Alabama State University
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and students who prefer a mid-size campus. graduation rate is below 40%; median debt is moderately high. 71% of students receive Pell Grants — strong access mission.
About This School
Alabama State University is a public institution located in Montgomery, Alabama with approximately 3,477 undergraduate students enrolled. Alabama State University has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 98%. The average net price after financial aid is $20,435 per year. The graduation rate is 30%, and the typical graduate earns $30,600 within 10 years of enrollment.
Alabama State University is a public historically Black university (HBCU) in Montgomery, Alabama, United States. Founded in 1867 during the Reconstruction era, it was one of about 180 "normal schools" established by state governments in the 19th century to train teachers for the rapidly growing public common schools. It was one of 23 established to train African Americans to teach in segregated schools. ASU is a member-school of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: at $13,889 per year and a 96% acceptance rate, this HBCU in Montgomery offers an accessible entry point with real cultural and historical value — but the 30% graduation rate and a freshman retention rate of just 60% signal that a majority of students who start here don't finish. Median earnings of $30,600 a decade after enrollment are modest, so think carefully about borrowing, even though the debt levels are relatively reasonable. Worth considering if you have a clear plan, a support system, and a specific reason to be here — but it demands intentionality.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 8% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
Alabama State University graduates earn most above the national rate in Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($51,014 vs $47,382 nationally), and most below it in Information Science/Studies ($53,416 vs $85,294).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology, General | 57 | $46,370 | $57,214 | −$10,844 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 41 | $37,576 | $55,693 | −$18,117 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 36 | $45,173 | $55,378 | −$10,205 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 31 | $40,152 | $55,792 | −$15,640 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 28 | $63,070 | $76,194 | −$13,124 |
| Social Work | 28 | $43,661 | $51,790 | −$8,129 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 26 | $38,566 | $56,359 | −$17,793 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 23 | $46,126 | $68,257 | −$22,131 |
| Psychology, General | 21 | $41,766 | $50,706 | −$8,940 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 19 | $51,014 | $47,382 | +$3,632 |
| Information Science/Studies | 17 | $53,416 | $85,294 | −$31,878 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 15 | $46,629 | $51,389 | −$4,760 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Worth scrutinizing. Median earnings relative to debt are tight.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (3,477 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Schools Like This in Alabama
Shelton State Community College
Tuscaloosa, AL · Public
University of West Alabama
Livingston, AL · Public
Gadsden State Community College
Gadsden, AL · Public
Athens State University
Athens, AL · Public
George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville
Hanceville, AL · Public
Auburn University at Montgomery
Montgomery, AL · Public
See How Colleges Compare
Alabama State University is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Alabama State University?
Alabama State University has an acceptance rate of 98%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Alabama State University hard to get into?
Not especially. Alabama State University has an acceptance rate of 98%, so admissions are relatively accessible for applicants who meet the requirements.
How much does Alabama State University cost?
The average net price at Alabama State University is about $20,435 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Alabama State University?
Alabama State University has a graduation rate of 30%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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