2026 Best Value Public Administration Schools in Alabama
[Public Administration](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-administration/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools to find the best return on investment for public administration students.
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2026 Best Value Public Administration Schools in Alabama
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in public administration, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Public Administration Schools
Leading the list is Troy University, our #1 best value for public administration in Alabama. 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. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $26,439. Early-career public administration graduates make about $51,555. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Students looking for strong value in public administration will find it at Auburn University At Montgomery, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Montgomery, Auburn University At Montgomery is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,700, while out-of-state students pay about $20,668. Students borrow a median of $29,746 to complete the public administration program here. Public Administration graduates of Auburn University At Montgomery earn a median of $44,249 early in their careers. Set against $29,746 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Columbia Southern University earned it the #3 place for public administration. Set in the town of Orange Beach, Columbia Southern University is a very large private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,224. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $25,447. Early-career public administration graduates make about $63,643. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Jacksonville State University earned it the #4 place for public administration. Set in the suburb of Jacksonville, Jacksonville State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,894 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $23,334. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $24,751 in student loans. Early-career public administration graduates make about $45,361. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
University Of South Alabama came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration schools. University Of South Alabama is a large public school located in the city of Mobile. In-state tuition and fees average $10,116, compared with $19,092 for out-of-state students. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $26,513 in student loans. Public Administration graduates of University Of South Alabama earn a median of $51,592 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,513 median debt. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Alabama At Birmingham came in at #6 for value in public administration this year. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $22,562. Students borrow a median of $26,162 to complete the public administration program here. Public Administration graduates of University Of Alabama At Birmingham earn a median of $48,736 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
The University Of Alabama placed #7 among the best values for public administration. Set in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,180, compared with $34,172 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $24,496. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from The University Of Alabama generally make around $50,740. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Auburn University earned the #8 position for value in public administration this year. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,890, while out-of-state students pay about $34,922. Students borrow a median of $22,803 to complete the public administration program here. Public Administration graduates of Auburn University earn a median of $55,422 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,803 median debt. The acceptance rate is 46%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
