Public Graduate Good 68/100

Athens State University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Athens, Alabama

About Athens State University

Athens State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Athens, Alabama. It enrolls 2,446 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Acceptance
Graduation
59.9%
Net Price
Median Earnings (10yr)
$50,273
Enrollment
2,446
Student : Faculty
14:1

Accreditor Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Open / Online). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Good
68/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes
Value
Affordability 55
Selectivity

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

Admissions data is not yet reported for Athens State University.

Acceptance Rate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Athens State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. Net-price data is not yet reported for this school.

Average Net Price
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
43%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
41%
Borrowing to attend

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$3,500
10% percentile
$6,341
25% percentile
$18,051
Median percentile
$25,000
75% percentile
$34,231
90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $15,849 ↓ $2,202
No Pell $12,840 ↓ $5,211
Dependent students $12,000 ↓ $6,051
Independent students $17,750 ↓ $301
Female students $15,000 ↓ $3,051
Male students $13,461 ↓ $4,590
Pell recipients: 18.2% (3,292 students)No Pell: 14.8% (2,667 students)Dependent students: 13.8% (2,493 students)Independent students: 20.4% (3,687 students)Female students: 17.3% (3,116 students)Male students: 15.5% (2,796 students)Overall Median$18,051
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $11,883, less than completers ($18,051), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

60% of full-time students who enrolled at Athens State University graduate within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
60%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Athens State University earn a median of $50,273 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$50,273
Earning > $25K
78%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$46,000$47,000$48,000$50,000$51,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates
$38,000

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$54,100

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.


By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)
$36,700

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)
$45,400

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)
$50,900

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $16,100, about 30% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt 17.4 pts across 6 years
52.7%1yr60.2%3yr60.9%5yr70.1%7yr
What this signals: Strong. 70% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Athens State University is home to 2,446 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 48% are first-generation college students, 54% study part-time.

Total Enrolled
2,446
Part-Time
54%
First-Generation
48%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
White 73.7% 1,803
Black 13.7% 336
Hispanic 5.8% 141
Other 4.8% 118
Asian 0.8% 20
International 0.3% 6
White: 73.7% (1,803 students)Black: 13.7% (336 students)Hispanic: 5.8% (141 students)Other: 4.8% (118 students)Asian: 0.8% (20 students)International: 0.3% (6 students)Total2,446

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Athens State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Town: Fringe Athens, Alabama
Housing
Commuter campus No on-campus housing
Adult Learners
56% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Athens State University offers a varied set of programs: 35 distinct programs across 17 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

8 Programs
1 Program
1 Program
4 Programs
1 Program
1 Program

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Athens State University is 14:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty
14:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$8,799
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$6.1M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$84,538
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

88 instructional faculty across 4 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank Faculty Count Share Avg Salary
Full Professors 25 28% $102,123
Associate Professors 33 38% $83,179
Assistant Professors 25 28% $73,189
Instructors 5 6% $62,319

Pros & Cons of Athens State University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Athens State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS
  • Reasonable class sizes
  • Solid post-graduation earnings
  • Wide reach of need-based federal aid
  • First-gen-friendly student body
  • Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
  • Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for: Based on the data, Athens State University is a fit for working adults or students needing part-time study options.

Frequently Asked Questions about Athens State University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Athens State University.

What is Athens State University known for?
Athens State University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Teacher Education (K-12), Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Athens State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Athens State University are $50,273, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Athens State University accredited?
Yes. Athens State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Athens State University?
Athens State University enrolls 2,446 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Athens State University?
Athens State University graduates 60% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Athens State University a public or private college?
Athens State University is a Public institution.
Where is Athens State University located?
Athens State University is located in Athens, Alabama.
What programs does Athens State University offer?
Athens State University offers 35 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Teacher Education (K-12), Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Athens State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Athens State University is 14:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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