by our College Data Analytics Team
Looking for the best colleges for the money in Alabama? Our ranking highlights 42 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 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 42 schools to produce this 2026 best-value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
In This Year’s Value Report:
After analyzing 42 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:
Northeast Alabama Community College tops our 2026 list of the best colleges for the money in Alabama. 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.
A rank of #2 makes George C Wallace State Community College Dothan one of the best values 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.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lurleen B Wallace Community College earned it the #3 place in Alabama. 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.
A rank of #4 makes Gadsden State Community College one of the best values in Alabama. 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.
Out of the 42 schools in Alabama in this year's value ranking, Northwest Shoals Community College landed the #5 spot. 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.
George C Wallace State Community College Selma landed the #6 spot for value in Alabama this year. 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.
Bevill State Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #7 position. 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.
Bishop State Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for the money. 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.
Snead State Community College placed #9 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.
H Councill Trenholm State Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #10 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.
Chattahoochee Valley Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for the money. 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.
J F Drake State Community And Technical College ranked #12 on our 2026 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.
John C Calhoun State Community College landed the #13 spot for value in Alabama this year. 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.
Enterprise State Community College placed #14 among the best values in Alabama. 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.
Southern Union State Community College landed the #15 spot for value in Alabama this year. 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.
Jefferson State Community College placed #16 among the best values in Alabama. 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.
Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for the money. 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.
Marion Military Institute landed the #18 spot for value in Alabama this year. 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.
University Of North Alabama offered strong value this year, earning the #19 position. 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.
James H Faulkner State Community College landed the #20 spot for value in Alabama this year. 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.
Shelton State Community College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for the money. Set in Tuscaloosa, AL, Shelton State Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,127, compared with $8,997 for out-of-state students. Shelton State Community College students take on a median of $10,688 in debt. Shelton State Community College alumni report median earnings of $35,014 a decade after entry. Set against $10,688 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of West Alabama placed #22 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.
Stillman College came in at #23 in this year's value ranking. Stillman College is a private not-for-profit school based in Tuscaloosa, AL. In-state tuition and fees average $12,126. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $35,421. The acceptance rate is 62%.
Troy University landed the #24 spot for value in Alabama this year. Located in Troy, AL, Troy University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,176, with out-of-state students paying around $20,352. Graduates carry a median of $26,439 in student loans. Troy University alumni report median earnings of $42,062 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $26,439 median debt. About 96% of those who apply are admitted.
George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. 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.
Not far behind, these schools also delivered strong value this year:
*Averages shown above reflect the top 42 ranked schools only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 42 schools evaluated. References
See our data sources and methodologies.