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Source: National Center for Educational Statistics. This is the most recent data available as of January 2021
Questions & Answers
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What do all these numbers mean?
All costs shown here are the average net cost paid by families in each income bracket for one year at the college in question. Net cost is the total cost of attendance for one year, minus government grants and institutional scholarships. Figures are based on data from the 2018-19 school year, which is the latest available as of January 2021.
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What is “Total Cost” on the chart?
Total cost is the total cost of attendance for one year at 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 $18,615 and the average private school would be $21,576. 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 seem 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 the Scholarship Guide For Busy Parents to learn how your student can win scholarships)
- Tax planning
- Student work
Net Price:
Net prices is the total cost of attendance for one year, minus the average amount in government grants and institutional scholarships the school awards. 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 (2018-19) | |
|---|---|
| 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 2018-19 school year. This is the latest data available as of January 2021. 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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Family Income | AL Public $24,003 | AL Private $36,326 |
| $0 - $30k | $14,133 | $19,292 |
| $30,001 – $48k | $15,185 | $19,660 |
| $48,001 – $75k | $17,756 | $21,548 |
| $75,001 – $110k | $18,615 | $21,576 |
| $110,001+ | $19,148 | $20,639 |
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 $2,000-$6,000 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 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $9,744 $10,024 Room and Board $9,128 $9,240 Books $1,600 $1,600 Other Expenses $2,990 $3,090 Total $23,462 $23,954 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,310 $14,610 $30,001 - $48k $13,849 $14,139 $48,001 - $75k $18,405 $18,791 $75,001 - $110k $19,016 $19,415 $110,001+ $19,419 $19,826 -
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $8,568 $8,568 Room and Board $11,682 $12,307 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $4,886 $5,555 Total $26,336 $27,630 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,554 $15,269 $30,001 - $48k $15,526 $16,289 $48,001 - $75k $18,197 $19,091 $75,001 - $110k $19,455 $20,411 $110,001+ $19,451 $20,407 -
University of Alabama in Huntsville
Huntsville Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $10,714 $11,122 Room and Board $10,094 $10,400 Books $2,034 $2,120 Other Expenses $3,808 $3,994 Total $26,650 $27,636 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,010 $13,491 $30,001 - $48k $13,580 $14,082 $48,001 - $75k $16,306 $16,909 $75,001 - $110k $17,552 $18,201 $110,001+ $19,231 $19,943 -
Alabama State University
Montgomery Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $11,068 $11,068 Room and Board $6,050 $6,050 Books $1,600 $1,600 Other Expenses $3,392 $3,392 Total $22,110 $22,110 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,531 $13,531 $30,001 - $48k $13,696 $13,696 $48,001 - $75k $15,166 $15,166 $75,001 - $110k $11,878 $11,878 $110,001+ $13,573 $13,573 -
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $10,780 $10,780 Room and Board $13,402 $13,636 Books $1,200 $1,000 Other Expenses $4,490 $4,600 Total $29,872 $30,016 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $19,322 $19,415 $30,001 - $48k $19,863 $19,959 $48,001 - $75k $23,284 $23,396 $75,001 - $110k $24,108 $24,224 $110,001+ $25,509 $25,632 -
Auburn University at Montgomery
Montgomery Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $8,404 $8,620 Room and Board $6,980 $6,980 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $3,730 $3,850 Total $20,314 $20,650 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,137 $12,338 $30,001 - $48k $13,461 $13,684 $48,001 - $75k $15,780 $16,041 $75,001 - $110k $17,215 $17,500 $110,001+ $16,605 $16,880
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Auburn University
Auburn Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $11,276 $11,492 Room and Board $13,332 $13,600 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $5,782 $5,904 Total $31,590 $32,196 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $18,394 $18,747 $30,001 - $48k $20,326 $20,716 $48,001 - $75k $24,079 $24,541 $75,001 - $110k $26,518 $27,027 $110,001+ $27,492 $28,019 -
Jacksonville State University
Jacksonville Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $8,760 $11,120 Room and Board $7,494 $8,000 Books $1,020 $1,204 Other Expenses $2,339 $1,507 Total $19,613 $21,831 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,693 $14,128 $30,001 - $48k $14,338 $15,959 $48,001 - $75k $16,921 $18,835 $75,001 - $110k $18,743 $20,863 $110,001+ $19,004 $21,153 -
University of West Alabama
Livingston Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $10,040 $10,990 Room and Board $7,080 $7,510 Books $1,216 $1,200 Other Expenses $3,505 $3,505 Total $21,841 $23,205 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,254 $15,144 $30,001 - $48k $15,541 $16,512 $48,001 - $75k $17,948 $19,069 $75,001 - $110k $15,525 $16,495 $110,001+ $16,699 $17,742 -
University of Montevallo
Montevallo Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $12,760 $13,708 Room and Board $9,330 $9,810 Books $1,020 $1,020 Other Expenses $3,180 $3,180 Total $26,290 $27,718 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,902 $14,657 $30,001 - $48k $14,901 $15,710 $48,001 - $75k $17,062 $17,989 $75,001 - $110k $19,756 $20,829 $110,001+ $19,300 $20,348 -
University of North Alabama
Florence Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $10,142 $10,620 Room and Board $7,670 $7,830 Books $1,500 $1,500 Other Expenses $2,800 $2,800 Total $22,112 $22,750 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $11,925 $12,269 $30,001 - $48k $12,787 $13,156 $48,001 - $75k $14,935 $15,366 $75,001 - $110k $16,255 $16,724 $110,001+ $16,909 $17,397 -
University of South Alabama
Mobile Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $8,396 $8,396 Room and Board $7,620 $7,800 Books $1,300 $1,300 Other Expenses $4,390 $4,916 Total $21,706 $22,412 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $11,641 $12,020 $30,001 - $48k $13,079 $13,504 $48,001 - $75k $16,459 $16,994 $75,001 - $110k $20,422 $21,086 $110,001+ $20,792 $21,468 -
Troy University
Troy Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $8,908 $8,908 Room and Board $6,804 $6,804 Books $1,138 $1,300 Other Expenses $3,297 $4,766 Total $20,147 $21,778 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,062 $15,200 $30,001 - $48k $16,457 $17,789 $48,001 - $75k $16,281 $17,599 $75,001 - $110k $15,552 $16,811 $110,001+ $14,941 $16,151
Private AL Schools Cost Breakdown
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Birmingham Southern College
Birmingham Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $17,650 $18,238 Room and Board $12,500 $12,402 Books $1,260 $1,260 Other Expenses $2,990 $3,190 Total $34,400 $35,090 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $19,592 $19,985 $30,001 - $48k $19,625 $20,019 $48,001 - $75k $20,559 $20,971 $75,001 - $110k $22,617 $23,071 $110,001+ $25,400 $25,909 -
Faulkner University
Montgomery Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $21,690 $22,310 Room and Board $7,750 $7,925 Books $1,800 $1,800 Other Expenses $4,200 $4,300 Total $35,440 $36,335 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $19,355 $19,844 $30,001 - $48k $19,953 $20,457 $48,001 - $75k $21,419 $21,960 $75,001 - $110k $21,302 $21,840 $110,001+ $23,259 $23,846 -
Huntingdon College
Montgomery Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $27,400 $27,400 Room and Board $9,750 $9,950 Books $300 $300 Other Expenses $1,035 $1,035 Total $38,485 $38,685 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $19,380 $19,481 $30,001 - $48k $19,159 $19,259 $48,001 - $75k $22,611 $22,729 $75,001 - $110k $23,837 $23,961 $110,001+ $24,102 $24,227 -
Judson College
Marion Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $18,510 $18,540 Room and Board $10,590 $10,910 Books $1,288 $1,340 Other Expenses $2,884 $2,980 Total $33,272 $33,770 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,884 $14,092 $30,001 - $48k $16,000 $16,239 $48,001 - $75k $15,552 $15,785 $75,001 - $110k $19,147 $19,434 $110,001+ $26,056 $26,446 -
Miles College
Fairfield Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $12,132 $12,464 Room and Board $7,254 $7,348 Books $200 $250 Other Expenses $2,832 $2,832 Total $22,418 $22,894 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,850 $14,144 $30,001 - $48k $14,234 $14,536 $48,001 - $75k $16,364 $16,711 $75,001 - $110k $14,357 $14,662 $110,001+ $17,812 $18,190 -
University of Mobile
Mobile Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $23,230 $23,860 Room and Board $9,600 $9,700 Books $1,800 $1,800 Other Expenses $4,750 $4,750 Total $39,380 $40,110 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,263 $13,509 $30,001 - $48k $13,392 $13,640 $48,001 - $75k $18,654 $19,000 $75,001 - $110k $21,346 $21,742 $110,001+ $21,357 $21,753
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Oakwood University
Huntsville Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $19,732 $19,990 Room and Board $9,700 $9,374 Books $1,440 $1,500 Other Expenses $7,890 $6,900 Total $38,762 $37,764 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $23,726 $23,115 $30,001 - $48k $21,356 $20,806 $48,001 - $75k $25,238 $24,588 $75,001 - $110k $25,350 $24,697 $110,001+ $26,490 $25,808 -
Samford University
Birmingham Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $31,650 $32,850 Room and Board $10,500 $10,980 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $4,713 $4,804 Total $47,863 $49,634 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $21,953 $22,765 $30,001 - $48k $22,866 $23,712 $48,001 - $75k $26,741 $27,730 $75,001 - $110k $32,175 $33,366 $110,001+ $32,715 $33,926 -
Spring Hill College
Mobile Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $39,464 $40,648 Room and Board $13,462 $13,652 Books $1,500 $1,500 Other Expenses $3,250 $3,262 Total $57,676 $59,062 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $18,332 $18,773 $30,001 - $48k $21,052 $21,558 $48,001 - $75k $19,684 $20,157 $75,001 - $110k $24,147 $24,727 $110,001+ $26,127 $26,755 -
Stillman College
Tuscaloosa Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $11,092 $11,292 Room and Board $7,394 $10,194 Books $2,034 $2,034 Other Expenses $4,572 $4,572 Total $25,092 $28,092 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $17,814 $19,944 $30,001 - $48k $17,819 $19,949 $48,001 - $75k $20,378 $22,814 $75,001 - $110k $19,858 $22,232 $110,001+ $24,352 $27,264 -
Talladega College
Talladega Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $13,571 $13,846 Room and Board $6,704 $8,872 Books $1,370 $1,570 Other Expenses $2,100 $4,100 Total $23,745 $28,388 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $15,550 $18,591 $30,001 - $48k $16,635 $19,888 $48,001 - $75k $16,866 $20,164 $75,001 - $110k $0 $0 $110,001+ $0 $0 -
Tuskegee University
Tuskegee Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $22,170 $22,614 Room and Board $9,650 $9,844 Books $1,656 $1,812 Other Expenses $5,907 $6,480 Total $39,383 $40,750 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $34,799 $36,007 $30,001 - $48k $33,827 $35,001 $48,001 - $75k $34,515 $35,713 $75,001 - $110k $34,771 $35,978 $110,001+ $0 $0
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