Auburn University is an excellent choice for academically strong students who can handle selective admissions and want reliable long-term earnings from a respected flagship institution. It's particularly well-suited for students interested in engineering, business, or professional programs who value the combination of strong alumni networks, solid career outcomes, and the traditional college experience at a large research university in the Southeast.
Auburn University graduates consistently earn more than typical public university alumni, with median earnings that place the institution among the top performers nationally.
The university's strong outcomes extend across income groups, delivering meaningful economic advancement even for the limited number of low-income students it serves.
Auburn University ranks among the top public institutions nationally, delivering strong long-term value through a combination of solid earnings outcomes and reasonable costs. With an 86th percentile ranking for overall return on investment, Auburn consistently produces graduates who earn well above typical levels for public university alumni. The university serves as a classic example of a selective public flagship, admitting students with strong academic credentials and converting that selectivity into meaningful career advantages.
Auburn's graduates earn a median of $65,337 ten years after enrollment, placing the institution in the top tier nationally for long-term earnings. This performance reflects the university's strength across professional programs, particularly in engineering, business, and other career-focused fields that connect directly to Alabama's growing economy and broader regional job markets.
As a large research university with deep roots in Alabama, Auburn combines the resources and recognition of a major flagship with the focused mission of preparing students for professional success. The university's "Selective Achievers" designation reflects its ability to maintain high academic standards while delivering strong economic outcomes for the students it enrolls.
Auburn University's program portfolio balances large-enrollment professional degrees with specialized technical programs that deliver exceptional individual returns. Business Administration dominates with 515 graduates and represents Auburn's largest pathway to career success, combining substantial scale with solid median earnings around $48,432. This program serves as Auburn's primary pipeline into corporate careers throughout the Southeast and beyond.
Engineering programs showcase Auburn's technical strength and highest earning potential. Chemical Engineering graduates earn approximately $74,576, demonstrating the premium that technical expertise commands in the job market. Other engineering disciplines maintain similarly strong outcomes, reflecting Auburn's reputation as a leading engineering school and the consistent demand for technical talent in Alabama's growing industrial economy.
Biology, with 369 graduates, represents Auburn's largest science program but shows more modest early earnings at $27,048, typical for a foundational field that often serves as preparation for medical school, graduate study, or other professional programs. The program's size reflects Auburn's role in preparing students for health professions and research careers, even if immediate earnings don't match the technical programs. This mix of high-earning engineering, substantial business enrollment, and foundational sciences creates Auburn's distinctive academic profile and explains the university's strong overall earnings performance.
Auburn University graduates achieve strong long-term financial outcomes, with median earnings of $65,337 ten years after enrollment. This places Auburn in the 86th percentile nationally for graduate earnings, reflecting the university's consistent ability to prepare students for well-paying careers across multiple industries. The earnings performance is particularly impressive given Auburn's broad academic portfolio, which spans engineering, business, agriculture, liberal arts, and professional programs.
Program-level outcomes vary significantly by field of study. Business Administration, Auburn's largest program with 515 graduates, produces strong aggregate returns with median earnings around $48,432. Chemical Engineering leads in individual earnings potential at approximately $74,576, demonstrating Auburn's particular strength in technical fields. Biology, while popular with 369 graduates, shows more modest early earnings at $27,048, typical for a foundational science that often leads to graduate school or professional programs.
Auburn's engineering programs consistently deliver some of the highest returns, with Chemical Engineering graduates earning well above the university median. The university's business programs also perform strongly, combining substantial enrollment with solid earnings outcomes. This mix of high-earning technical programs and large-scale professional degrees helps explain Auburn's strong overall earnings performance and reputation among employers throughout the Southeast and beyond.
Auburn University offers reasonable affordability for families across income levels, though costs increase notably for higher-income households. Low-income students pay approximately $16,332 annually after aid, which sits around the national average for public universities. Middle-income families see net prices around $21,834, while high-income families pay about $29,310 per year, reflecting Auburn's typical public university pricing structure.
Debt levels at Auburn are manageable relative to the earnings outcomes graduates achieve. Typical federal student loan debt is $21,000, a reasonable amount given the university's strong earnings track record. Parent PLUS borrowing averages $38,339, which is higher than many public institutions but reflects Auburn's appeal to middle- and upper-middle-class families who are willing to invest more heavily in their children's education.
What makes Auburn's costs sustainable is the strong earning power of its graduates. With median earnings exceeding $65,000 ten years out, most borrowers can comfortably handle standard loan repayment schedules. The university's loan repayment data shows that borrowers make steady progress paying down their balances, with payoff rates that consistently exceed national averages, indicating that Auburn graduates generally have the financial capacity to service their educational debt effectively.
Auburn University Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
