Auburn University at Montgomery provides accessible, affordable higher education to students who might not otherwise attend college, with particularly strong outcomes in nursing and health sciences.
The university combines reasonable costs with solid career preparation, especially for students entering healthcare and education fields.
Auburn University at Montgomery ranks in the middle tier of public four-year institutions nationwide, offering solid access and affordability while working to strengthen graduate outcomes. Nearly 43% of students receive Pell Grants and 38% are first-generation college students, reflecting the university's commitment to serving diverse populations in central Alabama. The institution maintains reasonable net prices across income levels, with low-income students paying about $13,000 annually.
As a medium-sized public university, AUM provides a more intimate educational environment than larger flagship institutions while maintaining the resources and program breadth of a comprehensive university. The university shows particular strength in nursing and health sciences programs, which consistently produce graduates with strong earning potential and career stability.
While overall graduate earnings place AUM in the lower tier nationally, the university serves an important role in the Alabama higher education landscape by providing accessible, affordable education to students who might not otherwise attend college. For many students, particularly those in nursing and education programs, AUM offers a pathway to stable middle-class careers with manageable debt levels.
Auburn University at Montgomery's program portfolio reflects its mission as a comprehensive regional university with particular strength in health sciences and professional preparation. The Adult Health Nursing program stands out as both the largest and most successful, graduating 155 students annually with median earnings of $53,269 that significantly exceed the institutional average. This program represents the university's strongest economic engine, combining substantial enrollment with solid financial outcomes for graduates.
Education programs, including Adult and Continuing Education, enroll significant numbers of students and prepare graduates for stable careers in Alabama's educational system, though earnings are more modest at around $37,208. Specialized health programs like Blood Bank Technology demonstrate the university's commitment to training healthcare professionals, with graduates earning competitive salaries around $45,314 despite smaller program sizes.
The university's program mix emphasizes practical, career-focused education that prepares students for employment in Alabama's key industries. While not all programs deliver high earnings, they provide pathways to stable employment and serve the workforce development needs of the central Alabama region, particularly in healthcare and education sectors where demand remains strong.
Auburn University at Montgomery graduates earn a median of $44,391 ten years after enrollment, placing the university in the lower tier nationally for long-term earnings outcomes. However, this figure masks significant variation by program, with nursing graduates earning substantially more at around $53,269, while education majors typically see more modest returns around $37,208. The university shows a small positive earnings advantage compared with similar institutions, suggesting graduates perform slightly better than expected given the student population served.
The strongest financial outcomes come from the university's health sciences programs, particularly nursing, which represents the largest and most successful program with 155 graduates annually. Adult Health Nursing delivers both high enrollment and strong earnings, making it a key economic driver for the institution. Other health-related programs like Blood Bank Technology also show solid early-career earnings around $45,314, though with smaller enrollment numbers.
While AUM's overall earnings lag behind many public universities, the institution provides reliable pathways to stable careers, particularly in healthcare and education. For students entering these fields, the combination of affordable education costs and predictable career outcomes creates a reasonable return on investment, even if the absolute earnings levels are more modest than at higher-ranked institutions.
Auburn University at Montgomery offers strong affordability across income levels, making higher education accessible to a broad range of Alabama families. Low-income students pay approximately $13,000 annually in net price, well below many public university averages, while middle-income families face costs around $16,689 per year. Even higher-income families see reasonable net prices at about $16,075, creating predictable and manageable costs across the income spectrum.
Debt levels remain moderate and sustainable for most graduates. Typical federal student loan debt is $25,000, which aligns with national averages, while Parent PLUS borrowing averages about $10,022 for families who choose this option. The university maintains a 0% federal loan default rate, indicating that graduates generally manage their debt obligations successfully despite more modest earnings levels.
What makes AUM particularly affordable is the combination of reasonable upfront costs and manageable debt loads. While graduate earnings are more modest than at higher-ranked institutions, the debt-to-income ratios remain workable for most students, particularly those entering stable fields like nursing and education where employment prospects are strong and predictable.
Auburn University At Montgomery Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
