Moderately selective2025-2026 admissions cycle

University of South Alabama acceptance rate and admissions profile

University of South Alabama, a public university in Alabama, reports a 71% acceptance rate and sits in the moderately selective band. In practice that means it admits more applicants than it rejects, so a strong application is judged against an applicant pool that is already self-selected.

Use this page to see what University of South Alabama weighs, where it ranks among Alabama schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1200, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
71%
Moderately selective
Admitted SAT (75th pct)
1200
of admitted students
Type
Public
Alabama
Selectivity in state
#10
of 22 in AL
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Will I get into University of South Alabama?

Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into University of South Alabama, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.

What are my chances of getting into University of South Alabama?

Your odds at University of South Alabama are not the same as its 71% acceptance rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for University of South Alabama in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is University of South Alabama hard to get into?

University of South Alabama is moderately selective: it admits more applicants than it rejects, with about a 71% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

What GPA do you need to get into University of South Alabama?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at University of South Alabama, but admitted students often present roughly a 3.2 to 3.7 GPA. University of South Alabama reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

What SAT score do you need for University of South Alabama?

University of South Alabama does not publish a required score, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1200. A score at or above that range strengthens your application, while a lower score puts more weight on your rigor, activities, and essays. CollegeCalcAI shows how your exact score shifts your odds at University of South Alabama.

Calculate your chances at University of South Alabama

What University of South Alabama looks for

What University of South Alabama weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.

The factors that carry the most weight at University of South Alabama are rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from University of South Alabama's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.

Rigor of secondary school record
Very important
Academic GPA
Very important
Class rank
Considered
Standardized test scores
Important
Application essay
Considered
Recommendations
Considered

SAT score positioning at University of South Alabama

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability — your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at University of South Alabama
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400Above the admitted 75th percentile
1300Above the admitted 75th percentile
1200In the competitive admitted range
1100Below the middle, makes the rest of the profile matter more
Colleges for a 1200 SAT →Colleges for a 25 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How University of South Alabama compares in Alabama

University of South Alabama ranks #10 most selective of 22 schools in Alabama in our database.

Among the 22 Alabama schools we track, University of South Alabama ranks #10 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Oakwood University (45%) and Auburn University (46%) sit nearby, which makes Alabama a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list. As a public university, residency matters: in-state applicants generally see meaningfully better odds than the headline rate suggests.

Oakwood University
45%acceptance · AL
Auburn University
46%acceptance · AL
Tuskegee University
49%acceptance · AL
Montevallo
54%acceptance · AL
Miles College
55%acceptance · AL
Alabama A&M University
58%acceptance · AL
Stillman College
62%acceptance · AL
Alabama-Huntsville
69%acceptance · AL
See all Alabama schools →

Similar to University of South Alabama

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

Applicants targeting University of South Alabama often weigh University of Delaware, Virginia Military Institute, and Western Illinois University, which sit at a similar level. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.

University of Delaware
71%acceptance · DE
Virginia Military Institute
71%acceptance · VA
Western Illinois University
71%acceptance · IL
Henderson State University
71%acceptance · AR
Ramapo College
71%acceptance · NJ
Rutgers-Newark
71%acceptance · NJ

Frequently asked questions

What does University of South Alabama value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, University of South Alabama weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does University of South Alabama favor in-state applicants?

As a public university, University of South Alabama generally admits in-state applicants at a higher rate than out-of-state applicants, so your home state affects your odds. CollegeCalcAI applies an in-state residency boost when you select your state.

How can I improve my chances at University of South Alabama?

Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at University of South Alabama specifically.

What are the admission requirements for University of South Alabama?

University of South Alabama reviews GPA, course rigor, test scores (where submitted), activities, and essays. With a more accessible acceptance rate, meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

Is University of South Alabama test-optional?

Test-optional policies change year to year, so confirm University of South Alabama's current policy on its official admissions site. If you do submit scores, the admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1200; if you do not, more weight falls on your GPA, course rigor, and essays.

Acceptance rate and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets). Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.