by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Alabama, it can be hard to know where to start. This list ranks **23** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual reviewed 23 colleges on more than 20 objective measures such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Learn more about these excellent colleges below:
Our analysis found Columbia Southern University to be the best college in Alabama. Based in Orange Beach, AL, Columbia Southern University is a private for-profit institution. Columbia Southern University graduates 26% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $6,224 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $63,650. Graduates carry a median of $25,447 in student loans.
A rank of #2 makes George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville one of the top colleges in Alabama. This public school is set in Hanceville, AL. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,220, while out-of-state students pay about $9,090. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $40,017. The median student debt is $13,146.
The strong outcomes at Northeast Alabama Community College earned it the #3 place in Alabama. Located in Rainsville, AL, Northeast Alabama Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,040, while out-of-state students pay about $8,910. Graduates go on to earn a median of $35,119 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $7,459 in student loans.
Out of the 23 colleges in Alabama in this year's ranking, Troy University landed the #4 spot. Set in Troy, AL, Troy University is a public institution. About 49% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,176, compared with $20,352 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $46,723. Students borrow a median of $26,439 to complete a degree here.
Out of the 23 colleges in Alabama in this year's ranking, Marion Military Institute landed the #5 spot. Set in Marion, AL, Marion Military Institute is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,538, with out-of-state students paying around $15,538. Median early-career earnings reach $25,501. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete a degree here.
Jefferson State Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Birmingham, AL. In-state tuition and fees average $5,100, compared with $8,970 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $42,861. Jefferson State Community College students take on a median of $15,083 in debt.
Bevill State Community College placed #7 among the best colleges in Alabama. Set in Jasper, AL, Bevill State Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,734, while out-of-state students pay about $8,346. Median early-career earnings reach $38,514. Typical student debt is $11,040.
George C Wallace State Community College Dothan came in at #8 in this year's ranking. George C Wallace State Community College Dothan is a public school based in Dothan, AL. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,980, with out-of-state students paying around $8,850. George C Wallace State Community College Dothan graduates report median early-career earnings of $34,762. Students borrow a median of $9,942 to complete a degree here.
Southern Union State Community College came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Southern Union State Community College is a public school based in Wadley, AL. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,030, with out-of-state students paying around $8,874. Southern Union State Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $44,385. Students borrow a median of $11,555 to complete a degree here.
Northwest Shoals Community College landed the #10 spot in Alabama this year. Northwest Shoals Community College is a public school based in Muscle Shoals, AL. In-state tuition and fees average $5,131, while out-of-state students pay about $9,001. Graduates go on to earn a median of $33,842 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $13,312 in student loans.
Shelton State Community College did well this year, earning the #11 position. Shelton State Community College is a public school based in Tuscaloosa, AL. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,127, while out-of-state students pay about $8,997. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,403. The median student debt is $10,688.
John C Calhoun State Community College landed the #12 spot in Alabama this year. Located in Tanner, AL, John C Calhoun State Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,120, while out-of-state students pay about $8,990. Median early-career earnings reach $42,916. Students borrow a median of $13,839 to complete a degree here.
James H Faulkner State Community College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. 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. Early-career graduates earn a median of $52,231. James H Faulkner State Community College students take on a median of $14,326 in debt.
Lurleen B Wallace Community College landed the #14 spot in Alabama this year. Located in Andalusia, AL, Lurleen B Wallace Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,190 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,060 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $36,027. The median student debt is $7,500.
Snead State Community College came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Snead State Community College is a public school based in Boaz, AL. In-state tuition and fees average $5,278, compared with $9,148 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $40,626. Snead State Community College students take on a median of $12,083 in debt.
Enterprise State Community College placed #16 among the best colleges in Alabama. Based in Enterprise, AL, Enterprise State Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,100, while out-of-state students pay about $8,970. Enterprise State Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $22,991. Enterprise State Community College students take on a median of $7,875 in debt.
Herzing University Birmingham landed the #17 spot in Alabama this year. Located in Birmingham, AL, Herzing University Birmingham is a private not-for-profit institution. Herzing University Birmingham graduates 25% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,450. Herzing University Birmingham graduates report median early-career earnings of $50,212. Students borrow a median of $29,954 to complete a degree here.
Gadsden State Community College placed #18 among the best colleges in Alabama. Located in Gadsden, AL, Gadsden State Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,272, while out-of-state students pay about $7,368. Gadsden State Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $34,710. Students borrow a median of $9,312 to complete a degree here.
University Of Mobile landed the #19 spot in Alabama this year. University Of Mobile is a private not-for-profit school based in Mobile, AL. About 57% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $26,910. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,507 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $30,127 to complete a degree here.
University Of West Alabama ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Livingston, AL, University Of West Alabama is a public institution. Roughly 28% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,990, with out-of-state students paying around $20,090. Early-career graduates earn a median of $53,270. University Of West Alabama students take on a median of $31,894 in debt.
Chattahoochee Valley Community College came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Located in Phenix City, AL, Chattahoochee Valley Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,100, compared with $8,970 for out-of-state students. Chattahoochee Valley Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $53,099. Chattahoochee Valley Community College students take on a median of $13,204 in debt.
Bishop State Community College did well this year, earning the #22 position. This public school is set in Mobile, AL. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,340, with out-of-state students paying around $9,210. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $35,475. Bishop State Community College students take on a median of $13,712 in debt.
Faulkner University placed #23 among the best colleges in Alabama. Based in Montgomery, AL, Faulkner University is a private not-for-profit institution. Faulkner University graduates 38% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $23,920. Median early-career earnings reach $46,934. The median student debt is $29,942.
Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus placed #24 among the best colleges in Alabama. Located in Birmingham, AL, Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,040, with out-of-state students paying around $8,910. Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus graduates report median early-career earnings of $40,090. Typical student debt is $11,769.
Amridge University placed #25 among the best colleges in Alabama. Set in Montgomery, AL, Amridge University is a private not-for-profit institution. Amridge University graduates 100% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,470. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $46,125.
Not far behind, these colleges also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
See our data sources and methodologies.