Location: Birmingham, AL•In-State Tuition: $8,832•Out-of-State Tuition: $21,864•Admission Rate: 88%•Avg SAT: 1251
Median Earnings (1yr)
$50,939
36th percentile
60th percentile in Alabama
Median Debt
$22,500
4% below national median
D/E Ratio: 0.44 ManageableSample: 47 graduates

Analysis

UAB's finance program delivers middle-of-the-pack outcomes that look better within Alabama than nationally. Starting at $51K, graduates earn slightly below the national median for finance majors but hit exactly Alabama's median—placing them in the 60th percentile statewide. With $22,500 in debt and solid 23% earnings growth over four years, the fundamentals are reasonable. The 0.44 debt-to-earnings ratio means you're looking at manageable monthly payments relative to that first paycheck.

The challenge is that several Alabama schools deliver noticeably stronger results. Auburn, Alabama-Huntsville, and UA-Tuscaloosa all place graduates $4,600-$5,600 higher in year one. That gap matters when you're starting a career in Birmingham's competitive finance market, though UAB's 88% admission rate makes it more accessible than some of these alternatives.

For families choosing between Alabama options, UAB offers a solid safety school choice—you'll graduate with reasonable debt and earnings that track state norms. But if your student can gain admission to Auburn or the flagship campuses, those programs justify the extra selectivity with meaningfully better starting salaries. UAB works as a value play if affordability and access are priorities, but it's not the best financial outcome available in-state.

Where University of Alabama at Birmingham Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all finance and financial management services bachelors's programs nationally

University of Alabama at BirminghamOther finance and financial management services programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How University of Alabama at Birmingham graduates compare to all programs nationally

University of Alabama at Birmingham earns $51k — 36th percentile among finance and financial management services bachelors programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
University of Alabama at Birmingham$50,939$62,664+23%
The University of Alabama$55,580$72,138+30%
Auburn University$55,875$71,821+29%
Samford University$53,059$70,946+34%
University of South Alabama$41,657$54,038+30%

Compare to Similar Programs in Alabama

Finance and Financial Management Services bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Alabama (16 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
University of Alabama at BirminghamBirmingham$8,832$50,939$62,664$22,5000.44
University of Alabama in HuntsvilleHuntsville$11,770$56,584———
Auburn UniversityAuburn$12,536$55,875$71,821$20,5000.37
The University of AlabamaTuscaloosa$11,900$55,580$72,138$25,0000.45
Samford UniversityBirmingham$38,144$53,059$70,946$19,0000.36
University of North AlabamaFlorence$11,990$43,512$50,370$22,2500.51
National Median—$53,590—$23,3320.44

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with finance and financial management services graduates

Financial Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities, and other financial activities of a branch, office, or department of an establishment.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Treasurers and Controllers

Direct financial activities, such as planning, procurement, and investments for all or part of an organization.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Investment Fund Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate investment strategy or operations for a large pool of liquid assets supplied by institutional investors or individual investors.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Executives

Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Sustainability Officers

Communicate and coordinate with management, shareholders, customers, and employees to address sustainability issues. Enact or oversee a corporate sustainability strategy.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

General and Operations Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations, overseeing multiple departments or locations. Duties and responsibilities include formulating policies, managing daily operations, and planning the use of materials and human resources, but are too diverse and general in nature to be classified in any one functional area of management or administration, such as personnel, purchasing, or administrative services. Usually manage through subordinate supervisors. Excludes First-Line Supervisors.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Personal Financial Advisors

Advise clients on financial plans using knowledge of tax and investment strategies, securities, insurance, pension plans, and real estate. Duties include assessing clients' assets, liabilities, cash flow, insurance coverage, tax status, and financial objectives. May also buy and sell financial assets for clients.

$102,140/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial and Investment Analysts

Conduct quantitative analyses of information involving investment programs or financial data of public or private institutions, including valuation of businesses.

$101,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial Risk Specialists

Analyze and measure exposure to credit and market risk threatening the assets, earning capacity, or economic state of an organization. May make recommendations to limit risk.

$101,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Budget Analysts

Examine budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures and regulations. Analyze budgeting and accounting reports.

$87,930/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Insurance Underwriters

Review individual applications for insurance to evaluate degree of risk involved and determine acceptance of applications.

$79,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At University of Alabama at Birmingham, approximately 33% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 47 graduates with reported earnings and 45 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.