biology majors thrive here, buoyed by research opportunities that undergrads at larger schools might struggle to access. The Honors College adds rigor for high achievers, though the overall academic vibe leans more practical than theoretical—this is a place where students come to train for jobs, not just ponder big ideas.
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.
$55,598
Computer and Information Sciences, General$51,273
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions$48,667
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.
With only 28% of students living on campus (about 2,400 Jaguars), USA has a commuter-school energy—but it works hard to compensate. Jaguar Productions and student orgs keep the calendar packed with events, from cultural festivals to recreational outings that leverage Mobile's coastal location. The Student Center serves as a hub, though the real social glue is Greek life and Division I athletics (go Jags!). Don't expect a Big Ten party scene, though—the vibe is more 'hang out at Wintzell's Oyster House' than 'rage till dawn.'
Graduation rates sit at 53%—about average for regional publics—but career outcomes surprise. Nursing grads report a 100% internship rate, and business students see 77% employment within six months (median salary: $55K). Across all majors, alumni earn $46,120 one year out and $55,913 after five years—solid numbers given Alabama's low cost of living. The kicker? Median debt at graduation is just $17,750, far below national averages. This isn't a pedigree factory, but for healthcare and engineering grads, it delivers strong ROI.
In-state tuition is a reasonable $12,040 ($23,260 for out-of-state), but almost no one pays sticker price. 91% of students receive aid, with average packages totaling $14,183. The Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost.—$13,613 after grants—makes USA one of the South's better bargains, especially for Alabamians. Scholarships abound for high-achievers (54% get school-specific grants), though 63% still take out loans. The financial aid office runs a transparent net price calculator, so families can dodge surprises.
South Alabama is the anti-stress state university: accessible admissions, generous aid, and career-focused programs that don't demand Ivy-level stats. Its nursing school is the crown jewel, but the real magic is how it blends research opportunities (rare at this price point) with Mobile's easygoing Gulf Coast culture. Think of it as a 'stealth good' school—where mid-range students can emerge as high-earning nurses, engineers, or business grads without drowning in debt.
University of South Alabama logo · sourceOur Campus | About the University of South Alabama · sourceSouth Recognized In U.S News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings · sourcePlanning My Orientation | Prospective Student Programs & New Student Orientation · source
