Head-to-head comparison
University of Alabama at Birmingham vs Spring Hill College: which has better ROI?
Option A Birmingham, AL
University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Net price / year
- $18,749
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,501
- Payback
- 12.2 yrs
Option B Mobile, AL
Spring Hill College
- Net price / year
- $20,449
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,500
- Payback
- 26 yrs
University of Alabama at Birmingham has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $74,996 in 12.2 years versus 26 years at Spring Hill College, on median earnings of $54,501 vs $51,500 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Alabama at Birmingham | Spring Hill College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,749 | $20,449 |
| Total net cost | $74,996 | $81,796 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $54,501 | $51,500 |
| Median debt | $22,300 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 12.2 yrs | 26 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $47,824 | -$18,996 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Alabama at Birmingham or Spring Hill College?
University of Alabama at Birmingham, at $18,749 a year after aid versus $20,449 — a gap of $1,700 a year, or $6,800 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 University of Alabama at Birmingham or Spring Hill College graduates earn more?
University of Alabama at Birmingham graduates report a median $54,501 ten years after entry, $3,001 more than the $51,500 at Spring Hill College. 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, University of Alabama at Birmingham or Spring Hill College?
University of Alabama at Birmingham: its completers carry a median $22,300 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Spring Hill College, a difference of $4,700. 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?
64% of students finish at University of Alabama at Birmingham, against 52% at Spring Hill College. 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.