Head-to-head · 2026
Lurleen B Wallace Community College vs University of South Alabama
Compare average net price ($2,792 at Lurleen B Wallace Community College; $17,648 at University of South Alabama), ROI score (28.93 vs 6.99), school-wide ten-year median earnings ($32,307 vs $49,379), and admissions context (Open / not reported at Lurleen B Wallace Community College; 71% at University of South Alabama) using federal College Scorecard data. The table keeps affordability, outcomes, access and program fit separate rather than declaring one universal winner.
Face to face
Metric-by-metric comparison
13 metrics, side by side. Color marks a useful directional signal; admissions, SAT, tuition eligibility, ownership and enrollment stay neutral.
| Metric | Lurleen B Wallace Community College | University of South Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| ROI score (school-wide) | 28.93 ✓ | 6.99 |
| Avg net price | $2,792 ✓ | $17,648 |
| 4-year avg net price | $11,168 ✓ | $70,592 |
| In-state tuition | $5,190 | $10,116 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $9,060 | $19,092 |
| School-wide earnings (10y) | $32,307 | $49,379 ✓ |
| Acceptance rate | Open / not reported | 71% |
| Graduation rate | 41% | 52.7% ✓ |
| Retention rate | 63.5% | 75.7% ✓ |
| Median debt | — | $24,929 |
| Enrollment | 1,097 | 8,879 |
| Ownership | Public | Public |
| Avg SAT | — | 1147 |
Cost by family income
Reported net price by income band
Federal averages for students receiving Title IV aid. These are context, not a substitute for either school's financial-aid offer.
| Income band | Lurleen B Wallace Community College | University of South Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Family income $0–30k | $2,054 ✓ | $12,657 |
| Family income $30–48k | $2,420 ✓ | $13,265 |
| Family income $48–75k | $4,570 ✓ | $16,277 |
| Family income $75–110k | $8,263 ✓ | $23,252 |
| Family income $110k+ | $3,445 ✓ | $25,322 |
Program fit
Shared fields with reported awards
Award share is the share of reported credentials in a field, not the share of currently enrolled students.
| Shared field | Lurleen B Wallace Community College | University of South Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 10.5% | 35.4% |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 8.9% | 3.9% |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 0.7% | 1.6% |
Decision readout
What the differences mean
Lurleen B Wallace Community College reports the lower average net price by $14,856 per year. Holding today's averages constant, that is a $59,424 difference over four years ($11,168 vs $70,592).
University of South Alabama reports $17,072 higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry ($49,379 vs $32,307). This is not earnings for a specific major.
First-year retention is 63.5% at Lurleen B Wallace Community College and 75.7% at University of South Alabama. Debt data is incomplete for at least one school, so it is not used as a deciding signal here.
3 of the strongest shared fields with positive award-share data are listed below. Award share describes reported credentials in a field, not the percentage of currently enrolled students.
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Frequently asked
Lurleen B Wallace Community College vs University of South Alabama, answered
3 of the most common questions, with real numbers from federal data.
Which school costs less after aid?
Lurleen B Wallace Community College is cheaper — average net price $2,792 per year vs $17,648 at University of South Alabama. The annual difference of $14,856 adds up to about $59,424 over four years.
Which school reports higher earnings?
University of South Alabama reports higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry: $49,379 vs $32,307 at Lurleen B Wallace Community College. The gap in the federal data is $17,072. This is not major-specific earnings.
Is there an overall winner?
No single metric makes either school the universal winner. Compare your actual aid offers, residency tuition, intended major, graduation and retention rates, debt, location and campus fit. EduGradify keeps these trade-offs separate instead of combining admissions selectivity and test scores into a final verdict.