2023 Best Schools for the Money (No Aid) in Alabama
40
Colleges
$7,468
Avg Undergrad Tuition & Fees*
$7,895
Avg Room & Board*
With all of the options you have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take when you want to pursue a degree. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our Best Colleges for the Money in Alabama ranking is part of that endeavor.
In This Year's Value Report:
Your Choice of School Matters
Our analysis looked at 40 schools in Alabama to determine which ones have the best value programs. Our ranking methodology focuses on different objective factors to make this determination of the best value schools. In the next few paragraphs, we'll talk a little about what we use in our analysis and why.
Our Methodology
Our Best Colleges for the Money in Alabama ranking is determined by first looking at the combined costs of average tuition, fees, and room and board before any aid is applied.
In addition, the overall quality of a school is important to ensure a good education, not just how much it costs.
To make it into this list a school must offer a quality education like the schools in our Best Colleges ranking. This ranking considers factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
Find out more about our best value ranking methodology.
You can scroll down to see the top schools for this ranking, but you may also want to view some of the other ranking methods listed below.
To get a better picture of the best value schools for your income range or for whether or not you'll receive aid, click on one of the tiles above. If you'd rather work on your degree in a specific area of the country, you might be interested in our
rankings by place. In addition, we've put together a number of other
college rankings that may help you in your search.
Know what field you want to major in? Make sure you check out our best value schools by major. In addition, you can select one of the links below to see the best value colleges for other degree levels.
Best Value Schools (No Aid) in Alabama
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
University of West Alabama tops this year’s ranking as the best value (no aid) school in Alabama for overall quality. Livingston, Alabama is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is University of West Alabama a great value, but it is also ranked #5 in Alabama for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $18,584 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $14,462 per year for graduate students.
Full University of West Alabama Value Report
A rank of #2 on our Best Colleges for the Money in Alabama list means Auburn University is a great place for students working on their degree. Located in Auburn, Alabama, the school is a large public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Auburn University is ranked #1 for quality in the state of Alabama. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $26,422 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $26,422 per year for graduate students.
Full Auburn University Value Report
The quality degree programs at The University of Alabama helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of Best Colleges for the Money in Alabama. UA is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and has a large student population. It is a public school.
The University of Alabama has the honor of being ranked #2 in Alabama for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $25,554 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $25,404 per year for graduate students.
Learn More About Value at The University of Alabama
Out of the 40 schools in Alabama that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Alabama at Birmingham landed the #4 spot on the list. Birmingham, Alabama is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
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 cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $20,875 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $20,407 a year.
Read full value report on University of Alabama at Birmingham
The quality degree programs at John C Calhoun State Community College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of Best Colleges for the Money in Alabama. John C Calhoun State Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Tanner, Alabama.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, John C Calhoun State Community College is ranked #13 for quality in the state of Alabama. The average cost without aid for the school is $9,440 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $4,500 a year.
Learn More About Value at John C Calhoun State Community College
University of South Alabama landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Colleges for the Money in Alabama ranking. USA is a fairly large public school situated in Mobile, Alabama.
Not only is University of South Alabama a great value, but it is also ranked #8 in Alabama for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $16,906 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $16,576 a year.
Read full value report on University of South Alabama
Wallace State Community College, Hanceville came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in Alabama ranking. Wallace State Community College, Hanceville is a medium-sized public school located in Hanceville, Alabama.
Not only is Wallace State Community College, Hanceville a great value, but it is also ranked #17 in Alabama for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $9,760 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $4,900 per year for graduate students.
Read full value report on Wallace State Community College, Hanceville
Coastal Alabama Community College landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Colleges for the Money in Alabama ranking. Coastal Alabama Community College is located in Bay Minette, Alabama and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.
Coastal Alabama Community College has the honor of being ranked #18 in Alabama for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $10,760 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $5,900 per year for graduate students.
Read full value report on Coastal Alabama Community College
With a ranking of #9, Northeast Alabama Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Colleges for the Money in Alabama list. This small public school is located in Rainsville, Alabama.
Not only is Northeast Alabama Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #23 in Alabama for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $8,360 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $3,500 per year for graduate students.
Read full value report on Northeast Alabama Community College
Wallace Community College, Dothan ranked #10 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money in Alabama list. Dothan, Alabama is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Wallace Community College, Dothan a great value, but it is also ranked #14 in Alabama for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $14,250 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $9,450 per year for graduate students.
Full Wallace Community College, Dothan Value Report
University of North Alabama came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in Alabama ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Florence, Alabama.
University of North Alabama has the honor of being ranked #9 in Alabama for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $18,586 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $15,106 per year for graduate students.
Read full value report on University of North Alabama
University of Alabama in Huntsville came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in Alabama ranking. Located in Huntsville, Alabama, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Alabama in Huntsville is ranked #6 for quality in the state of Alabama. The average cost without aid for the school is $22,252 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $22,450 a year.
Learn More About Value at University of Alabama in Huntsville
Troy University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money in Alabama list. Troy University is a fairly large public school located in Troy, Alabama.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Troy University is ranked #12 for quality in the state of Alabama. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $16,911 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $16,149 per year for graduate students.
Learn More About Value at Troy University
Herzing University - Birmingham did quite well in the 2023 Best Colleges for the Money in Alabama ranking, coming in at #14. Located in Birmingham, Alabama, the school is a small private not-for-profit institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Herzing University - Birmingham is ranked #7 for quality in the state of Alabama. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $23,443 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $20,923 a year.
Full Herzing University - Birmingham Value Report
Southern Union State Community College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money in Alabama list. Located in Wadley, Alabama, the school is a small public institution.
Southern Union State Community College has the honor of being ranked #28 in Alabama for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $9,460 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $4,600 a year.
Read full value report on Southern Union State Community College
With a ranking of #16, Bevill State Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Colleges for the Money in Alabama list. Bevill State Community College is a public institution located in Jasper, Alabama.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Bevill State Community College is ranked #26 for quality in the state of Alabama. The average cost without aid for the school is $9,790 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $4,576 per year for graduate students.
Full Bevill State Community College Value Report
Gadsden State Community College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money in Alabama list. Located in Gadsden, Alabama, the school is a small public institution.
Gadsden State Community College has the honor of being ranked #25 in Alabama for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $10,048 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $4,800 a year.
Learn More About Value at Gadsden State Community College
Columbia Southern University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Colleges for the Money in Alabama ranking. Columbia Southern University is a fairly large private for-profit school located in Orange Beach, Alabama.
Not only is Columbia Southern University a great value, but it is also ranked #21 in Alabama for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $13,367 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $11,627 per year for graduate students.
Full Columbia Southern University Value Report
Lurleen B Wallace Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Colleges for the Money in Alabama ranking, coming in at #19. Lurleen B. Wallace Community College is a public institution located in Andalusia, Alabama.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Lurleen B Wallace Community College is ranked #29 for quality in the state of Alabama. The average cost without aid for the school is $10,410 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $5,550 per year for graduate students.
Learn More About Value at Lurleen B Wallace Community College
With a ranking of #20, Lawson State Community College - Birmingham Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Colleges for the Money in Alabama list. LSCC - Birmingham Campus is a small public school situated in Birmingham, Alabama.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Lawson State Community College - Birmingham Campus is ranked #30 for quality in the state of Alabama. The average cost without aid for the school is $9,620 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $4,760 per year for graduate students.
Learn More About Value at Lawson State Community College - Birmingham Campus
Athens State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Colleges for the Money in Alabama ranking, coming in at #21. Athens State University is located in Athens, Alabama and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Athens State University has the honor of being ranked #11 in Alabama for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $20,060 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $20,648 a year.
Learn More About Value at Athens State University
Jacksonville State University landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Colleges for the Money in Alabama ranking. Located in Jacksonville, Alabama, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
Jacksonville State University has the honor of being ranked #16 in Alabama for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $19,440 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $18,920 a year.
Learn More About Value at Jacksonville State University
With a ranking of #23, Bishop State Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Colleges for the Money in Alabama list. Bishop State Community College is a small public school situated in Mobile, Alabama.
Not only is Bishop State Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #33 in Alabama for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $11,010 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $6,150 per year for graduate students.
Learn More About Value at Bishop State Community College
Wallace Community College, Selma came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in Alabama ranking. This small public school is located in Selma, Alabama.
Not only is Wallace Community College, Selma a great value, but it is also ranked #32 in Alabama for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $11,960 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $7,400 per year for graduate students.
Full Wallace Community College, Selma Value Report
Shelton State Community College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in Alabama ranking. Tuscaloosa, Alabama is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Shelton State Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #31 in Alabama for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $13,587 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $9,000 a year.
Read full value report on Shelton State Community College
Best Value Schools (No Aid) in the Southeast Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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