With local seniors preparing for the final months of high school and juniors preparing for the final year of high school, the stakes are high and the time is winding down to make decisions about the future.

While Covington County is fortunate to have a community college, not everyone takes advantage of the cost savings. Some students want to go off to a four-year institution.

It’s estimated that a four-year college degree will cost an average of $40,000 for in-state public four-year universities and a whopping $134,000 for a private institution.

The U.S. Department of Education recently released a College Scorecard for Alabama’s four-year universities.

The salary information is the median earnings of former students who received federal financial aid at 10 years after entering school. The data does only include students who received financial aid.

So how does your favorite college stack up against the rest?

The scorecard showed the following:

• Samford University costs an average of $26,733 per year and has a graduation rate of 68 percent. The median salary for attendees is $45,800;
• Auburn University costs an average of $18,644 a year and has a 69 percent graduation rate. The median salary for attendees is $45,700;
• University of Alabama in Huntsville costs an average of $18,596 per year and has a graduation rate of 47 percent. The median salary for attendees is $45,500;
• Birmingham Southern College costs an average of $18,728 per year with a 63 percent graduation rate. The median salary for attendees is $44,200;
• Spring Hill College costs an average of $19,713 per year with a 57 percent graduation rate. The median salary for attendees is $42,800;
• The University of Alabama costs an average of $20,787 with a 66 percent graduation rate. The median salary for attendees is $41,900;
• University of Alabama at Birmingham costs an average of $14,789 per year with a 55 percent graduation rate. The median salary for attendees is $39,700;
• University of South Alabama costs an average of $14,327 per year and has a 36 percent graduation rate. The median salary for attendees is $37,300;
• Tuskegee University has an average cost of $29,242 and a graduation rate of 45 percent. The median salary for attendees is $36,800;
• Huntingdon College costs an average of $19,040 per year with a graduation rate of 44 percent. The median salary for attendees is $36,500;
• University of North Alabama has an average annual cost of $11,294 with a 35 percent graduation rate. The median salary for attendees is $36,100;
• Troy University has an average annual cost of $11,907 with a 35 percent graduation rate. The median salary for attendees is $35,600;
• University of Mobile has an average annual cost of $19,017 with a graduation rate of 45 percent. The median salary for attendees is $35,000;
• Auburn University at Montgomery has an average cost of $13,431 and a graduation rate of 24 percent. The median salary for attendees is $35,000;
• University of Montevallo has an average cost of $16,877 with a graduation rate of 45 percent. The median salary for attendees is $34,900;
• Jacksonville State University has an average cost of $17,974 with a graduation rate of 30 percent. The median salary for attendees is $34,600;
• University of West Alabama has an average cost of $13,092 and a 32 percent graduation rate. The median salary for attendees is $33,900;
• Alabama A&M University has an average cost of $15,229 and a 32 percent graduation rate. The median salary for attendees is $30,300;
• Judson College has an average cost of $11,592 with a 42 percent graduation rate. The median salary for attendees is $29,300;
• Alabama State University has an average cost of $11,110 per year and a 26 percent graduation rate. The median salary for attendees is $26,600;