2026 Best Value General Educational Leadership & Administration Schools in Alabama

[General Educational Leadership & Administration](/majors/education/educational-administration/educational-leadership-and-administration-general/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 13 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value general educational leadership & administration schools.
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2026 Best Value General Educational Leadership & Administration Schools in Alabama
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general educational leadership & administration degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Educational Leadership & Administration Schools
Leading the list is University Of North Alabama, our #1 best value for general educational leadership & administration in Alabama. Located in the city of Florence, University Of North Alabama is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,120, compared with $22,320 for out-of-state students. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates carry a median of $24,291 in student loans. Early-career general educational leadership & administration graduates make about $41,357. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of North Alabama admits about 87% of applicants.
University Of West Alabama is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general educational leadership & administration, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of West Alabama is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Livingston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,990, compared with $20,090 for out-of-state students. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates carry a median of $31,894 in student loans. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates of University Of West Alabama earn a median of $65,443 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of West Alabama admits about 43% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Auburn University At Montgomery one of the best values for general educational leadership & administration. Auburn University At Montgomery is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Montgomery. In-state tuition and fees average $9,700, while out-of-state students pay about $20,668. Typical student debt for general educational leadership & administration graduates is $29,746. Early-career general educational leadership & administration graduates make about $44,249. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
A rank of #4 makes Jacksonville State University one of the best values for general educational leadership & administration. Located in the suburb of Jacksonville, Jacksonville State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,894, with out-of-state students paying around $23,334. Typical student debt for general educational leadership & administration graduates is $24,751. Soon after graduation, general educational leadership & administration degree recipients from Jacksonville State University generally make around $67,981. Set against $24,751 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Jacksonville State University admits about 78% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes University Of South Alabama one of the best values for general educational leadership & administration. Set in the city of Mobile, University Of South Alabama is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,116, with out-of-state students paying around $19,092. Typical student debt for general educational leadership & administration graduates is $26,513. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates of University Of South Alabama earn a median of $51,592 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Alabama At Birmingham placed #6 among the best values for general educational leadership & administration. Set in the city of Birmingham, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,098, while out-of-state students pay about $22,562. Students borrow a median of $26,162 to complete the general educational leadership & administration program here. Soon after graduation, general educational leadership & administration degree recipients from University Of Alabama At Birmingham generally make around $69,736. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Alabama At Birmingham admits about 88% of applicants.
The University Of Alabama earned the #7 position for value in general educational leadership & administration this year. Set in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,180 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,172. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates carry a median of $24,496 in student loans. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates of The University Of Alabama earn a median of $73,917 early in their careers. Set against $24,496 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Alabama admits about 77% of applicants.
Auburn University earned the #8 position for value in general educational leadership & administration this year. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,890, while out-of-state students pay about $34,922. Typical student debt for general educational leadership & administration graduates is $22,803. Early-career general educational leadership & administration graduates make about $55,619. That is a strong return on a $22,803 median debt. The acceptance rate is 46%.
Samford University came in at #9 for value in general educational leadership & administration this year. Located in the suburb of Birmingham, Samford University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,150. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates carry a median of $21,039 in student loans. Early-career general educational leadership & administration graduates make about $78,489. Set against $21,039 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Samford University admits about 82% of applicants.
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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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.