Head-to-head comparison
University of West Alabama vs Auburn University at Montgomery: which has better ROI?
Option A Livingston, AL
University of West Alabama
- Net price / year
- $12,684
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,232
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Montgomery, AL
Auburn University at Montgomery
- Net price / year
- $13,224
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,391
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Auburn University at Montgomery comes closer — median earnings $44,391 against a $52,896 total, vs $44,232 at University of West Alabama. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of West Alabama | Auburn University at Montgomery |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,684 | $13,224 |
| Total net cost | $50,736 | $52,896 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,232 | $44,391 |
| Median debt | $24,944 | $25,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$133,296 | -$132,276 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of West Alabama or Auburn University at Montgomery?
University of West Alabama, at $12,684 a year after aid versus $13,224 — a gap of $540 a year, or $2,160 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 West Alabama or Auburn University at Montgomery graduates earn more?
Auburn University at Montgomery graduates report a median $44,391 ten years after entry, $159 more than the $44,232 at University of West 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, University of West Alabama or Auburn University at Montgomery?
University of West Alabama: its completers carry a median $24,944 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Auburn University at Montgomery, a difference of $56. 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?
35% of students finish at University of West Alabama, against 33% at Auburn University at Montgomery. 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.