Best Colleges in Alabama

Most Popular Degrees and Careers in Alabama

Best Associate Degrees in Alabama

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The best associate degree programs in Alabama must stand from the available 23 technical and community colleges in the state, not to mention larger schools that offer associate degrees. One way to do this is through accreditation, which measures the quality of the institution and its faculty as well as evaluating the quality of the degree programs.

Community colleges offer one of the more affordable avenues toward a postsecondary education. Tuition generally costs less and you can graduate with an associate degree.

Lurleen B Wallace Community College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 1,767 Graduation Rate 33% Net Price $6,913 Grads Salary $66,000

George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 4,985 Graduation Rate 45% Net Price $6,107 Grads Salary $55,000

Northeast Alabama Community College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 2,981 Graduation Rate 47% Net Price $3,351 Grads Salary $49,000

Snead State Community College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 2,237 Graduation Rate 50% Net Price $6,116 Grads Salary $49,000

George C Wallace Community College-Dothan

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 4,478 Graduation Rate 29% Net Price $2,699 Grads Salary $59,000

Northwest-Shoals Community College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 3,512 Graduation Rate 25% Net Price $6,460 Grads Salary $65,000

Gadsden State Community College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 4,599 Graduation Rate 27% Net Price $4,776 Grads Salary $55,000

Fortis College-Montgomery

College Type 2-year, Private for-profit Campus Housing No Student Population 342 Graduation Rate 53% Net Price $21,053 Grads Salary $54,000

Central Alabama Community College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 1,799 Graduation Rate 19% Net Price $3,776 Grads Salary $57,000

Chattahoochee Valley Community College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 1,592 Graduation Rate 22% Net Price $3,125 Grads Salary $54,000

Full Ranking Report

Enterprise State Community College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 1,804 Graduation Rate 26% Net Price $4,401 Grads Salary $52,400

John C Calhoun State Community College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 9,315 Graduation Rate 29% Net Price $6,077 Grads Salary $49,000

Lawson State Community College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 3,375 Graduation Rate 21% Net Price $7,843 Grads Salary $56,000

Bevill State Community College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 3,787 Graduation Rate 31% Net Price $8,978 Grads Salary $48,900

J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 789 Graduation Rate 7% Net Price $5,977 Grads Salary $59,000

H. Councill Trenholm State Community College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 2,042 Graduation Rate 18% Net Price $6,425 Grads Salary $49,000

Jefferson State Community College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 8,711 Graduation Rate 16% Net Price $9,044 Grads Salary $52,000

Shelton State Community College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 4,201 Graduation Rate 15% Net Price $8,847 Grads Salary $52,000

Bishop State Community College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 2,846 Graduation Rate 21% Net Price $4,868 Grads Salary $41,000

Coastal Alabama Community College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 7,535 Graduation Rate 19% Net Price $8,453 Grads Salary $45,000

Southern Union State Community College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 4,655 Graduation Rate 24% Net Price $9,467 Grads Salary $40,000

George C Wallace State Community College-Selma

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 1,529 Graduation Rate 34% Net Price $5,192 Grads Salary NA

Best Bachelor's Degrees in Alabama

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Colleges and universities offering bachelor’s degrees are abundant in Alabama. The colleges and universities reflect the values of the state’s residents—friendly and loaded with Southern charm. There are Christian schools available and some are classified as Historically Black Universities and Colleges (HBUC). You may be able to determine the quality of the education provided by reviewing retention and graduation rates.

Auburn University

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 30,460 Graduation Rate 79% Net Price $24,028 Grads Salary $70,800

University of Alabama in Huntsville

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 9,988 Graduation Rate 57% Net Price $16,990 Grads Salary $75,300

Birmingham-Southern College

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 1,209 Graduation Rate 71% Net Price $21,474 Grads Salary $70,000

University of Alabama at Birmingham

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 22,563 Graduation Rate 61% Net Price $16,978 Grads Salary $70,600

The University of Alabama

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 38,100 Graduation Rate 72% Net Price $20,518 Grads Salary $64,000

University of South Alabama

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 14,397 Graduation Rate 45% Net Price $14,822 Grads Salary $70,800

Troy University

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 16,497 Graduation Rate 50% Net Price $13,257 Grads Salary $65,700

Jacksonville State University

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 9,238 Graduation Rate 46% Net Price $13,616 Grads Salary $64,300

Columbia Southern University

College Type 4-year, Private for-profit Campus Housing No Student Population 18,533 Graduation Rate 30% Net Price $11,241 Grads Salary $70,900

University of North Alabama

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 7,702 Graduation Rate 50% Net Price $13,279 Grads Salary $61,000

Full Ranking Report

Samford University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 5,692 Graduation Rate 77% Net Price $31,322 Grads Salary $64,400

Judson College

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 250 Graduation Rate 48% Net Price $17,706 Grads Salary $60,000

Spring Hill College

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 1,290 Graduation Rate 57% Net Price $23,067 Grads Salary $59,900

Tuskegee University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 2,876 Graduation Rate 52% Net Price $36,528 Grads Salary $75,600

Auburn University at Montgomery

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 5,188 Graduation Rate 30% Net Price $14,182 Grads Salary $62,500

University of Mobile

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 1,989 Graduation Rate 49% Net Price $22,197 Grads Salary $59,600

Alabama State University

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 4,190 Graduation Rate 32% Net Price $13,282 Grads Salary $59,100

Talladega College

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 1,239 Graduation Rate 30% Net Price $17,180 Grads Salary $63,800

University of Montevallo

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 2,553 Graduation Rate 54% Net Price $18,702 Grads Salary $51,200

Alabama A&M University

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 6,172 Graduation Rate 29% Net Price $15,373 Grads Salary $62,000

University of West Alabama

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 5,653 Graduation Rate 40% Net Price $15,685 Grads Salary $55,500

Oakwood University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 1,526 Graduation Rate 50% Net Price $27,330 Grads Salary $58,900

Herzing University-Birmingham

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing No Student Population 586 Graduation Rate 22% Net Price $25,741 Grads Salary $71,000

Amridge University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing No Student Population 833 Graduation Rate 25% Net Price $16,602 Grads Salary $59,000

Strayer University-Alabama

College Type 4-year, Private for-profit Campus Housing No Student Population 1,738 Graduation Rate 50% Net Price $23,379 Grads Salary $50,000

Huntingdon College

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 1,008 Graduation Rate 42% Net Price $22,026 Grads Salary $52,900

South University-Montgomery

College Type 4-year, Private for-profit Campus Housing No Student Population 307 Graduation Rate 14% Net Price $21,140 Grads Salary $68,000

Faulkner University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 3,036 Graduation Rate 27% Net Price $19,889 Grads Salary $58,300

Stillman College

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 861 Graduation Rate 22% Net Price $20,230 Grads Salary $58,400

Remington College-Mobile

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing No Student Population 306 Graduation Rate 49% Net Price $19,665 Grads Salary $42,000

Heritage Christian University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 86 Graduation Rate 14% Net Price $13,571 Grads Salary $52,000

Miles College-Fairfield

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 1,456 Graduation Rate 24% Net Price $14,740 Grads Salary $46,200

Athens State University

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 2,941 Graduation Rate 49% Net Price NA Grads Salary $60,000

Best Master's Degrees in Alabama

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The best way to choose a program is to look at the quality and accreditation of the degree programs you’re interested in. You can ask faculty about the challenge the program presents to students. These will give you a good indication of whether or not the graduate school you’re considering is the best one for you. If you are looking for an MBA, you may want to check out our best MBA program rankings in Alabama.

Auburn University

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 30,460 Graduation Rate 79% Net Price $24,028 Grads Salary $70,800

University of Alabama in Huntsville

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 9,988 Graduation Rate 57% Net Price $16,990 Grads Salary $75,300

University of Alabama at Birmingham

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 22,563 Graduation Rate 61% Net Price $16,978 Grads Salary $70,600

The University of Alabama

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 38,100 Graduation Rate 72% Net Price $20,518 Grads Salary $64,000

University of South Alabama

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 14,397 Graduation Rate 45% Net Price $14,822 Grads Salary $70,800

Troy University

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 16,497 Graduation Rate 50% Net Price $13,257 Grads Salary $65,700

Jacksonville State University

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 9,238 Graduation Rate 46% Net Price $13,616 Grads Salary $64,300

Columbia Southern University

College Type 4-year, Private for-profit Campus Housing No Student Population 18,533 Graduation Rate 30% Net Price $11,241 Grads Salary $70,900

University of North Alabama

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 7,702 Graduation Rate 50% Net Price $13,279 Grads Salary $61,000

Samford University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 5,692 Graduation Rate 77% Net Price $31,322 Grads Salary $64,400

Full Ranking Report

Spring Hill College

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 1,290 Graduation Rate 57% Net Price $23,067 Grads Salary $59,900

Tuskegee University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 2,876 Graduation Rate 52% Net Price $36,528 Grads Salary $75,600

Auburn University at Montgomery

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 5,188 Graduation Rate 30% Net Price $14,182 Grads Salary $62,500

University of Mobile

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 1,989 Graduation Rate 49% Net Price $22,197 Grads Salary $59,600

Alabama State University

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 4,190 Graduation Rate 32% Net Price $13,282 Grads Salary $59,100

Talladega College

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 1,239 Graduation Rate 30% Net Price $17,180 Grads Salary $63,800

University of Montevallo

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 2,553 Graduation Rate 54% Net Price $18,702 Grads Salary $51,200

Alabama A&M University

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 6,172 Graduation Rate 29% Net Price $15,373 Grads Salary $62,000

University of West Alabama

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 5,653 Graduation Rate 40% Net Price $15,685 Grads Salary $55,500

Oakwood University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 1,526 Graduation Rate 50% Net Price $27,330 Grads Salary $58,900

Herzing University-Birmingham

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing No Student Population 586 Graduation Rate 22% Net Price $25,741 Grads Salary $71,000

Amridge University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing No Student Population 833 Graduation Rate 25% Net Price $16,602 Grads Salary $59,000

Strayer University-Alabama

College Type 4-year, Private for-profit Campus Housing No Student Population 1,802 Graduation Rate 50% Net Price $23,379 Grads Salary $50,000

South University-Montgomery

College Type 4-year, Private for-profit Campus Housing No Student Population 307 Graduation Rate 14% Net Price $21,140 Grads Salary $68,000

Faulkner University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 3,036 Graduation Rate 27% Net Price $19,889 Grads Salary $58,300

Heritage Christian University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 86 Graduation Rate 14% Net Price $13,571 Grads Salary $52,000

Athens State University

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 2,941 Graduation Rate 49% Net Price NA Grads Salary $60,000

Best Online Degree Colleges in Alabama (Distance Learning Only)

Attending an in-person degree program may not be realistic for you. You may work full-time, have family that needs your income or your time, or you may have a disability. Here you can find the best online colleges in the state that allow you to do all your learning from your own home. Alabama had 302,959 postsecondary students in 2017; 37,749 undergraduate and 20,513 graduate students were enrolled in online-only degree programs.

Auburn University

College Type 4-year, Public Student Population 30,460 Graduation Rate 79% Net Price $24,028 Grads Salary $70,800

University of Alabama in Huntsville

College Type 4-year, Public Student Population 9,988 Graduation Rate 57% Net Price $16,990 Grads Salary $75,300

University of Alabama at Birmingham

College Type 4-year, Public Student Population 22,563 Graduation Rate 61% Net Price $16,978 Grads Salary $70,600

The University of Alabama

College Type 4-year, Public Student Population 38,100 Graduation Rate 72% Net Price $20,518 Grads Salary $64,000

University of South Alabama

College Type 4-year, Public Student Population 14,397 Graduation Rate 45% Net Price $14,822 Grads Salary $70,800

Troy University

College Type 4-year, Public Student Population 16,497 Graduation Rate 50% Net Price $13,257 Grads Salary $65,700

Jacksonville State University

College Type 4-year, Public Student Population 9,238 Graduation Rate 46% Net Price $13,616 Grads Salary $64,300

Columbia Southern University

College Type 4-year, Private for-profit Student Population 18,533 Graduation Rate 30% Net Price $11,241 Grads Salary $70,900

University of North Alabama

College Type 4-year, Public Student Population 7,702 Graduation Rate 50% Net Price $13,279 Grads Salary $61,000

Samford University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Student Population 5,692 Graduation Rate 77% Net Price $31,322 Grads Salary $64,400

Full Ranking Report

Judson College

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Student Population 250 Graduation Rate 48% Net Price $17,706 Grads Salary $60,000

Spring Hill College

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Student Population 1,290 Graduation Rate 57% Net Price $23,067 Grads Salary $59,900

Tuskegee University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Student Population 2,876 Graduation Rate 52% Net Price $36,528 Grads Salary $75,600

Auburn University at Montgomery

College Type 4-year, Public Student Population 5,188 Graduation Rate 30% Net Price $14,182 Grads Salary $62,500

Talladega College

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Student Population 1,239 Graduation Rate 30% Net Price $17,180 Grads Salary $63,800

University of Montevallo

College Type 4-year, Public Student Population 2,553 Graduation Rate 54% Net Price $18,702 Grads Salary $51,200

Alabama A&M University

College Type 4-year, Public Student Population 6,172 Graduation Rate 29% Net Price $15,373 Grads Salary $62,000

University of West Alabama

College Type 4-year, Public Student Population 5,653 Graduation Rate 40% Net Price $15,685 Grads Salary $55,500

Oakwood University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Student Population 1,526 Graduation Rate 50% Net Price $27,330 Grads Salary $58,900

Herzing University-Birmingham

College Type 4-year, primarily associate's, Private not-for-profit Student Population 586 Graduation Rate 22% Net Price $25,741 Grads Salary $71,000

Amridge University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Student Population 833 Graduation Rate 25% Net Price $16,602 Grads Salary $59,000

Strayer University-Alabama

College Type 4-year, Private for-profit Student Population 1,738 Graduation Rate 50% Net Price $23,379 Grads Salary $50,000

Faulkner University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Student Population 3,036 Graduation Rate 27% Net Price $19,889 Grads Salary $58,300

Heritage Christian University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Student Population 86 Graduation Rate 14% Net Price $13,571 Grads Salary $52,000

Cost of Alabama College Education & Salaries

The State of Alabama offers high-quality education at prices that are lower than the national average. The Alabama averages for tuition and fees for public and private four-year colleges and universities are lower than their national counterparts. Alabama schools offer high value for the education dollar. Students can pursue a wide range of majors at regionally accredited schools. African American students can compete for Thurgood Marshall scholarship assistance at some Historically Black institutions like Tuskegee and Alabama State University.

The total or Costs of Attendance figures may reveal a more precise measure of the expenses of college than tuition alone. The average costs of attendance at Alabama universities and colleges is $18,932 for Alabama residents and $24,392 for out of state students. The COA figure includes estimates for books, supplies, on-campus room and board, and incidental living expenses.

The estimated average costs for living on-campus in Alabama is $11,425 and about $12,000 for students that live off-campus. In the state of Alabama, 37 schools offer on-campus living facilities such as dormitories or student apartments.

Best Scholarships for Alabama

The State of Alabama offers a grant program that students can use in combination with federal Stafford or Pell Grants. Grants have the welcome feature of not requiring repayment. These funds are awarded on the basis of demonstrated need and can reduce the burden of tuition and expenses for Alabama scholars. There are also university or college connected grants such as the below-described merit scholarships at the University of Alabama.

UAMS

The University of Alabama Out-of-State Merit Scholarships

https://scholarships.ua.edu/
Amounts: $24,000 over 4 years (Capstone), $32,000 over 4 years (Collegiate), $60,000 over 4 years (Foundation in Excellence), $104,000 over 4 years (Presidential)
Deadline: January 15
Eligible applicants must be third-year high school students. To receive awards students must demonstrate high academic achievement, high-grade averages (3.5 GPA), and high test scores on the ACT and SAT tests (27 ACT or 1260-1290 SAT or higher). Students can fill out a unified application to apply and compete for merit-based out-of-state scholarships including the following:
The Presidential Elite Award pays complete tuition coverage for up to four years for degree-seeking undergraduate, graduate, or law studies. In addition, the award offers one-year of on-campus housing, a $1,000 per year stipend, a $2,000 summer allowance for research or international study, and a $2,000 book scholarship at $500 per year.

ASGP

Alabama Student Grant program

https://ache.edu/StudentAsst.aspx
Amount: Up to $1,200/year
Deadline: January 15, February 25, April 15
The Alabama Student Grant program provides funds up to $1,200 per academic year. Eligible applicants must be residents of the state if Alabama, a citizen or in the process of obtaining citizenship as a legal resident and be enrolled full or part-time in an eligible and approved institution. Students can pursue any field except a field of theology.

CCS

The College Counts Scholarship

http://treasury.alabama.gov/collegecounts-scholarship/
Amount: $4,000
Deadline: February 28
The College Counts Scholarship helps Alabama residents that plan to enroll and attend an Alabama college or university. The scholarship awards up to $4,000 for four-year college attendance. The program welcomes applications from high school seniors or first-year college students that plan to enroll in the 2019 school year. Applicants must be US citizens or legal residents, and a resident of Alabama. The award is a one-time non-renewable scholarship. Eligible students must have an ACT score of 26 or below and a minimum Grade Point Average of 2.75. Applicants must demonstrate financial need.

ACIAS

Alabama Concrete Industries Association Scholarships

https://alconcrete.org/scholarships
Amount: $8,000 (2 Awards)
Deadline: November 30
The scholarship promotes study in architecture, engineering, or the building sciences. The applicant must have prior experience in the construction industry. The following are eligibility requirements: recipients must attend an accredited college or university located in the state of Alabama, applicants must attend on a full-time basis, applicants must have college senior status and at least ninety(90) semester credit hours with a minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a four-point scale.

CCCMS

Charles Clarke Cordle Memorial Scholarship- ARRL Foundation Scholarship

http://www.arrl.org/scholarship-descriptions
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: January 31
The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) offers 80 college scholarships for Georgia and Alabama residents. Eligible applicants will be in good academic standing with a GPA of 2.5 or higher, have any type of active Amateur Radio operator license, attend an accredited college in Georgia or Alabama, and major in electronics, communications, or a related field of study. The awards go to FCC-licensed HAM radio operators that pursue a college education in the US. Alabama residents that are active in the Southeastern Division of the ARRL can apply for financial aid. The application requires a radio-related resume that highlights ARRL involvement and radio participation, a financial budget, and three letters of reference.