LSU-A&M vs The University of Alabama (UA)

Louisiana State University (LSU) and The University of Alabama (UA) are two prominent public universities in the Southeastern United States, each offering a unique educational experience. LSU, located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is known for its strong programs in engineering, agriculture, and business, while UA, situated in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, excels in business, education, and nursing. With acceptance rates of 79% and 81%, respectively, both universities are moderately selective, attracting a diverse student body from across the nation. While LSU boasts a slightly higher graduation rate of 68% compared to UA's 66%, both institutions provide ample opportunities for students to succeed academically and professionally. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details about these two esteemed universities and determine which one aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College logo

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

The University of Alabama logo

The University of Alabama

Overview

Location Baton Rouge, Louisiana Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Campus setting City: Midsize City: Small
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 83.0% 89.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 70.9% 78.9%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $50
Undergraduate: $40

Graduate: $65
SAT range 1130 - 1320 1070 - 1370
ACT range 23 - 29 21 - 31
Students submitting SAT score 12.0% 17.0%
Students submitting ACT score 88.0% 63.0%
Total number of applicants 36,561 42,421
Total number of admissions given out 25,907 33,472
Admitted students who chose to enroll 7,045 7,593
Yield rate 27.2% 22.7%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $35,810

Out of state: $52,487
In state: $31,024

Out of state: $50,494
Average net price $21,010 $21,263
Tuition $8,038
In state: $10,780

Out of state: $30,250
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $8,720

Meal plan: $4,434
Room/dormitory: $5,900

Meal plan: $4,234
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

93.0%
Average amount $13,235
76.0%
Average amount $16,363
Students receiving federal student loan 29.0%
Average amount $5,433
37.0%
Average amount $5,221
Students taking out private loans 4.0%
Average amount $19,954
9.0%
Average amount $23,617

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 29,273
Men 45.3% Women 54.7%
31,685
Men 43.5% Women 56.5%
Graduate students 6,639
Men 39.7% Women 60.3%
6,631
Men 36.9% Women 63.1%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students 32.6% 62.2%
International students 4.2% 3.0%
Campus local/setting City: Midsize City: Small
Dormitory capacity 8,657 9,385
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Louisiana Texas Georgia Florida California Alabama Georgia Illinois Texas Tennessee

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Education
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Family and Consumer Sciences
  • Education
Students to faculty ratio 22:1 19:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 69.0% 72.2%
Dropout rate 29.0% 7.7%
Transferred out N/A 18.8%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Veterinary Medicine (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $76,490
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $88,967
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $80,305
  • Year 2: $76,460
  • Year 3: $87,944
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,811
  • Year 2: $71,402
  • Year 3: $83,027
Petroleum Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $75,560
  • Year 2: $60,099
  • Year 3: $80,274
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $74,032
  • Year 2: $68,965
  • Year 3: $79,563
Construction Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,541
  • Year 2: $67,101
  • Year 3: $77,603
International Business (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $39,643
  • Year 2: $43,575
  • Year 3: $69,597
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,301
  • Year 2: $61,330
  • Year 3: $68,763
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,429
  • Year 2: $52,107
  • Year 3: $67,944
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,915
  • Year 2: $55,964
  • Year 3: $65,757
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $104,741
  • Year 2: $119,061
  • Year 3: $121,674
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $84,175
  • Year 2: $84,653
  • Year 3: $101,082
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $78,913
  • Year 2: $80,004
  • Year 3: $96,574
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $80,715
  • Year 2: $91,744
  • Year 3: $89,742
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,858
  • Year 2: $71,015
  • Year 3: $83,044
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,725
  • Year 2: $75,832
  • Year 3: $82,831
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $75,975
  • Year 2: $75,921
  • Year 3: $82,382
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $93,535
  • Year 2: $90,412
  • Year 3: $81,427
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,760
  • Year 2: $65,281
  • Year 3: $76,647
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,913
  • Year 2: $60,771
  • Year 3: $76,479