by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Alabama, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. This list ranks **19** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual evaluated 19 graduate schools using more than 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:
No school ranked higher than Auburn University this year in Alabama. Auburn University is a public school based in Auburn, AL. Auburn University posts a six-year graduation rate of 82%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,890, compared with $34,922 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,422 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,803 to complete a degree here.
A rank of #2 makes The University Of Alabama one of the top graduate schools in Alabama. Based in Tuscaloosa, AL, The University Of Alabama is a public institution. Roughly 73% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,180, while out-of-state students pay about $34,172. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $50,740. The median student debt is $24,496.
Out of the 19 graduate schools in Alabama in this year's ranking, Samford University landed the #3 spot. Set in Birmingham, AL, Samford University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $40,150. Early-career graduates earn a median of $64,132. Students borrow a median of $21,039 to complete a degree here.
The strong outcomes at University Of Alabama At Huntsville earned it the #4 place in Alabama. University Of Alabama At Huntsville is a public school based in Huntsville, AL. University Of Alabama At Huntsville posts a six-year graduation rate of 64%. In-state tuition and fees average $12,132, compared with $26,408 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $62,903. The median student debt is $24,797.
The strong outcomes at University Of Alabama At Birmingham earned it the #5 place in Alabama. University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a public school based in Birmingham, AL. University Of Alabama At Birmingham graduates 64% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,098, with out-of-state students paying around $22,562. Early-career graduates earn a median of $55,413. The median student debt is $26,162.
Spring Hill College placed #6 among the best graduate schools in Alabama. This private not-for-profit school is set in Mobile, AL. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $24,054.
University Of North Alabama did well this year, earning the #7 position. Set in Florence, AL, University Of North Alabama is a public institution. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,120, with out-of-state students paying around $22,320. University Of North Alabama graduates report median early-career earnings of $41,357. Students borrow a median of $24,291 to complete a degree here.
University Of South Alabama landed the #8 spot in Alabama this year. This public school is set in Mobile, AL. About 52% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,116, while out-of-state students pay about $19,092. Median early-career earnings reach $51,592. University Of South Alabama students take on a median of $26,513 in debt.
Columbia Southern University did well this year, earning the #9 position. 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. Graduates go on to earn a median of $63,650 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,447 to complete a degree here.
University Of West Alabama ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This public school is set in Livingston, AL. University Of West Alabama graduates 28% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,990, with out-of-state students paying around $20,090. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $53,270. University Of West Alabama students take on a median of $31,894 in debt.
Jacksonville State University landed the #11 spot in Alabama this year. Located in Jacksonville, AL, Jacksonville State University is a public institution. Jacksonville State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 55%. Students from in state pay about $12,894 in tuition and fees, compared with $23,334 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $45,361. Jacksonville State University students take on a median of $24,751 in debt.
Auburn University At Montgomery ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Montgomery, AL, Auburn University At Montgomery is a public institution. About 33% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,700, with out-of-state students paying around $20,668. Median early-career earnings reach $44,249. Typical student debt is $29,746.
Athens State University placed #13 among the best graduate schools in Alabama. 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. Typical student debt is $27,389.
Troy University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Troy, AL, Troy University is a public institution. Troy University graduates 49% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $10,176 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,352. Troy University graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,723. Students borrow a median of $26,439 to complete a degree here.
University Of Montevallo came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Set in Montevallo, AL, University Of Montevallo is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,948, while out-of-state students pay about $26,968. University Of Montevallo graduates report median early-career earnings of $36,673. Graduates carry a median of $25,096 in student loans.
University Of Mobile did well this year, earning the #16 position. Set in Mobile, AL, University Of Mobile is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of Mobile posts a six-year graduation rate of 57%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $26,910. University Of Mobile graduates report median early-career earnings of $50,507. Graduates carry a median of $30,127 in student loans.
Faulkner University came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Located in Montgomery, AL, Faulkner University is a private not-for-profit institution. Faulkner University posts a six-year graduation rate of 38%. In-state tuition and fees average $23,920. Graduates go on to earn a median of $46,934 early in their careers. The median student debt is $29,942.
Amridge University placed #18 among the best graduate schools in Alabama. Amridge University is a private not-for-profit school based in Montgomery, AL. Amridge University graduates 100% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,470. Amridge University graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,125.
Tuskegee University landed the #19 spot in Alabama this year. Set in Tuskegee, AL, Tuskegee University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,386. Early-career graduates earn a median of $48,198. Graduates carry a median of $29,356 in student loans.
United States Sports Academy landed the #20 spot in Alabama this year. 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. Median early-career earnings reach $62,592.
Alabama A And M University came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Set in Normal, AL, Alabama A And M University is a public institution. About 24% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,024, compared with $18,634 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,909 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $31,896 to complete a degree here.
Alabama State University did well this year, earning the #22 position. This public school is set in Montgomery, AL. About 30% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $11,248 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,576. Alabama State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $37,721. Typical student debt is $33,709.
Talladega College did well this year, earning the #23 position. Based in Talladega, AL, Talladega College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 31%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,650. Early-career graduates earn a median of $27,568. The median student debt is $31,062.
Heritage Christian University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Heritage Christian University is a private not-for-profit school based in Florence, AL. Heritage Christian University graduates 67% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $11,982 in tuition and fees.
Strayer University Alabama placed #25 among the best graduate schools in Alabama. Based in Birmingham, AL, Strayer University Alabama is a private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,920. Early-career graduates earn a median of $58,506. Graduates carry a median of $47,631 in student loans.
Not far behind, these graduate schools also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
These rankings are produced 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.