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2024 Best Colleges in Alabama

40 Colleges
$41,216 Avg Salary*
33% Avg 4-Year Grad Rate*

With all of the options you have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its Top Alabama Colleges ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

After analyzing 40 schools in Alabama, we came up with our list of those that offered the highest quality education. To come up with this ranking, we look at more than 20 factors that are all objective measurements. These factors include freshman retention, graduation rate, student-to-faculty ratio, and post graduate earnings, among other things.

Find out more about our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

We've developed a number of other tools and rankings to help you make your college decision. Start by filtering this list by location or field of study and then explore our other rankings that feature schools great for different groups of students such as veterans or returnings adults.

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We've created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you're torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another!

Top Colleges in Alabama

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

1
Columbia Southern University crest
Columbia Southern University
Orange Beach, Alabama

Our 2024 rankings named Columbia Southern University the best school in Alabama in terms of overall quality for students working on their bachelor’s degree. Columbia Southern University is a private for-profit institution located in Orange Beach, Alabama. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 7,022 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Columbia Southern University go into careers with an average salary of $74,398 during the early years of their career.

Full Columbia Southern University Report

2
UA crest
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama

A rank of #2 on our Best Colleges in Alabama list means The University of Alabama is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree. UA is a large public school situated in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It awarded 10,311 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 4.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% During the early years of their career, graduates from UA make an average of $52,751 a year.

Full The University of Alabama Report

3
Auburn crest
Auburn University
Auburn, Alabama

A rank of #3 on our Best Colleges in Alabama list means Auburn University is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree. This large public school is located in Auburn, Alabama, and it awarded 8,031 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Auburn is $56,933 during the early years of their career.

Read More…

4
Samford crest
Samford University
Birmingham, Alabama

A rank of #4 on our Best Colleges in Alabama list means Samford University is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree. Samford is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Birmingham, Alabama. It awarded 1,756 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $53,223 during the early years of their career..

Read More…

5

The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at University of Alabama at Birmingham helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Alabama. UAB is located in Birmingham, Alabama and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6,323 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from UAB go into careers with an average salary of $46,990 during the early years of their career.

Full University of Alabama at Birmingham Report

6
University of West Alabama crest
University of West Alabama
Livingston, Alabama

University of West Alabama did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Alabama ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Livingston, Alabama, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,781 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from University of West Alabama go into careers with an average salary of $35,767 during the early years of their career.

Read More…

7

University of Alabama in Huntsville ranked #7 on this year’s Best Colleges in Alabama list. University of Alabama in Huntsville is a medium-sized public school located in Huntsville, Alabama that handed out 2,333 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 4.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $54,361 during the early years of their career..

Full University of Alabama in Huntsville Report

8

University of South Alabama ranked #8 on this year’s Best Colleges in Alabama list. University of South Alabama is a fairly large public school located in Mobile, Alabama that handed out 3,795 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from USA go into careers with an average salary of $43,123 during the early years of their career.

Full University of South Alabama Report

9

With a ranking of #9, Herzing University - Birmingham did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Alabama list. Located in Birmingham, Alabama, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 290 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $33,093 during the early years of their career..

Read full report on Herzing University - Birmingham

10

Jefferson State Community College landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Alabama ranking. Located in Birmingham, Alabama, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,526 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $36,111 during the early years of their career..

Full Jefferson State Community College Report

11

Athens State University landed the #11 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Alabama ranking. Located in Athens, Alabama, the small public school handed out 831 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Athens State University make an average of $42,233 per year during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Athens State University

12

With a ranking of #12, Wallace State Community College, Hanceville did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Alabama list. This medium-sized public school is located in Hanceville, Alabama, and it awarded 2,322 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, graduates from Wallace State, Hanceville make an average of $35,632 a year.

Full Wallace State Community College, Hanceville Report

13

Wallace Community College, Dothan landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Alabama ranking. Wallace, Dothan is a small public school situated in Dothan, Alabama. It awarded 1,070 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Wallace, Dothan is $29,417 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Wallace Community College, Dothan

14

John C Calhoun State Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Alabama ranking, coming in at #14. Calhoun Community College is located in Tanner, Alabama and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,850 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.

During the early years of their career, graduates from Calhoun Community College make an average of $33,834 a year.

Full John C Calhoun State Community College Report

15

University of North Alabama ranked #15 on this year’s Best Colleges in Alabama list. Located in Florence, Alabama, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,973 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $39,316 during the early years of their career..

Read More…

16
TROY crest
Troy University
Troy, Alabama

Troy University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Alabama ranking. TROY is located in Troy, Alabama and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3,917 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.

During the early years of their career, graduates from TROY make an average of $39,339 a year.

Read full report on Troy University

17
Montevallo crest
University of Montevallo
Montevallo, Alabama

University of Montevallo ranked #17 on this year’s Best Colleges in Alabama list. Montevallo is located in Montevallo, Alabama and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 570 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.

Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $38,378 during the early years of their career..

Read full report on University of Montevallo

18
Jacksonville State University crest
Jacksonville State University
Jacksonville, Alabama

Jacksonville State University landed the #18 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Alabama ranking. Jacksonville State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Jacksonville, Alabama. It awarded 2,043 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Jacksonville State University go into careers with an average salary of $39,354 during the early years of their career.

Read More…

19

With a ranking of #19, Southern Union State Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Alabama list. Located in Wadley, Alabama, the small public school handed out 1,702 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Southern Union State Community College make an average of $34,315 per year during the early years of their career.

Full Southern Union State Community College Report

20

Snead State Community College landed the #20 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Alabama ranking. Snead State Community College is a small public school situated in Boaz, Alabama. It awarded 573 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Snead State Community College go into careers with an average salary of $30,808 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Snead State Community College

21
BSC crest
Birmingham Southern College
Birmingham, Alabama

Birmingham Southern College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Colleges in Alabama list. Located in Birmingham, Alabama, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 276 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 4.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% During the early years of their career, graduates from BSC make an average of $50,775 a year.

Full Birmingham Southern College Report

22

Coastal Alabama Community College landed the #22 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Alabama ranking.Bay Minette, Alabama is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,485 students in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, graduates from Coastal Alabama Community College make an average of $32,139 a year.

Read full report on Coastal Alabama Community College

23

Lurleen B Wallace Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Alabama ranking, coming in at #23. Located in Andalusia, Alabama, the small public school handed out 523 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Lurleen B. Wallace Community College go into careers with an average salary of $29,717 during the early years of their career.

Read More…

24
Faulkner crest
Faulkner University
Montgomery, Alabama

Faulkner University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Alabama ranking, coming in at #24. Faulkner University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Montgomery, Alabama that handed out 878 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $39,437 during the early years of their career..

Read full report on Faulkner University

25

Gadsden State Community College landed the #25 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Alabama ranking. This small public school is located in Gadsden, Alabama, and it awarded 1,118 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from GSCC make an average of $28,950 per year during the early years of their career.

Full Gadsden State Community College Report

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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