by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Alabama, it can be hard to know where to start. We have ranked **42** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual evaluated 42 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.
Not every student is looking for the same thing. Drill down by location and field of study, or explore other rankings below. You can also browse by degree level:
Want to compare schools head to head? We built a tool called College Combat to build custom comparisons using the factors most important to you.
Explore the leading colleges below:
Auburn University earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Colleges ranking in Alabama. This public school is set in Auburn, AL. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. In-state tuition and fees average $12,890, with out-of-state students paying around $34,922. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,422 early in their careers. The median student debt is $22,803.
Samford University came in at #2 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Alabama. Based in Birmingham, AL, Samford University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,150. Median early-career earnings reach $64,132. Typical student debt is $21,039.
Out of the 42 colleges in Alabama in this year's ranking, The University Of Alabama landed the #3 spot. Set in Tuscaloosa, AL, The University Of Alabama is a public institution. The University Of Alabama posts a six-year graduation rate of 73%. Students from in state pay about $12,180 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,172. Median early-career earnings reach $50,740. Students borrow a median of $24,496 to complete a degree here.
Out of the 42 colleges in Alabama in this year's ranking, University Of Alabama At Huntsville landed the #4 spot. This public school is set in Huntsville, AL. About 64% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,132, with out-of-state students paying around $26,408. Median early-career earnings reach $62,903. Graduates carry a median of $24,797 in student loans.
The strong outcomes at University Of Alabama At Birmingham earned it the #5 place in Alabama. Located in Birmingham, AL, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a public institution. University Of Alabama At Birmingham graduates 64% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $9,098, while out-of-state students pay about $22,562. Median early-career earnings reach $55,413. Graduates carry a median of $26,162 in student loans.
Spring Hill College placed #6 among the best colleges in Alabama. Spring Hill College is a private not-for-profit school based in Mobile, AL. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. In-state tuition and fees average $24,054.
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. About 26% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $6,224 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $63,650. The median student debt is $25,447.
University Of North Alabama came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Set in Florence, AL, University Of North Alabama is a public institution. University Of North Alabama posts a six-year graduation rate of 55%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,120, while out-of-state students pay about $22,320. Median early-career earnings reach $41,357. Typical student debt is $24,291.
University Of South Alabama placed #9 among the best colleges in Alabama. This public school is set in Mobile, AL. About 52% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $10,116 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,092 for out-of-state students. University Of South Alabama graduates report median early-career earnings of $51,592. Students borrow a median of $26,513 to complete a degree here.
Jacksonville State University placed #10 among the best colleges in Alabama. Jacksonville State University is a public school based in Jacksonville, AL. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. In-state tuition and fees average $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.
Athens State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in Athens, AL, Athens State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,020, with out-of-state students paying around $17,700. Median early-career earnings reach $48,808. Typical student debt is $27,389.
University Of West Alabama came in at #12 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Livingston, AL. The six-year graduation rate is 28%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,990, compared with $20,090 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $53,270. Typical student debt is $31,894.
George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville did well this year, earning the #13 position. 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. Median early-career earnings reach $40,017. Typical student debt is $13,146.
Auburn University At Montgomery did well this year, earning the #14 position. Based in Montgomery, AL, Auburn University At Montgomery is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 33%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,700, while out-of-state students pay about $20,668. Median early-career earnings reach $44,249. The median student debt is $29,746.
Northeast Alabama Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. 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. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $35,119. Typical student debt is $7,459.
Marion Military Institute ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. 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 graduates report median early-career earnings of $25,501. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete a degree here.
Troy University landed the #17 spot in Alabama this year. Located in Troy, AL, Troy University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. In-state tuition and fees average $10,176, with out-of-state students paying around $20,352. Early-career graduates earn a median of $46,723. Graduates carry a median of $26,439 in student loans.
Jefferson State Community College placed #18 among the best colleges 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 graduates report median early-career earnings of $42,861. Graduates carry a median of $15,083 in student loans.
Huntingdon College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in Montgomery, AL, Huntingdon College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $29,070. Median early-career earnings reach $33,649. Typical student debt is $28,252.
Bevill State Community College landed the #20 spot in Alabama this year. 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. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $38,514. Graduates carry a median of $11,040 in student loans.
Enterprise State Community College landed the #21 spot 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 go on to earn a median of $22,991 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $7,875.
University Of Montevallo did well this year, earning the #22 position. This public school is set in Montevallo, AL. University Of Montevallo posts a six-year graduation rate of 54%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,948, with out-of-state students paying around $26,968. Median early-career earnings reach $36,673. Graduates carry a median of $25,096 in student loans.
George C Wallace State Community College Dothan came in at #23 in this year's ranking. 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. 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.
Northwest Shoals Community College placed #24 among the best colleges 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. Early-career graduates earn a median of $33,842. Typical student debt is $13,312.
Southern Union State Community College did well this year, earning the #25 position. 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. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,385 early in their careers. Southern Union State Community College students take on a median of $11,555 in debt.
These colleges rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Colleges are scored on 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.