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Source: National Center for Educational Statistics. This is the most recent data available as of January 2023
Questions & Answers
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 2020-21 school year, which is the latest available as of January 2023.
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.
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 $19,624 and the average private school would be $24,084. You can also get information on specific Alabama schools in the chart above or the tables below.
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.
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.
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.
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 (2020-21) | |
|---|---|
| Tuition and Fees | $11,620 |
| Room and Board | $13,810 |
| Books | $1,000 |
| Other Expenses | $4,620 |
| Total | $31,050 |
Total Cost:
Total cost is the total cost of attendance for that particular institution for the 2020-21 school year. This is the latest data available as of January 2023. 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 $25,197 | AL Private $38,569 |
| $0 - $30k | $13,837 | $18,716 |
| $30,001 – $48k | $15,101 | $18,918 |
| $48,001 – $75k | $17,491 | $22,467 |
| $75,001 – $110k | $19,624 | $24,084 |
| $110,001+ | $20,020 | $25,400 |
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 $4,000-$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
-
Alabama A & M University
Normal Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $10,024 $10,024 Room and Board $9,240 $9,520 Books $1,600 $1,600 Other Expenses $3,090 $3,090 Total $23,954 $24,234 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,177 $12,319 $30,001 - $48k $12,300 $12,444 $48,001 - $75k $15,508 $15,689 $75,001 - $110k $16,707 $16,902 $110,001+ $18,857 $19,077 -
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $8,568 $8,568 Room and Board $12,307 $12,307 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $5,555 $5,555 Total $27,630 $27,630 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,862 $13,862 $30,001 - $48k $15,370 $15,370 $48,001 - $75k $16,847 $16,847 $75,001 - $110k $18,230 $18,230 $110,001+ $20,054 $20,054 -
University of Alabama in Huntsville
Huntsville Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $11,338 $11,488 Room and Board $10,652 $10,764 Books $2,200 $2,300 Other Expenses $4,076 $4,156 Total $28,266 $28,708 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,654 $14,883 $30,001 - $48k $14,646 $14,875 $48,001 - $75k $18,572 $18,862 $75,001 - $110k $19,206 $19,506 $110,001+ $19,423 $19,727 -
Alabama State University
Montgomery Year 2020-21 2021-22 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 $12,877 $12,877 $30,001 - $48k $14,170 $14,170 $48,001 - $75k $13,992 $13,992 $75,001 - $110k $20,568 $20,568 $110,001+ $21,938 $21,938 -
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $11,620 $11,620 Room and Board $13,810 $13,934 Books $1,000 $800 Other Expenses $4,620 $4,670 Total $31,050 $31,024 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $18,338 $18,323 $30,001 - $48k $20,121 $20,104 $48,001 - $75k $21,957 $21,939 $75,001 - $110k $23,830 $23,810 $110,001+ $24,948 $24,927 -
Auburn University at Montgomery
Montgomery Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $8,860 $8,860 Room and Board $6,980 $7,368 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $3,830 $3,830 Total $20,870 $21,258 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,565 $12,799 $30,001 - $48k $13,773 $14,029 $48,001 - $75k $15,661 $15,952 $75,001 - $110k $17,249 $17,570 $110,001+ $15,387 $15,673
-
Auburn University
Auburn Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $11,796 $11,826 Room and Board $13,778 $14,596 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $5,904 $6,028 Total $32,678 $33,650 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $16,701 $17,198 $30,001 - $48k $19,313 $19,887 $48,001 - $75k $22,379 $23,045 $75,001 - $110k $24,989 $25,732 $110,001+ $26,836 $27,634 -
Jacksonville State University
Jacksonville Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $11,120 $11,120 Room and Board $8,110 $8,320 Books $1,196 $1,196 Other Expenses $2,003 $1,997 Total $22,429 $22,633 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $16,017 $16,163 $30,001 - $48k $17,293 $17,450 $48,001 - $75k $20,335 $20,520 $75,001 - $110k $21,862 $22,061 $110,001+ $22,023 $22,223 -
University of West Alabama
Livingston Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $10,990 $10,990 Room and Board $7,510 $7,594 Books $1,216 $1,216 Other Expenses $3,505 $3,505 Total $23,221 $23,305 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,938 $14,992 $30,001 - $48k $16,479 $16,539 $48,001 - $75k $17,186 $17,248 $75,001 - $110k $18,235 $18,301 $110,001+ $17,032 $17,094 -
University of Montevallo
Montevallo Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $13,710 $13,710 Room and Board $9,810 $9,936 Books $1,020 $1,020 Other Expenses $3,180 $3,180 Total $27,720 $27,846 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,937 $14,000 $30,001 - $48k $16,120 $16,193 $48,001 - $75k $19,582 $19,671 $75,001 - $110k $21,091 $21,187 $110,001+ $21,633 $21,731 -
University of North Alabama
Florence Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $10,620 $10,620 Room and Board $7,966 $7,966 Books $1,500 $1,500 Other Expenses $2,800 $2,800 Total $22,886 $22,886 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $10,228 $10,228 $30,001 - $48k $10,828 $10,828 $48,001 - $75k $12,956 $12,956 $75,001 - $110k $15,356 $15,356 $110,001+ $15,388 $15,388 -
University of South Alabama
Mobile Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $8,396 $8,756 Room and Board $7,900 $8,150 Books $1,200 $1,300 Other Expenses $5,370 $4,762 Total $22,866 $22,968 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $11,305 $11,355 $30,001 - $48k $12,976 $13,034 $48,001 - $75k $17,403 $17,481 $75,001 - $110k $21,560 $21,656 $110,001+ $22,139 $22,238 -
Troy University
Troy Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $8,908 $9,312 Room and Board $6,904 $7,599 Books $1,300 $1,300 Other Expenses $4,766 $4,766 Total $21,878 $22,977 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,287 $12,904 $30,001 - $48k $12,921 $13,570 $48,001 - $75k $14,999 $15,752 $75,001 - $110k $16,223 $17,038 $110,001+ $14,597 $15,330
Private AL Schools Cost Breakdown
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Birmingham Southern College
Birmingham Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $18,900 $20,100 Room and Board $12,900 $13,600 Books $1,260 $1,000 Other Expenses $2,770 $2,770 Total $35,830 $37,470 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $17,500 $18,301 $30,001 - $48k $17,302 $18,094 $48,001 - $75k $17,602 $18,408 $75,001 - $110k $21,925 $22,929 $110,001+ $23,073 $24,129 -
Faulkner University
Montgomery Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $22,990 $23,490 Room and Board $8,100 $7,900 Books $1,800 $1,800 Other Expenses $4,400 $4,400 Total $37,290 $37,590 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $19,051 $19,204 $30,001 - $48k $19,477 $19,634 $48,001 - $75k $19,901 $20,061 $75,001 - $110k $22,116 $22,294 $110,001+ $22,580 $22,762 -
Huntingdon College
Montgomery Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $27,900 $27,900 Room and Board $10,150 $10,460 Books $300 $300 Other Expenses $2,068 $2,068 Total $40,418 $40,728 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $19,670 $19,821 $30,001 - $48k $20,339 $20,495 $48,001 - $75k $24,665 $24,854 $75,001 - $110k $26,257 $26,458 $110,001+ $24,617 $24,806 -
Miles College
Fairfield Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $12,714 $12,714 Room and Board $7,348 $7,348 Books $250 $250 Other Expenses $2,832 $2,832 Total $23,144 $23,144 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,181 $14,181 $30,001 - $48k $15,434 $15,434 $48,001 - $75k $17,921 $17,921 $75,001 - $110k $16,509 $16,509 $110,001+ $19,145 $19,145 -
University of Mobile
Mobile Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $24,310 $24,855 Room and Board $9,886 $10,088 Books $1,800 $1,800 Other Expenses $4,750 $4,750 Total $40,746 $41,493 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,325 $14,588 $30,001 - $48k $15,600 $15,886 $48,001 - $75k $22,093 $22,498 $75,001 - $110k $21,348 $21,739 $110,001+ $22,464 $22,876
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Oakwood University
Huntsville Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $19,990 $19,990 Room and Board $9,374 $9,374 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $6,800 $8,000 Total $37,364 $38,564 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $20,804 $21,472 $30,001 - $48k $20,643 $21,306 $48,001 - $75k $22,871 $23,606 $75,001 - $110k $24,659 $25,451 $110,001+ $26,791 $27,651 -
Samford University
Birmingham Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $34,198 $35,360 Room and Board $11,260 $11,260 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $4,856 $4,894 Total $51,314 $52,514 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $22,382 $22,905 $30,001 - $48k $24,416 $24,987 $48,001 - $75k $28,936 $29,613 $75,001 - $110k $30,577 $31,292 $110,001+ $34,207 $35,007 -
Spring Hill College
Mobile Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $41,868 $21,100 Room and Board $14,062 $11,440 Books $1,750 $1,750 Other Expenses $2,863 $2,714 Total $60,543 $37,004 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,620 $8,936 $30,001 - $48k $13,532 $8,271 $48,001 - $75k $20,078 $12,272 $75,001 - $110k $24,328 $14,869 $110,001+ $26,939 $16,465 -
Stillman College
Tuscaloosa Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $11,322 $11,392 Room and Board $10,054 $10,054 Books $2,034 $2,034 Other Expenses $4,572 $4,572 Total $27,982 $28,052 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $15,225 $15,263 $30,001 - $48k $17,677 $17,721 $48,001 - $75k $20,666 $20,718 $75,001 - $110k $22,773 $22,830 $110,001+ $23,340 $23,398 -
Talladega College
Talladega Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $13,866 $13,886 Room and Board $8,934 $8,934 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $2,100 $2,100 Total $27,700 $27,720 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,099 $13,108 $30,001 - $48k $13,035 $13,044 $48,001 - $75k $15,556 $15,567 $75,001 - $110k $16,198 $16,210 $110,001+ $17,433 $17,446 -
Tuskegee University
Tuskegee Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $22,614 $22,614 Room and Board $9,844 $9,844 Books $1,812 $1,812 Other Expenses $7,654 $7,654 Total $41,924 $41,924 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $35,020 $35,020 $30,001 - $48k $30,638 $30,638 $48,001 - $75k $36,852 $36,852 $75,001 - $110k $38,229 $38,229 $110,001+ $38,809 $38,809
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