Head-to-head comparison
The University of Alabama vs Auburn University: which has better ROI?
Option A Tuscaloosa, AL
The University of Alabama
- Net price / year
- $22,420
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,221
- Payback
- 8.3 yrs
Option B Auburn, AL
Auburn University
- Net price / year
- $24,323
- Earnings, 10 years
- $65,337
- Payback
- 5.7 yrs
Auburn University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $97,292 in 5.7 years versus 8.3 years at The University of Alabama, on median earnings of $65,337 vs $59,221 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | The University of Alabama | Auburn University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,420 | $24,323 |
| Total net cost | $89,680 | $97,292 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $59,221 | $65,337 |
| Median debt | $22,750 | $21,000 |
| Payback | 8.3 yrs | 5.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $127,540 | $242,248 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, The University of Alabama or Auburn University?
The University of Alabama, at $22,420 a year after aid versus $24,323 — a gap of $1,903 a year, or $7,612 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do The University of Alabama or Auburn University graduates earn more?
Auburn University graduates report a median $65,337 ten years after entry, $6,116 more than the $59,221 at The University of Alabama. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, The University of Alabama or Auburn University?
Auburn University: its completers carry a median $21,000 in federal loans versus $22,750 at The University of Alabama, a difference of $1,750. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
82% of students finish at Auburn University, against 73% at The University of Alabama. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.