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Alabama Colleges' Retention Rate

What is the Average Retention Rate in Alabama?

The retention rate is the percentage of first-time students who attend and continue their study in next year at colleges. The low retention rate means that more students transfer out to or stop/pause the program at a school. In general, high ranked colleges or special purpose colleges' retention rate is higher than others.
The average retention rate of Alabama colleges is 66.97% for full-time students and 45.52% for part-time students. 30,757 out of 41,068 full-time first-year students continued their study in next year at Alabama colleges. In public Alabama colleges, the retention rate is 66% and private schools' rate is 75% By school levels, the retention rate at four-years colleges is 71% and community colleges' rate is 60% in Alabama.
The next schools are the top 5 Alabama colleges that have the highest retention rate. Auburn University has the highest retention rate of 93% among Alabama colleges. Samford University and The University of Alabama also have higher rate of 91% and 87% respectively. For the ranking, we exclude community colleges and four-colleges with less than 1,000 first-time students.
The following table summarizes the average retention rate in Alabama by school type and level.
The Average Retention Rate In Alabama
TotalPublicPrivate (not-for-profit)Private (for-profit)
Total67.29%66.24%74.69%62.31%
4 Years Colleges71.10%73.77%74.57%29.50%
Community Colleges60.31%62.17%51.00%25.00%
Trade Schools72.36%-100.00%70.23%
The following table summarizes the retention rate and number of students by attending status for Alabama collegesNumbers in parentheses in each column indicate the number of students in the corresponding category.
Retention Rate by Attending Status at Alabama colleges
Retention RateFirst-time StudentsEnrolled in Next Year
Full-time66.97%41,06830,757
Part-time45.52%5,1902,116
The following table shows the Alabama Colleges. You can see more schools and narrow down the results in search result page.
AllPublicPrivate4-Years CollegeCommunity CollegesTrade Schools
Alabama Colleges
School NameLocationTuition & FeesEnrollmentAcceptance RateGraduation Rate
Alabama A & M University
Public, four-years
Normal, AL $18,634 ($10,024) 6,007 68.40% 26%
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Public, four-years
Birmingham, AL $21,864 ($8,832) 21,639 86.68% 64%
Amridge University
Private (not-for-profit), four-years
Montgomery, AL $10,470 647 - 50%
University of Alabama in Huntsville
Public, four-years
Huntsville, AL $24,662 ($11,770) 9,237 78.10% 62%
Alabama State University
Public, four-years
Montgomery, AL $19,576 ($11,248) 3,828 96.60% 27%
The University of Alabama
Public, four-years
Tuscaloosa, AL $33,200 ($11,900) 38,644 80.06% 72%
Central Alabama Community College
Public, 2-4 years
Alexander City, AL $8,850 ($5,040) 1,777 - 21%
Athens State University
Public, four-years
Athens, AL $17,370 ($9,840) 2,894 - -
Auburn University at Montgomery
Public, four-years
Montgomery, AL $20,092 ($9,436) 5,109 92.23% 35%
Auburn University
Public, four-years
Auburn, AL $33,944 ($12,536) 31,764 43.74% 80%
Birmingham-Southern College
Private (not-for-profit), four-years
Birmingham, AL $22,750 975 57.17% 64%
Chattahoochee Valley Community College
Public, 2-4 years
Phenix City, AL $8,850 ($5,040) 1,641 - 25%
South University-Montgomery
Private (for-profit), four-years
Montgomery, AL $18,238 361 - 9%
Enterprise State Community College
Public, 2-4 years
Enterprise, AL $8,850 ($5,040) 2,010 - 28%
Coastal Alabama Community College
Public, 2-4 years
Bay Minette, AL $8,790 ($4,980) 6,800 - 22%
Faulkner University
Private (not-for-profit), four-years
Montgomery, AL $23,920 2,817 82.41% 32%
Gadsden State Community College
Public, 2-4 years
Gadsden, AL $7,080 ($4,032) 4,352 - 25%
New Beginning College of Cosmetology
Private (for-profit), less than 2-years
Albertville, AL $15,150 45 - -
George C Wallace Community College-Dothan
Public, 2-4 years
Dothan, AL $8,730 ($4,920) 3,832 - 29%
George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville
Public, 2-4 years
Hanceville, AL $8,790 ($4,980) 5,965 - 45%
George C Wallace State Community College-Selma
Public, 2-4 years
Selma, AL $8,490 ($4,680) 1,860 - 36%
Herzing University-Birmingham
Private (not-for-profit), four-years
Birmingham, AL $13,420 578 94.12% 30%
Huntingdon College
Private (not-for-profit), four-years
Montgomery, AL $28,650 817 65.95% 50%
Heritage Christian University
Private (not-for-profit), four-years
Florence, AL $11,982 143 100.00% -
J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College
Public, 2-4 years
Huntsville, AL $8,940 ($5,130) 976 - 12%
J F Ingram State Technical College
Public, 2-4 years
Deatsville, AL $6,084 ($4,680) 768 - 9%
Jacksonville State University
Public, four-years
Jacksonville, AL $22,716 ($12,426) 9,632 78.46% 52%
Jefferson State Community College
Public, 2-4 years
Birmingham, AL $8,850 ($5,040) 8,431 - 21%
John C Calhoun State Community College
Public, 2-4 years
Tanner, AL $8,870 ($5,060) 8,163 - 36%
Lawson State Community College
Public, 2-4 years
Birmingham, AL $8,790 ($4,980) 2,919 - 22%
University of West Alabama
Public, four-years
Livingston, AL $20,090 ($10,990) 5,860 68.86% 38%
Lurleen B Wallace Community College
Public, 2-4 years
Andalusia, AL $8,790 ($4,980) 1,929 - 33%
Marion Military Institute
Public, 2-4 years
Marion, AL $15,538 ($9,538) 320 62.70% 26%
Miles College
Private (not-for-profit), four-years
Fairfield, AL $12,714 1,258 - 26%
University of Mobile
Private (not-for-profit), four-years
Mobile, AL $26,120 1,804 84.08% 45%
University of Montevallo
Public, four-years
Montevallo, AL $26,730 ($13,710) 2,586 59.84% 54%
Northwest-Shoals Community College
Public, 2-4 years
Muscle Shoals, AL $8,881 ($5,071) 4,032 - 26%
University of North Alabama
Public, four-years
Florence, AL $22,190 ($11,990) 9,830 95.68% 52%
Northeast Alabama Community College
Public, 2-4 years
Rainsville, AL $8,790 ($4,980) 2,590 - 44%
Oakwood University
Private (not-for-profit), four-years
Huntsville, AL $21,838 1,470 68.05% 46%
Reid State Technical College
Public, 2-4 years
Evergreen, AL $10,700 ($6,100) 434 - 44%
Bishop State Community College
Public, 2-4 years
Mobile, AL $9,090 ($5,280) 2,968 - 22%
Samford University
Private (not-for-profit), four-years
Birmingham, AL $38,144 5,682 83.26% 77%
Selma University
Private (not-for-profit), four-years
Selma, AL $4,800 50 - -
Shelton State Community College
Public, 2-4 years
Tuscaloosa, AL $8,877 ($5,067) 4,166 - 22%
Snead State Community College
Public, 2-4 years
Boaz, AL $9,536 ($5,472) 2,507 - 39%
University of South Alabama
Public, four-years
Mobile, AL $18,652 ($9,676) 13,438 65.36% 47%
Spring Hill College
Private (not-for-profit), four-years
Mobile, AL $23,270 1,046 72.63% 61%
Stillman College
Private (not-for-profit), four-years
Tuscaloosa, AL $11,392 744 64.54% 24%
Talladega College
Private (not-for-profit), four-years
Talladega, AL $15,650 903 - 35%
H Councill Trenholm State Community College
Public, 2-4 years
Montgomery, AL $8,700 ($4,890) 1,984 - 20%
Troy University
Public, four-years
Troy, AL $19,584 ($9,792) 14,156 94.84% 45%
Tuskegee University
Private (not-for-profit), four-years
Tuskegee, AL $23,440 2,570 29.69% 67%
United States Sports Academy
Private (not-for-profit), four-years
Daphne, AL $18,900 240 100.00% -
Bevill State Community College
Public, 2-4 years
Jasper, AL $8,234 ($4,678) 3,703 - 36%
Southern Union State Community College
Public, 2-4 years
Wadley, AL $8,790 ($4,980) 4,386 - 24%
Remington College-Mobile Campus
Private (not-for-profit), 2-4 years
Mobile, AL $20,476 255 - 40%
Fortis College
Private (for-profit), less than 2-years
Mobile, AL $16,264 232 - -
Paul Mitchell the School-Huntsville
Private (for-profit), less than 2-years
Madison, AL $17,075 110 - -
Blue Cliff Career College
Private (for-profit), less than 2-years
Mobile, AL $14,800 37 - -
Huntsville Bible College
Private (not-for-profit), four-years
Huntsville, AL $4,730 92 - -
Strayer University-Alabama
Private (for-profit), four-years
Birmingham, AL $13,920 1,380 - -
Columbia Southern University
Private (for-profit), four-years
Orange Beach, AL $5,808 15,948 - 32%
Paul Mitchell the School-Birmingham
Private (for-profit), less than 2-years
Hoover, AL $17,075 142 - -
Fortis College-Dothan
Private (for-profit), less than 2-years
Dothan, AL $16,264 127 - -
Fortis College-Montgomery
Private (for-profit), less than 2-years
Montgomery, AL $16,264 215 - -
Fortis Institute-Birmingham
Private (for-profit), 2-4 years
Birmingham, AL $14,561 381 - 36%
Cardiac and Vascular Institute of Ultrasound
Private (for-profit), 2-4 years
Mobile, AL $18,100 51 - -
University Academy of Hair Design
Private (for-profit), less than 2-years
Tuscaloosa, AL $12,000 44 - -
The Salon Professional Academy-Huntsville
Private (for-profit), less than 2-years
Huntsville, AL $19,730 63 - -
Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine
Private (not-for-profit), four-years
Dothan, AL - 761 - -
Ross Medical Education Center-Huntsville
Private (for-profit), less than 2-years
Huntsville, AL $16,297 85 - -
Midfield Institute of Cosmetology
Private (not-for-profit), less than 2-years
Midfield, AL $14,400 12 - -
Alabama School of Nail Technology & Cosmetology
Private (for-profit), less than 2-years
Jackson, AL $17,733 43 - -
Brown Beauty Barber School
Private (for-profit), less than 2-years
Bessemer, AL $16,000 37 - -
Winonah's International School of Cosmetology
Private (for-profit), less than 2-years
Hoover, AL $12,750 109 - -
Strayer University - Montgomery Campus
Private (for-profit), four-years
Montgomery, AL $13,920 - - -
Strayer University-Huntsville Campus
Private (for-profit), four-years
Huntsville, AL $13,920 - - -
Columbia College - Redstone Arsenal
Private (not-for-profit), four-years
Redstone Arsenal, AL $8,304 - - -
Troy University-Phenix City Campus
Public, four-years
Phenix City, AL $19,584 ($9,792) - - -
Troy University-Montgomery Campus
Public, four-years
Montgomery, AL $19,584 ($9,792) - - -
Troy University-Dothan Campus
Public, four-years
Dothan, AL $19,584 ($9,792) - - -
Troy University-Online
Public, four-years
Troy, AL $9,792 ($9,312) - - -