2027 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Alabama
[Liberal Arts](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/liberal-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 22 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for liberal arts students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Alabama
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in liberal arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Liberal Arts Schools
Our analysis ranked Northeast Alabama Community College the best value for a degree in liberal arts in Alabama. Set in the rural area of Rainsville, Northeast Alabama Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,040, compared with $8,910 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,987 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $24,228. Set against $7,987 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
George C Wallace State Community College Dothan came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Set in the city of Dothan, George C Wallace State Community College Dothan is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,980 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,850. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $9,942 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of George C Wallace State Community College Dothan earn a median of $26,004 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in liberal arts will find it at Lurleen B Wallace Community College, which ranked #3. Lurleen B Wallace Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Andalusia. Students from in state pay about $5,190 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,060 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $5,500. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Lurleen B Wallace Community College generally make around $24,295. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northwest Shoals Community College earned it the #4 place for liberal arts. Located in the city of Muscle Shoals, Northwest Shoals Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,131, compared with $9,001 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,000 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Northwest Shoals Community College generally make around $20,414. That is a strong return on a $10,000 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in liberal arts will find it at Gadsden State Community College, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Gadsden, Gadsden State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,272, while out-of-state students pay about $7,368. Students borrow a median of $7,774 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $18,926. That is a strong return on a $7,774 median debt.
Bishop State Community College came in at #6 for value in liberal arts this year. Bishop State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Mobile. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,340, with out-of-state students paying around $9,210. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $8,355 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Bishop State Community College generally make around $22,764. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chattahoochee Valley Community College earned the #7 position for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the suburb of Phenix City, Chattahoochee Valley Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,100, while out-of-state students pay about $8,970. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $11,149. Liberal Arts graduates of Chattahoochee Valley Community College earn a median of $28,470 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bevill State Community College landed the #8 spot for liberal arts value this year. Located in the town of Jasper, Bevill State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,734 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,346 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,750 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of Bevill State Community College earn a median of $25,063 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,750 median debt.
Southern Union State Community College earned the #9 position for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the rural area of Wadley, Southern Union State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,030, compared with $8,874 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $9,860 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Southern Union State Community College generally make around $44,385. That is a strong return on a $9,860 median debt.
Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Located in the city of Birmingham, Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,040 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,910 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $7,500. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $26,759. Set against $7,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
H Councill Trenholm State Technical College landed the #11 spot for liberal arts value this year. Located in the city of Montgomery, H Councill Trenholm State Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,190, while out-of-state students pay about $9,060. Graduates go on to earn a median of $32,183 ten years after entry.
Marion Military Institute placed #12 among the best values for liberal arts. Marion Military Institute is a small public school located in the rural area of Marion. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,538, while out-of-state students pay about $15,538. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Marion Military Institute earn a median of $25,501 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Jefferson State Community College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Set in the city of Birmingham, Jefferson State Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,100 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,970. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $11,000. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Jefferson State Community College generally make around $28,176. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Enterprise State Community College came in at #14 for value in liberal arts this year. Enterprise State Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Enterprise. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,100, while out-of-state students pay about $8,970. Students borrow a median of $7,875 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of Enterprise State Community College earn a median of $22,991 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,875 median debt.
George C Wallace State Community College Selma earned the #15 position for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the town of Selma, George C Wallace State Community College Selma is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,740, compared with $8,610 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $8,750. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from George C Wallace State Community College Selma generally make around $18,355. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Set in the rural area of Hanceville, George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,220, while out-of-state students pay about $9,090. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $12,175. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $21,919. Set against $12,175 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Auburn University At Montgomery came in at #17 for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Montgomery, Auburn University At Montgomery is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,700, compared with $20,668 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $29,746. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $33,708. That is a strong return on a $29,746 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
James H Faulkner State Community College landed the #18 spot for liberal arts value this year. Located in the town of Bay Minette, James H Faulkner State Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,040, while out-of-state students pay about $8,910. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $22,329. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Jacksonville State University came in at #19 for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the suburb of Jacksonville, Jacksonville State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,894 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $23,334. Students borrow a median of $27,546 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Jacksonville State University generally make around $30,939. That is a strong return on a $27,546 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Shelton State Community College landed the #20 spot for liberal arts value this year. Shelton State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Tuscaloosa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,127, compared with $8,997 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $7,375 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Shelton State Community College generally make around $23,390. That is a strong return on a $7,375 median debt.
Central Alabama Community College earned the #21 position for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the town of Alexander City, Central Alabama Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,110, with out-of-state students paying around $8,980. Students borrow a median of $9,911 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $24,698. That is a strong return on a $9,911 median debt.
The University Of Alabama earned the #22 position for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,180, with out-of-state students paying around $34,172. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $24,496. Liberal Arts graduates of The University Of Alabama earn a median of $50,740 early in their careers. Set against $24,496 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
More Liberal Arts Rankings
View All Liberal Arts Rankings >
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 · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 22 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.
