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Playbook 006 / 209
Public · College Town · Auburn, AL

Auburn University

26,820 undergrads · 19:1 student-faculty ratio · NCAA I (SEC)
Engineering school with legitimate national pedigree. College town vibe with strong Greek life. Football matters but engineers drive the culture. Family loyalty runs deep; Auburn graduates support each other.
45%
Acceptance RateRoughly 45 of every 100 applicants are admitted.
1200–1370
SAT RangeThe middle half of admitted students scored in this range. A quarter scored below it, a quarter above.
27–31
ACT RangeThe middle half of admitted students scored in this range. A quarter scored below it, a quarter above.
3.65
Avg GPA (weighted)Average weighted GPA of admitted students.

What a friend would tell you

What Auburn is looking for

Auburn values community fit and the 'Auburn Family' ethos. Applications that show collaborative spirit, service involvement, and interest in Auburn's specific programs (like the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering or the College of Agriculture) land well. Rolling admissions means applying early gives you more scholarship consideration, not just a spot.

What students wish they'd known

Auburn, Alabama is a small town that empties between football seasons. The surrounding area is rural and conservative, with limited diversity in both population and perspective. Greek life is significant and shapes social hierarchies more than the administration acknowledges. The 63% four-year graduation rate suggests that many students stretch to five years, particularly in engineering.

Auburn might be a fit if...

  • You want a large SEC school with strong engineering and agriculture programs where school loyalty is a lifestyle
  • You are comfortable in a small Southern college town where football Saturdays are the social calendar's peak
  • You value tight alumni networks and are willing to invest in the community to benefit from it

Auburn Admissions Strategy

Application Info
Plans: Rolling
Deadlines: RD February 1
Test Policy
Test required
Demonstrated Interest
Not Tracked
Not tracked. Skip the info-session circuit and put those hours into the application itself.
Interview
Not Offered
Yield Rate
41%
41% of admits enroll, which is typical for a selective school. Waitlists here move every year.
Want the strongest possible application to Auburn, plus better odds and merit offers everywhere else you apply?
Join the free one-hour workshop from two Harvard grads who have helped 3,000+ students get in. Parents welcome.
Save your seat

Cost & Financial Aid at Auburn

$42,300
Sticker Price
$11,700
In-State Tuition
$7,000
Avg Merit Aid
Need-aware admissions. Meets need: Partial. 70% receive financial aid.
For context: Auburn spends about $13,000 per student per year on instruction and student resources, right around the $15K national average.

What Auburn Graduates Get

$60,000
Avg Starting Salary
93%
Employed or in Grad School
63%
Graduate in 4 Years
The 4-year number is the on-time rate; the 6-year rate (78%) is the one schools usually advertise. A wide gap means many students pay for extra semesters.

Auburn Campus & Culture

The Campus

Auburn's 1,841-acre campus sits in the rolling plains of eastern Alabama, centered on Samford Hall, a red brick Victorian clock tower that anchors the main green. Toomer's Corner, where fans roll the oak trees with toilet paper after wins, marks the border between campus and downtown. Jordan-Hare Stadium (87,000 seats) looms over the south end of campus.

The Social Scene

Engineering-focused culture, college town atmosphere, strong traditions
38% on campus25% Greek39% out-of-state6% international26% study abroad

Auburn Traditions & Trivia

Rolling Toomer's Corner
After every significant Auburn victory, thousands of fans pour into the intersection of College Street and Magnolia Avenue and throw toilet paper into the oak trees, a tradition that stretches back to 1962.
Toomer's Lemonade
Toomer's Drugs, the pharmacy at the corner since 1896, is famous for its fresh-squeezed lemonade, which fans drink before and after the rolling, making it part of every game day ritual.

Academics at Auburn

What Auburn is known for

Engineering school, Auburn family culture, football tradition

Most popular majors at Auburn

EngineeringBusinessAgricultureBiologyCommunications

Standout programs

Engineering, Agriculture, Aerospace Engineering, Business

How the curriculum works

General Education (28 credits), major (36-54), electives

Recommended high school courses

4 years English, 3-4 Math, 3-4 Science, 2-3 Social Studies, 2 Foreign Language

Notable Auburn Alumni

Tim Cook
Apple CEO, Auburn industrial engineering class of 1982
Bo Jackson
Heisman Trophy winner, arguably the greatest two-sport athlete ever
Octavia Spencer
Oscar-winning actress, Auburn communications graduate
Charles Barkley
NBA Hall of Famer, Auburn basketball 1981-1984
Jimmy Wales
Co-founded Wikipedia, Auburn finance graduate

If you like Auburn, also consider

Clemson University
ACC rival with similar engineering strength and college-town culture
University of Alabama
In-state rival with larger Greek scene and comparable SEC experience
Georgia Institute of Technology
Stronger engineering, urban Atlanta, harder academics
University of Georgia
SEC peer with Athens college-town energy
Texas A&M University
Similar loyalty culture and engineering programs in a bigger Texas package
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