by our College Data Analytics TeamIt's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Alabama ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard. A school that typically has a high sticker price may actually be very affordable, depending on how much need-based financial aid you receive.
See What's Included in This Value Report:
Our analysis looked at 38 schools in Alabama to determine which ones have the best value programs. To come up with this ranking of the best value schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
The first step of determing the value of a school in our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Alabama ranking is to look at the school's average net price for students with families that make $30-$48k a year. The net price is the sum of tuition, fees, and room and board minus any financial aid awarded to the student. But, a school that excels in providing value for your money must also be a great school overall as well.
To take this into account we include a school's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a collection of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
We go into more detail on these factors on our best value ranking methodology page.
Keep scrolling for the top schools in this ranking or select one of the other rankings methods below.
If you know what major you want to study, check out our list of the best value schools by major. If you're interested in other degree levels, you can view one of the lists below.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2024 rankings named Wallace Community College, Dothan the best value (income $30-$48k) school in Alabama. Wallace Community College, Dothan is a small public school located in Dothan, Alabama.
Not only is Wallace Community College, Dothan a great value, but it is also ranked #11 in Alabama for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $910.
The quality degree programs at Wallace Community College, Selma helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Alabama. Wallace Community College, Selma is a small public school located in Selma, Alabama.
Not only is Wallace Community College, Selma a great value, but it is also ranked #33 in Alabama for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $2,007.
Out of the 38 schools in Alabama that were part of this year’s ranking, Bishop State Community College landed the #3 spot on the list. Bishop State Community College is located in Mobile, Alabama and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Bishop State Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #24 in Alabama for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $3,040.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwest-Shoals Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Alabama list. Muscle Shoals, Alabama is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Northwest-Shoals Community College is ranked #34 for quality in the state of Alabama. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $1,520.
Read full value report on Northwest-Shoals Community College
Out of the 38 schools in Alabama that were part of this year’s ranking, John C Calhoun State Community College landed the #5 spot on the list. This medium-sized public school is located in Tanner, Alabama.
Not only is John C Calhoun State Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #13 in Alabama for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,616.
Learn More About Value at John C Calhoun State Community College
Northeast Alabama Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Alabama ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Rainsville, Alabama, the school is a small public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Northeast Alabama Community College is ranked #31 for quality in the state of Alabama. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $2,939.
Read full value report on Northeast Alabama Community College
Coastal Alabama Community College landed the #7 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Alabama ranking. Coastal Alabama Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Bay Minette, Alabama.
Coastal Alabama Community College has the honor of being ranked #21 in Alabama for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $5,192.
Gadsden State Community College landed the #8 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Alabama ranking. GSCC is a public institution located in Gadsden, Alabama.
Not only is Gadsden State Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #26 in Alabama for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $4,624.
Wallace State Community College, Hanceville did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Alabama ranking, coming in at #9. Wallace State, Hanceville is a public institution located in Hanceville, Alabama.
Wallace State Community College, Hanceville has the honor of being ranked #14 in Alabama for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $7,803.
Read full value report on Wallace State Community College, Hanceville
Lawson State Community College - Birmingham Campus landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Alabama ranking. This small public school is located in Birmingham, Alabama.
Lawson State Community College - Birmingham Campus has the honor of being ranked #28 in Alabama for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $5,336.
Full Lawson State Community College - Birmingham Campus Value Report
Southern Union State Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Alabama ranking. Wadley, Alabama is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Southern Union State Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #19 in Alabama for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $6,932.
Jefferson State Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Alabama ranking, coming in at #12. Jefferson State Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Birmingham, Alabama.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Jefferson State Community College is ranked #10 for quality in the state of Alabama. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $8,829.
Bevill State Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Alabama list. Jasper, Alabama is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Bevill State Community College is ranked #23 for quality in the state of Alabama. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $7,156.
Lurleen B Wallace Community College landed the #14 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Alabama ranking. Lurleen B Wallace Community College is a small public school located in Andalusia, Alabama.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Lurleen B Wallace Community College is ranked #20 for quality in the state of Alabama. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $7,787.
Learn More About Value at Lurleen B Wallace Community College
University of North Alabama landed the #15 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Alabama ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Florence, Alabama.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of North Alabama is ranked #9 for quality in the state of Alabama. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $10,828.
University of Alabama at Birmingham came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Alabama ranking. This large public school is located in Birmingham, Alabama.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Alabama at Birmingham is ranked #4 for quality in the state of Alabama. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $15,370.
Learn More About Value at University of Alabama at Birmingham
Auburn University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Alabama list. Auburn is a large public school situated in Auburn, Alabama.
Auburn University has the honor of being ranked #1 in Alabama for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $19,313.
University of South Alabama came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Alabama ranking. USA is located in Mobile, Alabama and has a fairly large student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of South Alabama is ranked #7 for quality in the state of Alabama. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $12,976.
Snead State Community College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Alabama ranking. Snead State Community College is a small public school located in Boaz, Alabama.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Snead State Community College is ranked #37 for quality in the state of Alabama. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $7,406.
Shelton State Community College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Alabama list. Located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the school is a small public institution.
Shelton State Community College has the honor of being ranked #27 in Alabama for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,887.
University of Alabama in Huntsville landed the #21 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Alabama ranking. UAH is a public institution located in Huntsville, Alabama.
Not only is University of Alabama in Huntsville a great value, but it is also ranked #6 in Alabama for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $14,646.
Read full value report on University of Alabama in Huntsville
The University of Alabama ranked #22 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Alabama list. Located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the school is a large public institution.
Not only is The University of Alabama a great value, but it is also ranked #2 in Alabama for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $20,121.
University of West Alabama landed the #23 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Alabama ranking. University of West Alabama is located in Livingston, Alabama and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of West Alabama is ranked #5 for quality in the state of Alabama. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $16,479.
With a ranking of #24, Troy University did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Alabama list. TROY is a public institution located in Troy, Alabama.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Troy University is ranked #15 for quality in the state of Alabama. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $12,921.
With a ranking of #25, Central Alabama Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Alabama list. Central Alabama Community College is a public institution located in Alexander City, Alabama.
Not only is Central Alabama Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #38 in Alabama for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $8,734.
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
