2026 Best Value Accounting Schools in Alabama

[Accounting](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/accounting/accounting/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong accounting education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 23 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for accounting students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Accounting Schools in Alabama
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the accounting degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Accounting Schools
Leading the list is University Of North Alabama, our #1 best value for accounting in Alabama. University Of North Alabama is a large public school located in the city of Florence. In-state tuition and fees average $12,120, compared with $22,320 for out-of-state students. Accounting graduates carry a median of $21,125 in student loans. Accounting graduates of University Of North Alabama earn a median of $47,022 early in their careers. Set against $21,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
A rank of #2 makes University Of West Alabama one of the best values for accounting. Set in the rural area of Livingston, University Of West Alabama is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,990, compared with $20,090 for out-of-state students. Accounting graduates carry a median of $31,894 in student loans. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from University Of West Alabama generally make around $53,270. Set against $31,894 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in accounting will find it at Troy University, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Troy, Troy University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,176, with out-of-state students paying around $20,352. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the accounting program here. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from Troy University generally make around $54,969. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Alabama State University earned it the #4 place for accounting. Located in the city of Montgomery, Alabama State University is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $11,248 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,576. Accounting graduates carry a median of $30,750 in student loans. Accounting graduates of Alabama State University earn a median of $49,549 early in their careers. Set against $30,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Auburn University At Montgomery earned it the #5 place for accounting. Located in the city of Montgomery, Auburn University At Montgomery is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,700, while out-of-state students pay about $20,668. Students borrow a median of $26,528 to complete the accounting program here. Accounting graduates of Auburn University At Montgomery earn a median of $55,240 early in their careers. Set against $26,528 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Jacksonville State University landed the #6 spot for accounting value this year. Set in the suburb of Jacksonville, Jacksonville State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,894 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $23,334. Typical student debt for accounting graduates is $20,500. Early-career accounting graduates make about $40,541. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Alabama A And M University placed #7 among the best values for accounting. Located in the city of Normal, Alabama A And M University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,024, while out-of-state students pay about $18,634. Students borrow a median of $28,049 to complete the accounting program here. Early-career accounting graduates make about $47,156. Set against $28,049 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
University Of South Alabama ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value accounting schools. Set in the city of Mobile, University Of South Alabama is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,116 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,092 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for accounting graduates is $27,000. Accounting graduates of University Of South Alabama earn a median of $48,795 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
University Of Alabama At Birmingham landed the #9 spot for accounting value this year. Set in the city of Birmingham, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,098 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,562 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for accounting graduates is $34,288. Early-career accounting graduates make about $56,597. Set against $34,288 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Montevallo placed #10 among the best values for accounting. Set in the town of Montevallo, University Of Montevallo is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,948, with out-of-state students paying around $26,968. Typical student debt for accounting graduates is $25,096. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from University Of Montevallo generally make around $36,673. Set against $25,096 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 54%.
University Of Alabama At Huntsville came in at #11 for value in accounting this year. Set in the city of Huntsville, University Of Alabama At Huntsville is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,132, with out-of-state students paying around $26,408. Typical student debt for accounting graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from University Of Alabama At Huntsville generally make around $45,751. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Alabama landed the #12 spot for accounting value this year. The University Of Alabama is a very large public school located in the city of Tuscaloosa. In-state tuition and fees average $12,180, compared with $34,172 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the accounting program here. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from The University Of Alabama generally make around $53,452. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Auburn University came in at #13 for value in accounting this year. Set in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,890, compared with $34,922 for out-of-state students. Accounting graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from Auburn University generally make around $65,059. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 46%.
Samford University landed the #14 spot for accounting value this year. Set in the suburb of Birmingham, Samford University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,150. Accounting graduates carry a median of $21,039 in student loans. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from Samford University generally make around $63,075. Set against $21,039 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
View All Accounting Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.