2027 Best Value Journalism Schools in Alabama
[Journalism](/majors/communication-journalism-media/journalism/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong journalism education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 4 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value journalism schools.
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2027 Best Value Journalism Schools in Alabama
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in journalism, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Journalism Schools
Leading the list is University Of South Alabama, our #1 best value for journalism in Alabama. Located in the city of Mobile, University Of South Alabama is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,116, with out-of-state students paying around $19,092. Students borrow a median of $26,513 to complete the journalism program here. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from University Of South Alabama generally make around $51,592. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 71%.
The University Of Alabama came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value journalism schools. Set in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,180, compared with $34,172 for out-of-state students. Journalism graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career journalism graduates make about $35,509. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Auburn University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in journalism, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,890, with out-of-state students paying around $34,922. Typical student debt for journalism graduates is $20,500. Early-career journalism graduates make about $38,357. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 46%.
Samford University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in journalism, landing the #4 spot 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. Students borrow a median of $18,120 to complete the journalism program here. Early-career journalism graduates make about $30,311. That is a strong return on a $18,120 median debt. Samford University admits about 82% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
