2026 Best Value Higher Education/Higher Education Administration Schools in Alabama
[Higher Education/Higher Education Administration](/majors/education/educational-administration/higher-education-higher-education-administration/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for higher education/higher education administration students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Higher Education/Higher Education Administration Schools in Alabama
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the higher education/higher education administration degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Higher Education/Higher Education Administration Schools
Leading the list is University Of West Alabama, our #1 best value for higher education/higher education administration in Alabama. Located in the rural area of Livingston, University Of West Alabama is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,990, with out-of-state students paying around $20,090. Students borrow a median of $31,894 to complete the higher education/higher education administration program here. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from University Of West Alabama generally make around $65,443. Set against $31,894 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of West Alabama admits about 43% of applicants.
University Of Alabama At Birmingham came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value higher education/higher education administration schools. Located in the city of Birmingham, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,098 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,562. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates carry a median of $26,162 in student loans. Early-career higher education/higher education administration graduates make about $69,736. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Alabama earned it the #3 place for higher education/higher education administration. Located in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,180, while out-of-state students pay about $34,172. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates carry a median of $24,496 in student loans. Early-career higher education/higher education administration graduates make about $73,917. That is a strong return on a $24,496 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
