2027 Best Value Social Work Schools in Alabama
[Social Work](/majors/social-services-public-administration/social-work/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools to find the best return on investment for social work students.
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2027 Best Value Social Work Schools in Alabama
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in social work, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Social Work Schools
Leading the list is University Of North Alabama, our #1 best value for social work in Alabama. Located in the city of Florence, University Of North Alabama is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,120, compared with $22,320 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $30,500 to complete the social work program here. Early-career social work graduates make about $36,948. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Students looking for strong value in social work will find it at Auburn University At Montgomery, which ranked #2. Auburn University At Montgomery is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Montgomery. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,700, while out-of-state students pay about $20,668. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $29,746. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Auburn University At Montgomery generally make around $44,249. That is a strong return on a $29,746 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Miles College earned it the #3 place for social work. Miles College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Fairfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,314. Social Work graduates carry a median of $35,881 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $32,627. That is a strong return on a $35,881 median debt.
Jacksonville State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in social work, landing the #4 spot this year. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $23,334. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $26,342. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Jacksonville State University generally make around $37,884. Set against $26,342 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Troy University earned it the #5 place for social work. Located in the town of Troy, Troy University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,176, with out-of-state students paying around $20,352. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $30,500. Early-career social work graduates make about $38,334. Set against $30,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
University Of South Alabama placed #6 among the best values for social work. Set in the city of Mobile, University Of South Alabama is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,116, while out-of-state students pay about $19,092. Social Work graduates carry a median of $30,500 in student loans. Social Work graduates of University Of South Alabama earn a median of $33,771 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Alabama A And M University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value social work schools. Set in the city of Normal, Alabama A And M University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,024, with out-of-state students paying around $18,634. Social Work graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Social Work graduates of Alabama A And M University earn a median of $41,151 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 58%.
University Of Montevallo placed #8 among the best values for social work. Set in the town of Montevallo, University Of Montevallo is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,948 in tuition and fees, compared with $26,968 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $27,500. Early-career social work graduates make about $32,262. That is a strong return on a $27,500 median debt. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Alabama At Birmingham ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value social work 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, with out-of-state students paying around $22,562. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $30,000. Early-career social work graduates make about $35,750. That is a strong return on a $30,000 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Alabama placed #10 among the best values for social work. The University Of Alabama is a very large public school located in the city of Tuscaloosa. In-state tuition and fees average $12,180, compared with $34,172 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $25,000. Early-career social work graduates make about $37,575. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Alabama admits about 77% of applicants.
Alabama State University placed #11 among the best values for social work. Located in the city of Montgomery, Alabama State University is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $11,248 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,576 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $39,593 to complete the social work program here. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Alabama State University generally make around $37,420. Set against $39,593 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Auburn University came in at #12 for value in social work this year. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,890 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,922 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,069 to complete the social work program here. Early-career social work graduates make about $46,371. Set against $22,069 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Auburn University admits about 46% of applicants.
Samford University earned the #13 position for value in social work this year. Set in the suburb of Birmingham, Samford University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,150. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $21,039. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Samford University generally make around $44,603. Set against $21,039 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Samford University admits about 82% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
