2026 Best Value Sociology Schools in Alabama
[Sociology](/majors/social-sciences/sociology/sociology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 18 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for sociology students.
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2026 Best Value Sociology Schools in Alabama
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in sociology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Sociology Schools
Leading the list is University Of North Alabama, our #1 best value for sociology in Alabama. Located in the city of Florence, University Of North Alabama is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,120, while out-of-state students pay about $22,320. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $26,750. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of North Alabama generally make around $30,591. Set against $26,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Troy University earned it the #2 place for sociology. Located in the town of Troy, Troy University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,176, compared with $20,352 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $43,500 to complete the sociology program here. Early-career sociology graduates make about $26,803. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Troy University admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of Alabama At Birmingham came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value sociology schools. Set in the city of Birmingham, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,098, while out-of-state students pay about $22,562. Sociology graduates carry a median of $28,979 in student loans. Sociology graduates of University Of Alabama At Birmingham earn a median of $36,515 early in their careers. Set against $28,979 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in sociology will find it at Auburn University, which ranked #4. Auburn University is a very large public school located in the city of Auburn. In-state tuition and fees average $12,890, while out-of-state students pay about $34,922. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $22,250. Early-career sociology graduates make about $35,378. Set against $22,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 18 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.
