Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Athens State University #508 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Athens State University #374 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $52,623, placing Athens State University in the 12.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Athens State University #508 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Athens, AL, Athens State University enrolls roughly 2,446 undergraduates. The institution serves a student population where 42.5% receive Pell Grants and 47.7% are first-generation college students, reflecting a broad-access mission rooted in regional higher education. Where Athens State University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Athens State University #864 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $52,623, reflecting solid early-career outcomes for a regional public institution. The institution's program portfolio is anchored in Education, which accounts for a substantial share of degrees and aligns with stable, in-demand career pathways in the region. Access and mobility sit lower in the composite. Athens State University sits in the 81.9 percentile for access and the 74.8 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. For a regional master's university, the institution's strength lies in delivering affordable pathways to employment-ready credentials for working-age and place-bound students. The composite reflects the tradeoff between broad access and the earnings premiums typically seen at research-intensive or highly selective institutions.
Athens State University prices affordably relative to many public four-year institutions. The university's tuition-driven model and regional cost structure keep net prices accessible across income levels, making it a particularly strong option for students seeking to minimize borrowing. As a regional public university in Alabama, Athens State delivers predictable, manageable financing pathways for families across the income spectrum. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $18,051, which is notably lower than the peer median of $20,500. Families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $12,896; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $52,623, median federal debt of $18,051 projects to a monthly payment of about $204 under standard ten-year repayment. In a downside earnings scenario anchored on Athens State's lower-earning program clusters, four-year earnings of $43,223 would require careful budget planning around the same debt load. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Athens State University is a strong fit for students seeking an education-focused public university in AL, particularly those interested in teaching and related fields. The university's program mix is concentrated in Education, representing 36% of graduates, making it ideal for students pursuing careers in this sector. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $52,623, placing Athens State University in the 12.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution serves a significant population of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 42.5% receive Pell Grants and 47.7% are first-generation — with completion rates that support upward mobility. Azimuth ranks Athens State University #508 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting its balance of affordability and regional outcomes. The university's focus on Education aligns with steady local labor demand in AL, though students seeking high-mobility careers may want to explore additional program options.
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.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Athens State University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Data not available for this income tier.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Athens State University prices affordably relative to many public four-year institutions. The university's tuition-driven model and regional cost structure keep net prices accessible across income levels, making it a particularly strong option for students seeking to minimize borrowing.
As a regional public university in Alabama, Athens State delivers predictable, manageable financing pathways for families across the income spectrum. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $18,051, which is notably lower than the peer median of $20,500.
Families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $12,896; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $52,623, median federal debt of $18,051 projects to a monthly payment of about $204 under standard ten-year repayment.
In a downside earnings scenario anchored on Athens State's lower-earning program clusters, four-year earnings of $43,223 would require careful budget planning around the same debt load. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Athens State University earn median 4-year earnings of $52,623, placing Athens State University in the 12.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Athens State University #864 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
These outcomes reflect a regional public institution where graduates move into stable, in-demand fields with predictable career trajectories and modest but meaningful long-term financial gains. The earnings pattern centers on education and human services fields.
Teacher Education is the largest program with 181 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $44,214, performing at 0.9x the national benchmark for the field. The Business Administration program graduates 153 students earning $67,349, and the The Accounting program graduates 73 students earning $63,516.
These three programs anchor Athens State University's degree output and reflect the institution's focus on Education and related service professions. Graduates typically enter teaching, nursing, social work, and business administration roles — fields where AL employers maintain steady hiring and where early-career earnings align with regional labor-market norms.
Computer and Information Sciences, General
22 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
153 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
73 graduates
Biology, General
10 graduates
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
52 graduates
Athens State University's program mix is anchored in education, business, and applied professional fields — a portfolio aligned with the institution's regional mission as a public comprehensive university. Teacher Education is the largest program with 181 graduates annually, followed by Business Administration, Accounting, General Studies, and Subject-Specific Teacher Education.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 723 students annually, several deliver solid four-year earnings outcomes aligned with regional labor-market demand. The earnings pattern reflects the institution's concentration in education and applied fields.
Artificial Intelligence leads with median earnings of $102,639 four years after enrollment, followed by Business Administration at $67,349, Accounting at $63,516, General Studies at $55,507, and Human Resources Management and Services at $52,775. These outcomes correspond to the institution's strength in practical, workforce-aligned disciplines where graduates move directly into stable employment in Alabama's regional economy.
Education represents the institutional signature, with 36% of graduates, alongside Business at 35% and Arts at 3%. These program families are direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings reflect immediate labor-market outcomes rather than graduate-school-dependent trajectories.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Athens State University's dominant program families align with regional and national workforce demand.
