by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Alabama, narrowing things down is no easy task. Our ranking highlights **16** programs by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual evaluated 16 graduate schools across over 20 objective factors 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.
This is how starting salaries are distributed among the top-ranked graduate schools:
Here are the top-ranked graduate schools:
Samford University earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Alabama. Samford University is a private not-for-profit school based in Birmingham, AL. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. In-state tuition and fees run about $40,150. Early-career graduates earn a median of $64,132. Graduates carry a median of $21,039 in student loans.
Out of the 16 graduate schools in Alabama in this year's ranking, Auburn University landed the #2 spot. Based in Auburn, AL, Auburn University is a public institution. Auburn University posts a six-year graduation rate of 82%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,890, while out-of-state students pay about $34,922. Auburn University graduates report median early-career earnings of $55,422. Graduates carry a median of $22,803 in student loans.
You'll be in good company at The University Of Alabama, which ranked #3 this year. Located in Tuscaloosa, AL, The University Of Alabama is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. In-state tuition and fees average $12,180, while out-of-state students pay about $34,172. Early-career graduates earn a median of $50,740. Typical student debt is $24,496.
University Of Alabama At Birmingham came in at #4 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Alabama. Located in Birmingham, AL, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a public institution. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,098, compared with $22,562 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,413 early in their careers. The median student debt is $26,162.
University Of Alabama At Huntsville came in at #5 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Alabama. Located in Huntsville, AL, University Of Alabama At Huntsville is a public institution. University Of Alabama At Huntsville graduates 64% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $12,132 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $26,408. Graduates go on to earn a median of $62,903 early in their careers. University Of Alabama At Huntsville students take on a median of $24,797 in debt.
University Of South Alabama did well this year, earning the #6 position. Set in Mobile, AL, University Of South Alabama is a public institution. About 52% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $10,116 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,092. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,592 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,513 to complete a degree here.
University Of West Alabama came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Based in Livingston, AL, University Of West Alabama is a public institution. About 28% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $10,990 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,090. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $53,270. Students borrow a median of $31,894 to complete a degree here.
Columbia Southern University came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Columbia Southern University is a private for-profit school based in Orange Beach, AL. Roughly 26% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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.
Jacksonville State University landed the #9 spot in Alabama this year. Set in Jacksonville, AL, Jacksonville State University is a public institution. Jacksonville State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 55%. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,894, with out-of-state students paying around $23,334. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,361 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,751 to complete a degree here.
University Of North Alabama landed the #10 spot in Alabama this year. University Of North Alabama is a public school based in Florence, AL. University Of North Alabama posts a six-year graduation rate of 55%. Students from in state pay about $12,120 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,320 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $41,357. Students borrow a median of $24,291 to complete a degree here.
University Of Mobile ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Mobile, AL. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $26,910. University Of Mobile graduates report median early-career earnings of $50,507. The median student debt is $30,127.
Troy University came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Based in Troy, AL, Troy University is a public institution. About 49% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,176, with out-of-state students paying around $20,352. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $46,723. Troy University students take on a median of $26,439 in debt.
Amridge University came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Based in Montgomery, AL, Amridge University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 100%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,470. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $46,125.
Tuskegee University landed the #14 spot in Alabama this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Tuskegee, AL. About 55% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $25,386. Tuskegee University graduates report median early-career earnings of $48,198. Students borrow a median of $29,356 to complete a degree here.
Faulkner University placed #15 among the best graduate schools in Alabama. Set in Montgomery, AL, Faulkner University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 38% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $23,920. Graduates go on to earn a median of $46,934 early in their careers. Faulkner University students take on a median of $29,942 in debt.
Alabama State University did well this year, earning the #16 position. Located in Montgomery, AL, Alabama State University is a public institution. Alabama State University graduates 30% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $11,248 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,576. Median early-career earnings reach $37,721. Students borrow a median of $33,709 to complete a degree here.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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.