
Source: National Center for Educational Statistics. This is the most recent data available as of January 2020
Questions & Answers
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What do all these numbers mean?
All costs are the average net cost paid by families in each income bracket. Net cost is the total cost of attendance minus government grants and institutional scholarships. Loans of any kind are not included. Figures are based on data from the 2017-18 school year, which is the latest available as of January 2020.
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What is “Total Cost” on the chart?
Total cost is the total cost of attendance for that particular college. It includes:
- Tuition and fees (in-state tuition for public schools)
- Room and board (on campus)
- Books and supplies
- Other expenses (travel and personal)
There are detailed chart below for each school that shows these expenses. Click here to go to the individual cost breakdown for schools.
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How can I use this information?
This information is useful for building a realistic college budget. It's a good place to start until you better understand your specific circumstances. For example, let's say your income is $100,000 per year. This chart shows that the average state school would run $19,356 and the average private school would be $21,037. You can also get information on specific Alabama schools in the chart above or the tables below.
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Will my family pay the amount on this chart?
Probably not. The numbers are averages. You may be below average or above average. However, there are two key points we can learn from this data:
- Families with higher incomes ($75,000-$110,000 and $110,000+) will most likely pay close to full price at the public schools.
- Private colleges have a higher list price but offer more discounts. This brings their net price much closer to the cost of state-funded schools.
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Where did this information come from?
As part of federal financial aid, colleges are required to provide detailed cost information to the U.S. government. This data is made available to the public through the National Center for Education Statistics. For more details, click here.
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What about athletes, merit aid or minority students?
Athletes, high achieving students, and those with minority status are averaged in with everyone else. Within each income bracket, there are families that pay more than average and families that pay less than average.
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The costs on this chart seemed large, how can families afford to pay it?
For many families paying for college is not easy, but in the end they figure out. Most families will pay their net cost of college with some combination of:
- college savings and investments
- payments from current income
- loans
- outside scholarships (check out our Scholarship Guide For Busy Parents, which describes how you and your student can win scholarships for college and save money!)
- tax planning
- student work

Net Price:
Net price is the total cost of attendance minus the average amount of government grants and institutional scholarships awarded. This is an average, so you may pay above the average or below the average. Your exact net price is likely to be different and sometimes drastically different.
Most families will pay the net price with some combination of savings and investments, current income and various loans. Some students will also receive scholarships from sources other than the federal or state government or the college. Any scholarships and grants from these outside sources are not included in the data. However, government grants and institutional scholarships are included in the averages.
Total Cost at The University of Alabama (2017-18) | |
---|---|
Tuition and Fees | $10,780 |
Room and Board | $13,324 |
Books | $1,200 |
Other Expenses | $4,120 |
Total | $29,424 |
Total Cost:
Total cost is the total cost of attendance for that particular institution for the 2017-18 school year. This is the latest data available as of January 2020. Total costs include:
- Tuition and fees (in-state tuition for public schools)
- Room and board (on campus)
- Books and supplies
- Other expenses (travel and personal)
College Total Cost | ||
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Family Income | AL Public $23,520 | AL Private $36,661 |
$0 - $30k | $13,914 | $20,147 |
$30,001 – $48k | $15,408 | $20,179 |
$48,001 – $75k | $17,613 | $21,072 |
$75,001 – $110k | $19,356 | $21,037 |
$110,001+ | $19,120 | $19,426 |
Public vs. Private Averages
This table shows the average total cost of attendance for the Alabama public and private colleges we have included in our analysis. The costs include a breakdown of the average net price paid by family income. Notice that the average private college is $1,000-$7,000 more than the average public school, depending on your income bracket. It is important to stress that these are averages. Most families will not be average, and their individual circumstances could be drastically different. I encourage all families to work with their preferred colleges to get information specific to their family.
Below are similar charts for each individual private and public college in Alabama. Click a school to view its complete chart.
Public AL Schools Cost Breakdown
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Alabama A & M University
Normal Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $9,857 $9,744 Room and Board $9,020 $9,128 Books $1,600 $1,600 Other Expenses $2,580 $2,990 Total $23,057 $23,462 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,893 $14,137 $30,001 - $48k $13,976 $14,221 $48,001 - $75k $15,995 $16,276 $75,001 - $110k $18,957 $19,290 $110,001+ $17,140 $17,441 -
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $8,328 $8,568 Room and Board $11,682 $11,682 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $4,886 $4,886 Total $26,096 $26,336 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,550 $14,684 $30,001 - $48k $15,379 $15,520 $48,001 - $75k $17,892 $18,057 $75,001 - $110k $19,978 $20,162 $110,001+ $20,110 $20,295 -
University of Alabama in Huntsville
Huntsville Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $10,280 $10,714 Room and Board $9,748 $10,094 Books $1,956 $2,034 Other Expenses $3,697 $3,808 Total $25,681 $26,650 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $17,561 $18,224 $30,001 - $48k $18,991 $19,708 $48,001 - $75k $21,396 $22,203 $75,001 - $110k $23,204 $24,080 $110,001+ $23,406 $24,289 -
Alabama State University
Montgomery Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $11,068 $11,068 Room and Board $5,422 $6,050 Books $1,600 $1,600 Other Expenses $3,392 $3,392 Total $21,482 $22,110 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $11,344 $11,676 $30,001 - $48k $14,855 $15,289 $48,001 - $75k $18,390 $18,928 $75,001 - $110k $18,863 $19,414 $110,001+ $14,833 $15,267 -
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $10,780 $10,780 Room and Board $13,324 $13,402 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $4,120 $4,490 Total $29,424 $29,872 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $18,515 $18,797 $30,001 - $48k $20,541 $20,854 $48,001 - $75k $22,457 $22,799 $75,001 - $110k $24,789 $25,166 $110,001+ $25,199 $25,583 -
Auburn University at Montgomery
Montgomery Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $8,020 $8,404 Room and Board $6,980 $6,980 Books $1,100 $1,200 Other Expenses $3,690 $3,730 Total $19,790 $20,314 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $10,877 $11,165 $30,001 - $48k $12,321 $12,647 $48,001 - $75k $14,734 $15,124 $75,001 - $110k $15,871 $16,291 $110,001+ $15,341 $15,747
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Auburn University
Auburn Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $10,968 $11,276 Room and Board $13,332 $13,332 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $5,782 $5,782 Total $31,282 $31,590 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $18,617 $18,800 $30,001 - $48k $20,546 $20,748 $48,001 - $75k $23,110 $23,338 $75,001 - $110k $26,329 $26,588 $110,001+ $27,395 $27,665 -
Jacksonville State University
Jacksonville Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $8,166 $8,760 Room and Board $7,898 $7,494 Books $1,498 $1,020 Other Expenses $2,998 $2,339 Total $20,560 $19,613 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,370 $13,708 $30,001 - $48k $15,885 $15,153 $48,001 - $75k $18,742 $17,879 $75,001 - $110k $19,894 $18,978 $110,001+ $20,050 $19,126 -
University of West Alabama
Livingston Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $9,204 $10,040 Room and Board $7,080 $7,080 Books $1,216 $1,216 Other Expenses $3,505 $3,505 Total $21,005 $21,841 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,711 $13,217 $30,001 - $48k $14,484 $15,060 $48,001 - $75k $14,438 $15,013 $75,001 - $110k $15,764 $16,391 $110,001+ $15,739 $16,365 -
University of Montevallo
Montevallo Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $12,400 $12,760 Room and Board $9,030 $9,330 Books $1,020 $1,020 Other Expenses $3,180 $3,180 Total $25,630 $26,290 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,905 $14,263 $30,001 - $48k $14,843 $15,225 $48,001 - $75k $17,639 $18,093 $75,001 - $110k $19,194 $19,688 $110,001+ $20,173 $20,692 -
University of North Alabama
Florence Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $8,480 $10,142 Room and Board $7,484 $7,670 Books $1,500 $1,500 Other Expenses $2,800 $2,800 Total $20,264 $22,112 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $10,474 $11,429 $30,001 - $48k $11,496 $12,544 $48,001 - $75k $12,295 $13,416 $75,001 - $110k $14,573 $15,902 $110,001+ $15,433 $16,840 -
University of South Alabama
Mobile Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $7,812 $8,396 Room and Board $8,460 $7,620 Books $1,300 $1,300 Other Expenses $4,096 $4,390 Total $21,668 $21,706 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $10,941 $10,960 $30,001 - $48k $11,749 $11,770 $48,001 - $75k $15,810 $15,838 $75,001 - $110k $19,428 $19,462 $110,001+ $19,804 $19,839 -
Troy University
Troy Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $8,692 $8,908 Room and Board $6,688 $6,804 Books $1,138 $1,138 Other Expenses $3,297 $3,297 Total $19,815 $20,147 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,119 $13,339 $30,001 - $48k $15,233 $15,488 $48,001 - $75k $16,068 $16,337 $75,001 - $110k $14,781 $15,029 $110,001+ $13,934 $14,167
Private AL Schools Cost Breakdown
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Birmingham Southern College
Birmingham Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $35,804 $17,650 Room and Board $12,350 $12,500 Books $1,260 $1,260 Other Expenses $3,000 $2,990 Total $52,414 $34,400 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $24,110 $15,824 $30,001 - $48k $20,690 $13,579 $48,001 - $75k $24,551 $16,113 $75,001 - $110k $25,549 $16,768 $110,001+ $28,675 $18,820 -
Faulkner University
Montgomery Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $20,970 $21,690 Room and Board $7,400 $7,750 Books $1,800 $1,800 Other Expenses $4,200 $4,200 Total $34,370 $35,440 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $26,663 $27,493 $30,001 - $48k $25,121 $25,903 $48,001 - $75k $23,374 $24,102 $75,001 - $110k $24,400 $25,160 $110,001+ $26,501 $27,326 -
Huntingdon College
Montgomery Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $26,400 $27,400 Room and Board $9,500 $9,750 Books $300 $300 Other Expenses $1,035 $1,035 Total $37,235 $38,485 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $17,993 $18,597 $30,001 - $48k $18,346 $18,962 $48,001 - $75k $21,905 $22,640 $75,001 - $110k $21,188 $21,899 $110,001+ $22,920 $23,689 -
Judson College
Marion Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $17,896 $18,510 Room and Board $10,276 $10,590 Books $1,250 $1,288 Other Expenses $2,936 $2,884 Total $32,358 $33,272 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $15,918 $16,368 $30,001 - $48k $16,631 $17,101 $48,001 - $75k $15,111 $15,538 $75,001 - $110k $15,909 $16,358 $110,001+ $21,130 $21,727 -
Miles College
Fairfield Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $11,794 $12,132 Room and Board $7,254 $7,254 Books $1,200 $200 Other Expenses $2,832 $2,832 Total $23,080 $22,418 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $15,071 $14,639 $30,001 - $48k $14,955 $14,526 $48,001 - $75k $16,011 $15,552 $75,001 - $110k $17,266 $16,771 $110,001+ $18,642 $18,107 -
University of Mobile
Mobile Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $22,210 $23,230 Room and Board $9,600 $9,600 Books $1,800 $1,800 Other Expenses $4,744 $4,750 Total $38,354 $39,380 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,074 $12,397 $30,001 - $48k $14,016 $14,391 $48,001 - $75k $15,130 $15,535 $75,001 - $110k $16,856 $17,307 $110,001+ $19,318 $19,835
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Oakwood University
Huntsville Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $16,720 $19,732 Room and Board $12,000 $9,700 Books $1,500 $1,440 Other Expenses $6,370 $7,890 Total $36,590 $38,762 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $25,548 $27,065 $30,001 - $48k $24,898 $26,376 $48,001 - $75k $25,896 $27,433 $75,001 - $110k $28,505 $30,197 $110,001+ $27,035 $28,640 -
Samford University
Birmingham Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $30,490 $31,650 Room and Board $10,280 $10,500 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $4,704 $4,713 Total $46,474 $47,863 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $24,005 $24,722 $30,001 - $48k $23,992 $24,709 $48,001 - $75k $26,898 $27,702 $75,001 - $110k $31,271 $32,206 $110,001+ $31,872 $32,825 -
Spring Hill College
Mobile Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $37,584 $39,464 Room and Board $13,070 $13,462 Books $1,500 $1,500 Other Expenses $3,014 $3,250 Total $55,168 $57,676 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $16,022 $16,750 $30,001 - $48k $17,172 $17,953 $48,001 - $75k $18,012 $18,831 $75,001 - $110k $20,648 $21,587 $110,001+ $24,205 $25,305 -
Stillman College
Tuscaloosa Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $10,792 $11,092 Room and Board $7,394 $7,394 Books $1,100 $2,034 Other Expenses $2,700 $4,572 Total $21,986 $25,092 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,821 $15,774 $30,001 - $48k $14,657 $16,728 $48,001 - $75k $11,341 $12,943 $75,001 - $110k $15,771 $17,999 $110,001+ $12,813 $14,623 -
Talladega College
Talladega Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $12,340 $13,571 Room and Board $6,704 $6,704 Books $1,370 $1,370 Other Expenses $2,100 $2,100 Total $22,514 $23,745 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $16,402 $17,299 $30,001 - $48k $15,657 $16,513 $48,001 - $75k $17,764 $18,735 $75,001 - $110k $0 $0 $110,001+ $0 $0 -
Tuskegee University
Tuskegee Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $22,170 $22,170 Room and Board $9,650 $9,650 Books $1,656 $1,656 Other Expenses $5,907 $5,907 Total $39,383 $39,383 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $34,135 $34,135 $30,001 - $48k $36,015 $36,015 $48,001 - $75k $36,867 $36,867 $75,001 - $110k $35,083 $35,083 $110,001+ $0 $0
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