by our College Data Analytics Team
Looking for the best colleges for the money in Alabama? Our ranking highlights 65 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology. You are viewing our No Aid ranking, which weighs each school’s published sticker price (tuition, fees, and room and board) before financial aid — see Customize Your Rankings below for aid-adjusted and by-degree views.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual evaluated 65 schools to produce this 2027 best-value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
In This Year’s Value Report:
After analyzing 65 schools in Alabama to determine which deliver the best value. We focus on objective measures, not subjective opinion.
To determine a school’s value, we first add up average tuition, fees, and room and board — the list price before aid is applied (our No Aid ranking). Cost alone isn’t enough — overall quality matters too. So we weigh that cost against outcomes like degree completion, educational resources, student-body caliber, and post-graduation earnings.
The schools that score best offer the strongest return on your investment. See the full methodology.
The best value for you depends on what and where you want to study. Drill down by location and field of study, or explore related rankings below. You can also browse by degree level:
Explore the best values below:
George C Wallace State Community College Dothan tops our 2027 list of the best colleges for the money in Alabama. Located in Dothan, AL, George C Wallace State Community College Dothan is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,980, compared with $8,850 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $9,942 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $31,399 ten years after entry. Set against $9,942 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
You'll get strong value at Northeast Alabama Community College, which ranked #2 this year. Based in Rainsville, AL, Northeast Alabama Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,040, compared with $8,910 for out-of-state students. The median program debt is $7,459. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $34,913. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Reid State Technical College came in at #3 on this year's best-value ranking in Alabama. This public school is set in Evergreen, AL. In-state tuition and fees average $5,454, compared with $9,324 for out-of-state students. The median program debt is $17,319. Graduates go on to earn a median of $28,982 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northwest Shoals Community College earned it the #4 place in Alabama. Set in Muscle Shoals, AL, Northwest Shoals Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,131, while out-of-state students pay about $9,001. The median program debt is $13,312. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $33,828. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
You'll get strong value at Lurleen B Wallace Community College, which ranked #5 this year. Based in Andalusia, AL, Lurleen B Wallace Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,190, compared with $9,060 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $7,500 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $32,307. That is a strong return on a $7,500 median debt.
Snead State Community College placed #6 among the best values in Alabama. Located in Boaz, AL, Snead State Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,278, while out-of-state students pay about $9,148. The median program debt is $12,083. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $35,735. That is a strong return on a $12,083 median debt.
Gadsden State Community College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best colleges for the money. This public school is set in Gadsden, AL. In-state tuition and fees average $4,272, while out-of-state students pay about $7,368. Students borrow a median of $9,312 to complete their program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $32,937 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $9,312 median debt.
Bevill State Community College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best colleges for the money. Located in Jasper, AL, Bevill State Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,734, compared with $8,346 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt is $11,040. Median earnings reach $34,107 ten years out. Set against $11,040 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chattahoochee Valley Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #9 position. This public school is set in Phenix City, AL. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,100, with out-of-state students paying around $8,970. Typical student debt is $13,204. Chattahoochee Valley Community College alumni report median earnings of $36,438 a decade after entry. Set against $13,204 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southern Union State Community College came in at #10 in this year's value ranking. Based in Wadley, AL, Southern Union State Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,030, while out-of-state students pay about $8,874. Typical student debt is $11,555. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $36,597. Set against $11,555 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bishop State Community College placed #11 among the best values in Alabama. Set in Mobile, AL, Bishop State Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,340, while out-of-state students pay about $9,210. Bishop State Community College students take on a median of $13,712 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $29,916 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
John C Calhoun State Community College came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. John C Calhoun State Community College is a public school based in Tanner, AL. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,120, while out-of-state students pay about $8,990. The median program debt is $13,839. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,192. That is a strong return on a $13,839 median debt.
J F Drake State Community And Technical College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best colleges for the money. Set in Huntsville, AL, J F Drake State Community And Technical College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,190 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,060. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $28,281.
Jefferson State Community College landed the #14 spot for value in Alabama this year. Based in Birmingham, AL, Jefferson State Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,100, with out-of-state students paying around $8,970. Jefferson State Community College students take on a median of $15,083 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $40,719. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Marion Military Institute came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. Located in Marion, AL, Marion Military Institute is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,538, while out-of-state students pay about $15,538. Marion Military Institute students take on a median of $12,000 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $59,644 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus landed the #16 spot for value in Alabama this year. Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus is a public school based in Birmingham, AL. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,040, compared with $8,910 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,769 to complete their program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $31,701. Set against $11,769 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of North Alabama came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. Set in Florence, AL, University Of North Alabama is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,120, while out-of-state students pay about $22,320. Graduates carry a median of $24,291 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $45,415. Set against $24,291 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Alabama admits about 87% of applicants.
H Councill Trenholm State Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. H Councill Trenholm State Technical College is a public school based in Montgomery, AL. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,190, compared with $9,060 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $32,183 ten years after entry.
University Of West Alabama placed #19 among the best values in Alabama. This public school is set in Livingston, AL. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,990, compared with $20,090 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt is $31,894. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $44,232. Set against $31,894 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of West Alabama admits about 43% of applicants.
Enterprise State Community College landed the #20 spot for value in Alabama this year. Enterprise State Community College is a public school based in Enterprise, AL. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,100, while out-of-state students pay about $8,970. Graduates carry a median of $7,875 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $42,572. Set against $7,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville landed the #21 spot for value in Alabama this year. This public school is set in Hanceville, AL. Students from in state pay about $5,220 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,090 for out-of-state students. George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville students take on a median of $13,146 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $39,842. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Auburn University At Montgomery ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best colleges for the money. Based in Montgomery, AL, Auburn University At Montgomery is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,700, while out-of-state students pay about $20,668. The median program debt is $29,746. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $44,391. Set against $29,746 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Auburn University At Montgomery admits about 92% of applicants.
George C Wallace State Community College Selma placed #23 among the best values in Alabama. Based in Selma, AL, George C Wallace State Community College Selma is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,740 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,610 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $15,250 in student loans. George C Wallace State Community College Selma alumni report median earnings of $31,598 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $15,250 median debt.
James H Faulkner State Community College placed #24 among the best values in Alabama. Based in Bay Minette, AL, James H Faulkner State Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,040, while out-of-state students pay about $8,910. The median program debt is $14,326. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $34,894. Set against $14,326 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Jacksonville State University offered strong value this year, earning the #25 position. Jacksonville State University is a public school based in Jacksonville, AL. In-state tuition and fees average $12,894, while out-of-state students pay about $23,334. Jacksonville State University students take on a median of $24,751 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $45,235. Set against $24,751 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 78% of those who apply are admitted.
Not far behind, these schools also delivered strong value this year:
*Averages shown above reflect the top 65 ranked schools only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Rankings consider the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Best Colleges For Money · Scope: State · 65 schools evaluated. References
See our data sources and methodologies.