2027 Best Value Secondary Education Schools in Alabama
[Secondary Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/secondary-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 14 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value secondary education schools.
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2027 Best Value Secondary Education Schools in Alabama
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the secondary education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Secondary Education Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of North Alabama the best value for a degree in secondary education in Alabama. Set in the city of Florence, University Of North Alabama is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,120 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,320. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $25,000. Secondary Education graduates of University Of North Alabama earn a median of $47,767 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. University Of North Alabama admits about 87% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in secondary education will find it at University Of West Alabama, which ranked #2. Located in the rural area of Livingston, University Of West Alabama is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,990, with out-of-state students paying around $20,090. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $31,894 in student loans. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $54,953. Set against $31,894 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of West Alabama admits about 43% of applicants.
Jacksonville State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in secondary education, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Jacksonville, Jacksonville State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,894, compared with $23,334 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $25,114. Secondary Education graduates of Jacksonville State University earn a median of $46,239 early in their careers. Set against $25,114 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Auburn University At Montgomery is a great value for students pursuing a degree in secondary education, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Montgomery, Auburn University At Montgomery is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,700, compared with $20,668 for out-of-state students. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $30,750 in student loans. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $47,000. That is a strong return on a $30,750 median debt. Auburn University At Montgomery admits about 92% of applicants.
Troy University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value secondary education schools. Troy University is a large public school located in the town of Troy. Students from in state pay about $10,176 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,352. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the secondary education program here. Secondary Education graduates of Troy University earn a median of $48,733 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Troy University admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of South Alabama came in at #6 for value in secondary education this year. Located in the city of Mobile, University Of South Alabama is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,116 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,092. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from University Of South Alabama generally make around $45,991. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Alabama A And M University earned the #7 position for value in secondary education this year. Located in the city of Normal, Alabama A And M University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $10,024 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,634. Students borrow a median of $31,896 to complete the secondary education program here. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $56,295. That is a strong return on a $31,896 median debt. The acceptance rate is 58%.
University Of Montevallo came in at #8 for value in secondary education this year. Located in the town of Montevallo, University Of Montevallo is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,948, with out-of-state students paying around $26,968. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $24,750 in student loans. Secondary Education graduates of University Of Montevallo earn a median of $45,558 early in their careers. Set against $24,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Alabama At Birmingham landed the #9 spot for secondary education value this year. University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a very large public school located in the city of Birmingham. Students from in state pay about $9,098 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,562. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the secondary education program here. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $47,938. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. University Of Alabama At Birmingham admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of Alabama At Huntsville placed #10 among the best values for secondary education. University Of Alabama At Huntsville is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Huntsville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,132, compared with $26,408 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,797 to complete the secondary education program here. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $54,661. That is a strong return on a $24,797 median debt. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Alabama State University came in at #11 for value in secondary education this year. Located in the city of Montgomery, Alabama State University is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,248, compared with $19,576 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $34,750. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $46,178. Set against $34,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 98%.
The University Of Alabama ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value secondary education schools. Located in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,180, with out-of-state students paying around $34,172. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $26,875 in student loans. Secondary Education graduates of The University Of Alabama earn a median of $47,876 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Auburn University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value secondary education schools. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,890, compared with $34,922 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $22,250. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Auburn University generally make around $47,618. Set against $22,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
Samford University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value secondary education schools. Located in the suburb of Birmingham, Samford University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $40,150. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Samford University generally make around $46,164. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Samford University admits about 82% of applicants.
More Secondary Education Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
