Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks University of West Alabama #355 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of West Alabama #825 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of West Alabama #59 for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. University of West Alabama's composite ranking reflects the institution's combined strength in access and mobility — serving a broad-access student population in rural Alabama and moving graduates into stable careers anchored in education and public service. Graduates earn median 64.0 percentile earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with the institution's access and mobility pillars forming the core of its Azimuth profile.
Azimuth ranks University of West Alabama #355 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Livingston, AL, University of West Alabama enrolls roughly 2,974 undergraduates. Retention stands at 64.9% and the six-year graduation rate is 34.7%, figures that reflect the institution's commitment to moving students through to degree completion. The composite is shaped most visibly by what University of West Alabama does for the students it serves. 58.2% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 40.3% are first-generation college students, a profile that places the university squarely in the broad-access tier of public higher education. Education is the institution's dominant program family, orienting graduates toward regional workforce needs in education and related fields. Graduates earn about $2,526 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of West Alabama in the 47.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Return on investment sits lower in the composite. Azimuth ranks University of West Alabama #930 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median $64,122 four years after enrollment, a figure that reflects AL's regional labor market and a graduate population concentrated in education and public-service fields, where earnings run below the national cross-sector median but represent meaningful returns relative to the no-degree-equivalent baseline of $30,168 in the state. Affordability sits in the 75.4 percentile and access in the 96.1 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, anchoring the composite in the institution's broad-access mission rather than its earnings profile.
University of West Alabama is an affordable public regional university. The published cost of attendance is $22,758, but need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $12,179, while middle-income families pay around $14,606. Azimuth ranks University of West Alabama #352 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. University of West Alabama participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, and offers institutional aid to qualifying students. The relatively modest sticker price combined with need-based aid keeps net costs manageable for most families, particularly those with lower incomes. Many students also benefit from the university's regional tuition structure and financial aid packages that close a meaningful portion of the gap between published cost and what families actually pay. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,944; families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $14,000, and private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures. For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $64,122, median federal debt of $24,944 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
University of West Alabama is a strong fit for students in AL who are drawn to Education and related applied fields, and who want a small public university with broad access and a clear path to stable regional employment. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $64,122, placing University of West Alabama in the 64.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions — and earn about $2,526 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the university in the 47.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a high share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 58.2% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 40.3% are first-generation — and delivers completion outcomes that reflect a genuine commitment to access. Median student debt at graduation is $24,944, which is modest relative to the no-degree earnings baseline of $30,168 in AL. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program portfolio is concentrated in Education and local-labor fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes, while those seeking high-mobility STEM or finance careers may find a better match elsewhere. The admission rate of 42.6% means access is broad, making University of West Alabama a practical option for students who want an affordable regional university without a competitive application process.
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 University Of West Alabama hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
University of West Alabama is an affordable public regional university. The published cost of attendance is $22,758, but need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels.
Low-income families pay approximately $12,179, while middle-income families pay around $14,606. Azimuth ranks University of West Alabama #352 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. University of West Alabama participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, and offers institutional aid to qualifying students.
The relatively modest sticker price combined with need-based aid keeps net costs manageable for most families, particularly those with lower incomes. Many students also benefit from the university's regional tuition structure and financial aid packages that close a meaningful portion of the gap between published cost and what families actually pay.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,944; families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $14,000, and private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures. For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $64,122, median federal debt of $24,944 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of University of West Alabama earn median 4-year earnings of $64,122, placing the college in the 64.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $2,526 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of West Alabama in the 47.0 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks University of West Alabama #930 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The college's program portfolio centers on Education, which shapes both enrollment patterns and earnings outcomes.
Interdisciplinary Studies is the largest program with 72 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $40,455, representing 0.7× the national benchmark for the field. Other significant programs include Teacher Education and Kinesiology, which together with Psychology, General and Communication and Media Studies form the core of University of West Alabama's degree output.
This concentrated program mix reflects the college's distinctive mission and contributes to the earnings patterns observed across its graduate cohort.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mississippi University For Women Higher acceptance rate (12.9 percentage points higher) and located 64 miles away; similar graduate earnings | MS | 100% | $46,128 | Compare |
University Of Southern Mississippi Higher acceptance rate (12.3 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | MS | 99% | $44,140 | Compare |
Liberty University Higher acceptance rate (12.2 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | VA | 99% | $44,813 | Compare |
Stillman College Same state (55 miles away) (earnings difference: 19.9%) and similar program focus | AL | 74% | $35,421 | Compare |
Mississippi State University Same region (69 miles away) (earnings difference: 16.5%) and similar program focus; same institution type | MS | 76% | $51,513 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras Similar quality tier (#15131 ranked) | PR | 55% | $35,723 | #15131 | Compare |
University Of Pittsburgh-Bradford Similar quality tier (#15129 ranked) | PA | 89% | $66,125 | #15129 | Compare |
University Of Wyoming Similar quality tier (#15126 ranked) | WY | 97% | $56,880 | #15126 | Compare |
Montana Technological University Similar quality tier (#15124 ranked) | MT | 91% | $54,329 | #15124 | Compare |
Indiana University-Northwest Similar quality tier (#15151 ranked) | IN | 73% | $43,361 | #15151 | Compare |
Accounting and Related Services
19 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
23 graduates
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
31 graduates
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
72 graduates
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
18 graduates
Warren Wilson College's program mix is anchored in natural resources, environmental sciences, and applied liberal arts fields—a signature aligned with the institution's mission and mountain location in western North Carolina. Interdisciplinary Studies is the largest program with 72 graduates, followed by Teacher Education, Kinesiology, Psychology, General, and Communication and Media Studies.
Across 4 ranked programs serving roughly 385 students annually, several deliver strong four-year earnings outcomes. Accounting leads the earnings profile, with graduates earning median four-year earnings of $58,218 [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/).
The institution's program concentration in Education (representing 21% of graduates) and Business (representing 14% of graduates) reflects a distinctive positioning within the liberal arts landscape. This focus on applied environmental and natural-resource fields creates a coherent narrative around sustainability, land stewardship, and outdoor-economy careers—areas where Warren Wilson's experiential learning model and regional partnerships provide direct labor-market alignment.
Several of these programs represent high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the workforce directly in fields like environmental management, forestry, and conservation. Others, particularly in biology and chemistry, are foundational disciplines where four-year earnings may undercount lifetime trajectory for graduates who continue to graduate or professional school.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Warren Wilson's dominant program families align with national labor-market trends in environmental and natural-resource sectors.
