Wayne State vs University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)
Wayne State University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) stand as two distinct academic institutions, each offering unique opportunities and experiences to their students. Wayne State, located in the heart of Detroit, Michigan, boasts a diverse student body and a wide range of academic programs, while UAB, situated in the vibrant city of Birmingham, Alabama, is renowned for its strong research focus and its commitment to community engagement. With acceptance rates of 79% and 84% respectively, both universities welcome a substantial number of applicants each year. While Wayne State's student body is predominantly undergraduate, UAB has a larger graduate student population. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details about these universities, including popular majors, graduation rates, and additional factors that may influence your decision in choosing the best fit for your academic and personal aspirations.
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![]() University of Alabama at Birmingham |
![]() Wayne State University |
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Overview |
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Location | Birmingham, Alabama | Detroit, Michigan |
Campus setting | City: Midsize | City: Large |
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 | 84.0% | 81.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 88.5% | 63.3% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$40
Graduate:
$50
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Undergraduate:
$25
Graduate:
$50
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SAT range | 1173 - 1388 | 1030 - 1260 |
ACT range | 23 - 30 | 22 - 28 |
Students submitting SAT score | 7.0% | 48.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 65.0% | 7.0% |
Total number of applicants | 11,906 | 15,181 |
Total number of admissions given out | 10,541 | 9,603 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 2,415 | 2,732 |
Yield rate | 22.9% | 28.4% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$27,630
Out of state:
$39,462
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In state:
$32,193
Out of state:
$48,163
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Average net price | $16,990 | $15,710 |
Tuition |
In state:
$8,568
Out of state:
$20,400
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In state:
$12,376
Out of state:
$28,346
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$7,767
Meal plan:
$4,540
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Room/dormitory:
$7,463
Meal plan:
$4,280
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
93.0%
Average amount $10,940 |
98.0%
Average amount $10,091 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
46.0%
Average amount $5,208 |
38.0%
Average amount $4,807 |
Students taking out private loans |
5.0%
Average amount $14,247 |
3.0%
Average amount $11,147 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
13,547
Men 37.9% Women 62.1% |
16,839
Men 40.6% Women 59.4% |
Graduate students |
8,742
Men 34.1% Women 65.9% |
8,080
Men 40.0% Women 60.0% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 16.8% | 1.8% |
International students | 5.0% | 4.4% |
Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 3,480 | 3,192 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Alabama Georgia Tennessee Louisiana Florida | Michigan Ohio Illinois New York Washington |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 19:1 | 14:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 62.4% | 55.8% |
Dropout rate | 16.5% | 38.5% |
Transferred out | 17.9% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
Systems Science and Theory (Master's Degrees)
Optometry (First Professional Degrees)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Management Information Systems and Services (Master's Degrees)
Engineering, General (Master's Degrees)
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Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctoral Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Civil Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
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