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 **22** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual evaluated 22 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:
Auburn University earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Colleges ranking in Alabama. Based in Auburn, AL, Auburn University is a public institution. About 82% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $12,890 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,922. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $55,422. Auburn University students take on a median of $22,803 in debt.
You'll be in good company at Samford University, which ranked #2 this year. Located in Birmingham, AL, Samford University is a private not-for-profit institution. Samford University posts a six-year graduation rate of 77%. In-state tuition and fees run about $40,150. Graduates go on to earn a median of $64,132 early in their careers. Samford University students take on a median of $21,039 in debt.
A rank of #3 makes The University Of Alabama one of the top colleges in Alabama. Based in Tuscaloosa, AL, The University Of Alabama is a public institution. The University Of Alabama graduates 73% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,180, while out-of-state students pay about $34,172. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $50,740. Students borrow a median of $24,496 to complete a degree here.
You'll be in good company at University Of Alabama At Huntsville, which ranked #4 this year. Based in Huntsville, AL, University Of Alabama At Huntsville is a public institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,132, while out-of-state students pay about $26,408. University Of Alabama At Huntsville graduates report median early-career earnings of $62,903. The median student debt is $24,797.
You'll be in good company at University Of Alabama At Birmingham, which ranked #5 this year. This public school is set in Birmingham, AL. University Of Alabama At Birmingham posts a six-year graduation rate of 64%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,098, compared with $22,562 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $55,413. Typical student debt is $26,162.
Spring Hill College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in Mobile, AL, Spring Hill College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $24,054 in tuition and fees.
Columbia Southern University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in Orange Beach, AL, Columbia Southern University is a private for-profit institution. Columbia Southern University graduates 26% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,224. Columbia Southern University graduates report median early-career earnings of $63,650. Students borrow a median of $25,447 to complete a degree here.
Jacksonville State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Jacksonville, AL, Jacksonville State University is a public institution. About 55% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,894, while out-of-state students pay about $23,334. Jacksonville State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,361. Graduates carry a median of $24,751 in student loans.
University Of North Alabama placed #9 among the best colleges in Alabama. University Of North Alabama is a public school based in Florence, AL. University Of North Alabama graduates 55% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,120, with out-of-state students paying around $22,320. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $41,357. The median student debt is $24,291.
Athens State University came in at #10 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Athens, AL. Students from in state pay about $10,020 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,700. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $48,808. Graduates carry a median of $27,389 in student loans.
University Of South Alabama did well this year, earning the #11 position. Located in Mobile, AL, University Of South Alabama is a public institution. About 52% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,116, while out-of-state students pay about $19,092. University Of South Alabama graduates report median early-career earnings of $51,592. The median student debt is $26,513.
Troy University did well this year, earning the #12 position. Troy University is a public school based in Troy, AL. Troy University posts a six-year graduation rate of 49%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,176, with out-of-state students paying around $20,352. Median early-career earnings reach $46,723. Students borrow a median of $26,439 to complete a degree here.
University Of West Alabama placed #13 among the best colleges in Alabama. Based in Livingston, AL, University Of West Alabama is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 28%. Students from in state pay about $10,990 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,090 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $53,270. Students borrow a median of $31,894 to complete a degree here.
Auburn University At Montgomery came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Set in Montgomery, AL, Auburn University At Montgomery is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 33%. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,700, while out-of-state students pay about $20,668. Median early-career earnings reach $44,249. Graduates carry a median of $29,746 in student loans.
University Of Montevallo came in at #15 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Montevallo, AL. University Of Montevallo posts a six-year graduation rate of 54%. Students from in state pay about $13,948 in tuition and fees, compared with $26,968 for out-of-state students. University Of Montevallo graduates report median early-career earnings of $36,673. The median student debt is $25,096.
Huntingdon College did well this year, earning the #16 position. Based in Montgomery, AL, Huntingdon College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,070. Median early-career earnings reach $33,649. Graduates carry a median of $28,252 in student loans.
Faulkner University landed the #17 spot in Alabama this year. 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. Graduates carry a median of $29,942 in student loans.
University Of Mobile came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Set in Mobile, AL, University Of Mobile is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,910. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,507 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $30,127.
Tuskegee University did well this year, earning the #19 position. Based in Tuskegee, AL, Tuskegee University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. Students from in state pay about $25,386 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,198 early in their careers. Tuskegee University students take on a median of $29,356 in debt.
Amridge University landed the #20 spot in Alabama this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Montgomery, AL. The six-year graduation rate is 100%. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,470. Amridge University graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,125.
United States Sports Academy did well this year, earning the #21 position. United States Sports Academy is a private not-for-profit school based in Daphne, AL. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,700. Graduates go on to earn a median of $62,592 early in their careers.
Alabama A And M University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Alabama A And M University is a public school based in Normal, AL. Roughly 24% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $10,024, while out-of-state students pay about $18,634. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $45,909. The median student debt is $31,896.
Herzing University Birmingham landed the #23 spot in Alabama this year. Based in Birmingham, AL, Herzing University Birmingham is a private not-for-profit institution. Herzing University Birmingham posts a six-year graduation rate of 25%. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,450. Herzing University Birmingham graduates report median early-career earnings of $50,212. Graduates carry a median of $29,954 in student loans.
Oakwood University came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Oakwood University is a private not-for-profit school based in Huntsville, AL. About 45% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $22,512. Oakwood University graduates report median early-career earnings of $30,724. Oakwood University students take on a median of $43,375 in debt.
Alabama State University did well this year, earning the #25 position. Based in Montgomery, AL, Alabama State University is a public institution. Alabama State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 30%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,248, compared with $19,576 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $37,721 early in their careers. Alabama State University students take on a median of $33,709 in debt.
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.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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.