Alabama A&M University combines broad educational access with measurable earnings uplift. As an Under-Resourced Institution, the university serves 64.4% Pell-eligible students while generating $2,363 in earnings beyond expectations, supporting economic mobility for diverse student populations.
Placing it modestly below average due to absolute earnings levels relative to educational investment
Around the national average, reflecting balanced cost management
With top-tier performance, reflecting the university's mission to serve Pell-eligible and first-generation students
With well above average outcomes, indicating effective conversion of educational opportunity into economic advancement
Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Full AnalysisAlabama A&M University demonstrates strong value creation through earnings beyond expectations relative to student demographics and institutional resources. Graduates earn a median of $40,628 ten years after enrollment, with earnings ranging from $23,030 at the 25th percentile to $60,507 at the 75th percentile.
The institution generates $2,363 in earnings beyond expectations, placing it at the 65.1st percentile nationally on this key value measure. Low-income graduates earn $33,000, reflecting solid outcomes for students from lower-income backgrounds.
Students seeking strong access to higher education at a public HBCU, particularly first-generation college students and those from lower-income backgrounds. Alabama A&M University's high Pell enrollment and above-average earnings uplift make it well-suited for students prioritizing economic mobility over absolute earnings levels.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
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This is the Alabama A & M University hub overview page. For comprehensive institutional data including detailed charts and metrics, visit the full analysis at /school/alabama-a-m-university/analysis.
Top-tier access with strong mobility outcomes
Alabama A&M University ranks #378 nationally in Azimuth's composite analysis, with composite performance at the 76.8th percentile. Located in Normal, Alabama, this medium-sized public historically black university maintains moderately selective admission standards with a 66.2% acceptance rate while delivering above-average earnings growth relative to student backgrounds.
Alabama A&M enrolls 64.4% Pell-eligible students and 36.6% first-generation students, placing it well above typical peers on access measures. Graduates earn $2,363 beyond expectations relative to similar students, ranking at the 65.1st percentile nationally.
Median earnings reach $40,628 ten years after enrollment, accompanied by above-average earnings growth of 45.9% from the six-year mark. This combination of strong access, controlled selectivity, and positive earnings uplift positions Alabama A&M within the Under-Resourced Institutions category, where schools serve diverse student populations while working to optimize outcomes.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Alabama A&M University's published cost of attendance reaches $23,751 per year, including $18,634 in out-of-state tuition (or $10,024 for Alabama residents), $11,402 for room and board, and $2,192 for books and supplies. However, the average student pays just $14,559 after financial aid, representing savings of $9,192 from the sticker price.
This net price falls slightly below the peer median of $14,093, positioning Alabama A&M as competitively priced within its peer group. The substantial gap between sticker price and net price reflects the university's commitment to making education accessible for students from diverse economic backgrounds.
Net prices vary significantly by family income, ranging from $13,776 for families earning under $30,000 to $18,200 for those earning over $110,000. This progressive pricing structure aligns with Alabama A&M's mission to serve students from lower-income families, with 64.4% of students receiving Pell grants.
The cost structure reflects typical public university patterns, with significant state subsidies reducing net costs below published prices, particularly for in-state residents.
Alabama A&M University graduates demonstrate substantial earnings growth over time, with outcomes improving significantly from early to mid-career. Median earnings rise from $27,851 six years after enrollment to $31,992 at eight years and $40,628 at ten years, representing 45.9% growth from the six-year mark.
These outcomes are based on a ten-year cohort of 1,727 graduates, providing solid confidence in the reported figures. Graduates earn $2,363 beyond expectations compared to similar students nationally, placing Alabama A&M at the 65.1st percentile for earnings uplift.
Low-income graduates earn $33,000, demonstrating the university's ability to support economic mobility for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Earnings span from $23,030 at the 25th percentile to $60,507 at the 75th percentile, reflecting a 2.6:1 ratio between top and bottom quartiles.
Approximately 19.7% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating balanced preparation for both workforce entry and advanced education pathways.
Alabama A&M University admits approximately 66.2% of applicants, meaning roughly 2 in 3 applicants receive an offer of admission. This places Alabama A&M within the moderately selective category, with admission rates between 50-75%.
The peer median admission rate of 84.6% highlights that Alabama A&M maintains more selective standards than typical institutions serving similar student populations. This level of selectivity means that academically prepared students have reasonable admission prospects, though the university maintains standards that require demonstrated academic readiness.
Students should expect some competitive pressure in the admission process, particularly for popular programs like engineering and business. The 66.2% admission rate indicates that while most qualified applicants gain admission, the university exercises meaningful selectivity in building its entering class.
For prospective students, this selectivity level suggests the importance of presenting a complete application that demonstrates academic preparation and alignment with the university's mission. Students should approach Alabama A&M as a target school if their academic credentials align with admitted student profiles, while maintaining backup options with higher acceptance rates.
Electrical and Electronics Engineering.
33 graduates
Mechanical Engineering.
41 graduates
Artificial Intelligence.
20 graduates
Business Administration and Management, General.
57 graduates
Civil Engineering, General.
18 graduates
Alabama A&M University offers 10 bachelor's degree programs with sufficient federal earnings data for analysis. Electrical and Electronics Engineering ranks #172 nationally and #6 in Alabama, producing 33 graduates with median earnings of $75,489 and a value score of 12.8.
Mechanical Engineering ranks #201 nationally and #6 in Alabama, graduating 41 students with median earnings of $70,527. Artificial Intelligence ranks #153 nationally and #6 in Alabama, with 20 graduates earning $68,138.
Business Administration and Management ranks #271 nationally and #4 in Alabama, graduating 57 students with median earnings of $51,283. Psychology, General achieves the #1 ranking in Alabama, graduating 27 students with median earnings of $41,597.
Biology, General represents the largest program by enrollment, graduating 75 students annually with median earnings of $38,526, reflecting strong student demand in the life sciences.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Tennessee State University Higher acceptance rate (26.4 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 97 miles away; similar graduate earnings | TN | 93% | $42,730 | Compare |
The University Of Tennessee Southern Higher acceptance rate (16.5 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 39 miles away; similar graduate earnings | TN | 83% | $38,924 | Compare |
University Of North Alabama Higher acceptance rate (30.3 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 63 miles away; similar graduate earnings | AL | 96% | $45,415 | Compare |
West Virginia State University Higher acceptance rate (30.1 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | WV | 96% | $40,492 | Compare |
Coker University Higher acceptance rate (31 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | SC | 97% | $40,117 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
State University Of New York At Cortland Similar quality tier (#369 ranked) | NY | 51% | $60,236 | #369 | Compare |
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi Similar quality tier (#366 ranked) | TX | 89% | $51,865 | #366 | Compare |
Marshall University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#371 ranked) | WV | 96% | $46,354 | #371 | Compare |
University Of North Carolina At Pembroke Similar quality tier in Southeast (#365 ranked) | NC | 92% | $43,407 | #365 | Compare |
Alcorn State University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#364 ranked) | MS | 25% | $36,421 | #364 | Compare |