At $19,880/yr net price, University of Alabama in Huntsville graduates earn $61,767/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $27,767/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $19,880 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $79,520 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $61,767/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$27,767/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 2.9 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 61.9% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $20,705 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $16,521/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $17,935/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $21,187/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $21,205/yr |
| $110,001+ | $21,937/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Master | $91,017 | $28,500 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | Master | $86,867 | |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Doctoral | $86,424 | $34,361 |
| Mechanical Engineering. | Bachelor | $63,997 | $22,675 |
| Civil Engineering. | Bachelor | $62,012 | $19,049 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | Bachelor | $62,012 | $22,125 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Bachelor | $60,452 | $20,500 |
| Computer Engineering. | Bachelor | $59,846 | $21,500 |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Master | $55,964 | |
| Industrial Engineering. | Bachelor | $55,547 | $27,997 |
The Risk Factor
61.9% of students at University of Alabama in Huntsville graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 38% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
UAH is an engineering school first, and that focus drives its financial return. Huntsville is home to NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Redstone Arsenal, and a dense cluster of defense and aerospace contractors, which means the engineering degrees here plug directly into local demand. Mechanical, electrical, civil, and computer engineering all land graduates around $60,000 within ten years, and median debt stays close to $20,000. Pay off a degree like that against those borrowing levels and the math works.
Engineering is where the return is strongest. Civil engineering stands out because it pairs solid pay with the lowest debt of the top programs, so you clear the loan faster than in mechanical, where debt runs a few thousand higher for a slightly better salary. If you enroll planning to study something outside the engineering and computing tracks, there's no listed earnings data to lean on, so treat the school's overall $61,767 median as a blend propped up by its technical majors, not a promise for every path.
The main risk is fit. UAH's payoff depends on finishing an engineering or computer science degree. The 61.90% graduation rate means roughly four in ten students don't finish in the standard window, and an unfinished engineering degree still leaves you with the debt. If you're not committed to a technical major, the return gets murky fast.
On cost, the net price barely moves across income brackets. A family earning under $30,000 pays about $16,500, while a family over $110,000 pays about $21,900. That flat structure helps lower-income families less than at schools with steep aid curves, so if you're on a tight budget, run the numbers against your expected engineering salary before committing. For a student locked into engineering or computing near Huntsville's job market, this is a strong financial bet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is University of Alabama in Huntsville worth the cost?
UAH offers solid ROI with graduates earning $61,767 after 10 years against a net price of $19,880 annually. The engineering and nursing programs deliver strong outcomes, but the 62% graduation rate means significant dropout risk.
What are the best paying majors at University of Alabama in Huntsville?
Nursing programs lead with earnings around $86,000-$91,000, followed by electrical engineering at $86,867 and mechanical engineering at $63,997. These programs justify the tuition cost better than most other majors at UAH.
How much debt do University of Alabama in Huntsville graduates have?
UAH graduates carry a median debt of $20,705, which is manageable given the strong earning potential in engineering and nursing. However, students in lower-paying programs may struggle with loan payments.
Does University of Alabama in Huntsville have good job placement?
UAH benefits from Huntsville's aerospace and technology sector, particularly for engineering graduates. The 78% acceptance rate means less selectivity, but local industry connections help graduates find work in defense and tech companies.