Rankings / By State
Best Data Science Colleges in Alabama
- 13
- Schools
- $44,615
- Avg. Earnings
- 44%
- Avg. Graduation
- $15,589
- Avg. Net Price
- $23,301
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Median graduate earnings across these 13 schools run from $32,229 to $65,337, a 2.0× gap. The category label alone says little about payoff.
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Chattahoochee Valley Community College delivers the most for the money: roughly $36,438 in median earnings against $4,244 a year in net price, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio on the list.
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Chattahoochee Valley Community College is the lowest-cost school here at $4,244 a year in net price.
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Auburn University graduates 81% of its students, versus a 44% average across the list. Completion, more than selectivity, signals whether a degree actually gets finished.
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Jefferson State Community College carries the healthiest debt load, with graduates owing just 0.24× their annual earnings.
Surprising Comparisons
- #1 University of Alabama in Huntsville ($61,767 earnings) outranks the list's highest earner, Auburn University ($65,337), because it does more on mobility and cost.
- Chattahoochee Valley Community College costs $4,244 a year and Auburn University costs $24,323. Yet their graduates earn $36,438 and $65,337, nowhere near the $20,079 price gap.
- On value, Chattahoochee Valley Community College beats Auburn University: comparable career payoff at a fraction of the net price.
The Takeaway
The schools that win this ranking are not the priciest or the most selective. They turn students into earners without burying them in debt, which is exactly what our outcomes-first methodology is built to surface.
What This Means for Students
If you are choosing from this list, start with Chattahoochee Valley Community College and Auburn University. Pull each school's net price for your income band, weigh projected earnings against the debt you would take on, and let payoff rather than prestige drive your shortlist.
Why this ranking matters
Technology is one of the higher-return fields in the economy, but the payoff depends heavily on where you study it. Graduates of these programs earn a median of about $42K within a decade, and data scientist roles are projected to grow 36%. We rank programs by the outcomes they produce for graduates, not by reputation.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-07-13
Source datasets
Methodology
Schools are scored on the CollegeRanker 4-Pillar Algorithm: Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25–35%), Academic Quality (15–20%), and Value (20–25%). Every weight is published and every figure traces to a public dataset.
See the full methodology and weights →Confidence notes
- Earnings, completion, and debt figures come from federal administrative records — tax data and student-aid filings — not surveys or self-reports, the highest-confidence tier of education data available.
- Social-mobility estimates are drawn from de-identified tax records covering more than 30 million students (Opportunity Insights).
- Where an institution is missing a metric, it is excluded from that metric rather than imputed, so averages are never inflated by guesses.
Limitations
- Federal earnings data primarily cover students who received federal financial aid; outcomes for non-aided students may differ.
- Earnings are measured roughly ten years after enrollment, so they describe how earlier cohorts fared — historical outcomes, not guarantees of future results.
- An institution's field-of-study mix affects raw earnings; scores reflect measured outcomes and are not fully major-adjusted unless explicitly noted.
- Net price is an average; the actual cost a given student pays varies widely by family income.
At a Glance
How the Top Schools Compare
| School | Earnings | Net Price | Graduation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 University of Alabama in Huntsville #1 overall | $61,767 ▲ +38% vs avg | $18,796 | 63% | 74 |
| 2 Auburn University #2 overall | $65,337 ▲ +46% vs avg | $24,323 | 81% | 71 |
| 3 University of Alabama at Birmingham #3 overall | $54,501 ▲ +22% vs avg | $18,749 | 63% | 69 |
| $44,391 ▼ -1% vs avg | $13,224 | 34% | 69 | |
| $45,415 ▲ +2% vs avg | $12,170 | 54% | 68 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best Data Science Colleges in Alabama
This analysis ranks 13 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $44,615 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 44% and an average net price of $15,589.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: Chattahoochee Valley Community College — Net Price: $4,244 | Graduation Rate: 36%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: Auburn University — 81% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: Auburn University — Median alumni earnings: $65,337
Research Note
Private nonprofit colleges cost 110% more in net price than publics, while their graduates earn 21% more.
Technology Workforce Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about the technology workforce?
$42,062
Median earnings (10yr)
43%
Median graduation rate
$16,527
Median net price
1.8%
Avg. mobility rate
Computing, data, and information-systems programs train for one of the highest-paying and fastest-moving corners of the labor market. Starting salaries are strong, and hiring increasingly rewards demonstrable skill over pedigree. The field is cyclical, though, and specific tools age quickly. What endures is fundamentals and the habit of learning new ones.
Across the 13 schools on this list, graduates earn a median of $42,062 ten years after they first enrolled. The median graduation rate is 43%. Net price, what students pay after grants, runs a median of $16,527 a year, with about $24,929 in median federal debt at graduation. An average of 44% of students receive Pell grants, and the typical school moves low-income students into the top income quintile at a rate of 1.8%.
What we’re seeing: employers reward programs with strong industry ties, co-ops, and project portfolios over brand alone. Graduates here post median earnings of $42,062 ten years after enrollment. That premium holds as long as graduates keep their skills current against a fast-shifting stack.
The podium
Build your ranking
Drag a pillar — schools re-rank live.
Tip: Check the box on any 2–4 schools below to compare them side by side.
Full rankings
Why it ranks #1
University of Alabama in Huntsville lands at #1 with a 74/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (59/100). Graduates earn a median $61,767 a decade after enrolling, 38% above this list's average, and net price runs $18,796 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #2
Auburn University lands at #2 with a 71/100 composite, led by social mobility (77/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (57/100). Graduates earn a median $65,337 a decade after enrolling, 46% above this list's average, and net price runs $24,323 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #3
University of Alabama at Birmingham lands at #3 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (79/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (57/100). Graduates earn a median $54,501 a decade after enrolling, 22% above this list's average, and net price runs $18,749 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #4
Auburn University at Montgomery lands at #4 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (78/100) and pulled down by academic quality (59/100). Graduates earn a median $44,391 a decade after enrolling, 1% below this list's average, and net price runs $13,224 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #5
University of North Alabama lands at #5 with a 68/100 composite, led by social mobility (78/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (61/100). Graduates earn a median $45,415 a decade after enrolling, 2% above this list's average, and net price runs $12,170 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #6
University of South Alabama lands at #6 with a 68/100 composite, led by social mobility (78/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (58/100). Graduates earn a median $49,379 a decade after enrolling, 11% above this list's average, and net price runs $17,648 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #7
Jefferson State Community College lands at #7 with a 66/100 composite, led by value per dollar (78/100) and pulled down by academic quality (45/100). Graduates earn a median $40,719 a decade after enrolling, 9% below this list's average, and net price runs $9,086 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #8
Chattahoochee Valley Community College lands at #8 with a 64/100 composite, led by value per dollar (84/100) and pulled down by academic quality (47/100). Graduates earn a median $36,438 a decade after enrolling, 18% below this list's average, and net price runs $4,244 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #9
Troy University lands at #9 with a 54/100 composite, led by academic quality (59/100) and pulled down by social mobility (52/100). Graduates earn a median $42,062 a decade after enrolling, 6% below this list's average, and net price runs $16,527 a year. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #10
Talladega College lands at #10 with a 51/100 composite, led by value per dollar (52/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (47/100). Graduates earn a median $32,229 a decade after enrolling, 28% below this list's average, and net price runs $15,560 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #11
Alabama A & M University lands at #11 with a 50/100 composite, led by social mobility (54/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (45/100). Graduates earn a median $40,628 a decade after enrolling, 9% below this list's average, and net price runs $17,621 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #12
Alabama State University lands at #12 with a 50/100 composite, led by social mobility (56/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (40/100). Graduates earn a median $34,502 a decade after enrolling, 23% below this list's average, and net price runs $20,435 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #13
Miles College lands at #13 with a 46/100 composite, led by social mobility (57/100) and pulled down by academic quality (35/100). Graduates earn a median $32,627 a decade after enrolling, 27% below this list's average, and net price runs $14,271 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Cut it by what you care about
The same 13 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs — and the jobs are
Where these graduates work
Graduates of these programs most often become Data Scientists and related roles — a field with $108,020 median pay and 36% projected growth.
See the Data Scientist career guide →In Alabama, students interested in data science have a range of colleges that focus on this growing field. These schools share a commitment to equipping graduates with the skills needed to thrive in a data-driven world. With average earnings of $45,080 for graduates, the potential for a solid return on investment is clear.
The best programs on this list stand out due to strong outcomes, including earnings potential, graduation rates, and manageable debt levels. Schools like Auburn University and the University of Alabama in Huntsville exemplify this balance, showing how program concentration can lead to better job placements and financial success after graduation.
Auburn University tops the list with impressive earnings of $65,337 and a graduation rate of 81%. In contrast, the University of Alabama at Montgomery offers lower earnings at $44,391 and a graduation rate of just 34%. This stark difference highlights the importance of evaluating both financial outcomes and completion rates when choosing a data science program.
The story behind the ranking
A ranking gives you an order; these charts give you the shape. They show how this group of schools spreads across the four things that decide whether a degree pays off — what graduates earn, whether they finish, how far they move up, and what it costs. Look for the standouts, the outliers, and the trade-offs the list alone can't show.
Earnings Outcomes
What graduates earn 10 years after enrolling. Data from College Scorecard.
Distribution of Median Earnings
Earnings vs. Net Price
Top-left = best value. Top-ranked schools are highlighted.
Completion & Access
Graduation rates and who gets in. Data from College Scorecard & IPEDS.
Graduation Rates
Pell Grant Rate vs. Graduation Rate
Right = more low-income students. Higher = more graduate.
What the Mobility Data Says
The backbone of this ranking is social-mobility data from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, which draws on more than 30 million tax records. A school's mobility rate is the share of its students who move from the bottom income quintile to the top. Among the 8 schools on this list with available data, that rate averages 1.8%. Auburn University at Montgomery leads the group at 2.4%, with University of Alabama in Huntsville (2.4%) and Chattahoochee Valley Community College (2.1%) close behind.
Who gets in matters as much as what happens after. Across these schools, an average of 11.5% of students start in the bottom income quintile. Chattahoochee Valley Community College leads at 23%, which signals an admissions door that is actually open to low-income students. Schools that pair high access with high mobility are the ones driving generational change.
Once low-income students enroll, their odds of reaching the top income quintile average 18.5% across this list. Auburn University posts the highest success rate at 32%. Access without completion and career momentum is an incomplete picture, and this is the number that completes it.
Social capital, measured by economic connectedness, captures the degree of cross-class friendship on campus, another dimension Opportunity Insights ties to long-run outcomes. Across these schools it averages 1.17 against a national benchmark of 1.0. Auburn University reaches 1.50, the highest on the list.
Mobility, access, and social-capital figures from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card & the Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas.
Cost & Debt
What families actually pay and what students owe. Data from College Scorecard.
Median Debt at Graduation
A closer look at Auburn University and the University of Alabama in Huntsville reveals why Auburn outperforms with its higher earning graduates. While Auburn’s average earnings sit at $65,337, Huntsville lags behind at $61,767. This discrepancy can often be attributed to the strength of the program's connections to industry and the opportunities available to students upon graduation.
After reviewing these schools, consider what matters most to you or your student. Are you prioritizing lower debt or higher graduation rates? Look at factors like campus culture, location, and available resources in data science to find the right fit. This holistic approach ensures that you choose a program that aligns with your personal and financial goals.
The path from college to a stable future is pivotal for many families. Choosing the right data science program can lead to a secure career, but it's crucial to weigh the trade-offs between debt, earnings, and graduation rates. Each decision impacts not just the student's future but also their family's financial health. A thoughtful choice today can set the stage for a more stable tomorrow.
Data Sources
U.S. Dept of Education College Scorecard
Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card
Social Capital Atlas
Times Higher Education World Rankings
NCES IPEDS
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Data Science Colleges in Alabama: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best Data Science Colleges in Alabama ranking? +
University of Alabama in Huntsville in Huntsville, AL ranks #1 in our 2026 Best Data Science Colleges in Alabama ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $61,767 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 63% graduation rate. Our score is built entirely from federal data on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt, and social mobility. Reputation surveys play no part.
Which school has the highest graduate earnings? +
Auburn University posts the highest median earnings on this list: $65,337 ten years after enrollment, well above the $44,615 average across the 13 ranked schools with earnings data. Earnings that outpace cost are what separate a degree that pays off from one that does not.
Which school offers the best value? +
On a pure return-on-cost basis, Chattahoochee Valley Community College leads: graduates earn a median $36,438 against net price of about $4,244 a year, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio in the ranking. Applicants should weigh that payback against sticker price rather than prestige.
Which school has the highest graduation rate? +
Auburn University has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 81%, compared with a 44% average across the list. Completion matters because the students who finish are the ones who actually capture the earnings and mobility gains a degree promises.
How much does it cost to attend these schools? +
The average net price, meaning what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, is about $15,589 a year across the 13 ranked schools with cost data. Chattahoochee Valley Community College is among the most affordable at roughly $4,244. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Best Data Science Colleges in Alabama ranking calculated? +
We score every school on a four-pillar algorithm: economic outcomes (graduate earnings and debt), social mobility (Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built on more than 30 million anonymized tax records), academic quality (graduation and retention), and value (net price and loan burden). Social mobility carries the heaviest weight, so schools that lift low-income students into higher earnings rank above those that simply admit wealthy students. Every input comes from federal data, and schools that withhold their numbers are scored lower for it.
How many schools are ranked and where does the data come from? +
This ranking evaluates 13 institutions using the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, the Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card and Social Capital Atlas, Times Higher Education, and NCES IPEDS. There are no opinion surveys or paid placements. The order is determined by the data alone and refreshed as new federal figures are released.
Sources & Citations
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