# Best Education Colleges in Alabama

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-05-31 | Schools: 17 | Category: By State
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-education-alabama

## Methodology

Education programs in Alabama ranked by outcomes and program concentration

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Summary

When considering education colleges in Alabama, prospective students and their families are looking for programs that lead to meaningful careers. In this list, we highlight 17 institutions that stand out in terms of outcomes and program concentration. With average earnings at $45,851, the landscape of education programs here is both competitive and promising.

What sets the strong schools apart from the others in the list are their graduation rates, earnings potential, and manageable debt levels. For instance, Auburn University leads with an impressive 81% graduation rate and average earnings of $65,337. In contrast, other schools on the list may have lower earnings or completion rates, which can significantly impact a graduate's career trajectory and financial stability.

Take Samford University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham as examples. While Samford's graduates earn $58,469 on average with a graduation rate of 78%, UAB's graduates earn less at $54,501 and have a lower completion rate of 63%. These differences highlight the trade-offs students must consider as they evaluate their options.

## Key Findings

- Auburn University graduates earn an average of $65,337, the highest among Alabama education colleges.
- Samford University has a graduation rate of 78%, signaling strong student support.
- The average graduation rate across these schools is just 50%, underlining the challenge of completing a degree.
- UAB has the lowest net price at $18,749, but a higher debt level of $22,300.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [University of West Alabama](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-west-alabama) | Livingston, AL | 36% | $44,232 | $12,684 | $24,944 | 0.56x |
| 2 | [Jacksonville State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/jacksonville-state-university) | Jacksonville, AL | 53% | $45,235 | $14,279 | $22,189 | 0.49x |
| 3 | [Auburn University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/auburn-university) | Auburn, AL | 81% | $65,337 | $24,323 | $21,000 | 0.32x |
| 4 | [University of Alabama at Birmingham](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-alabama-at-birmingham) | Birmingham, AL | 63% | $54,501 | $18,749 | $22,300 | 0.41x |
| 5 | [University of Montevallo](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-montevallo) | Montevallo, AL | 52% | $42,957 | $17,683 | $24,000 | 0.56x |
| 6 | [Samford University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/samford-university) | Birmingham, AL | 78% | $58,469 | $32,622 | $19,500 | 0.33x |
| 7 | [University of North Alabama](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-north-alabama) | Florence, AL | 54% | $45,415 | $12,170 | $22,077 | 0.49x |
| 8 | [University of Mobile](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-mobile) | Mobile, AL | 56% | $43,611 | $22,382 | $26,500 | 0.61x |
| 9 | [Auburn University at Montgomery](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/auburn-university-at-montgomery) | Montgomery, AL | 34% | $44,391 | $13,224 | $25,000 | 0.56x |
| 10 | [Huntingdon College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/huntingdon-college) | Montgomery, AL | 47% | $49,601 | $22,566 | $27,000 | 0.54x |
| 11 | [Spring Hill College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/spring-hill-college) | Mobile, AL | 54% | $51,500 | $20,449 | $27,000 | 0.52x |
| 12 | [University of South Alabama](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-south-alabama) | Mobile, AL | 53% | $49,379 | $17,648 | $24,929 | 0.5x |
| 13 | [Stillman College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/stillman-college) | Tuscaloosa, AL | 32% | $35,421 | $15,258 | $29,067 | 0.82x |
| 14 | [Troy University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/troy-university) | Troy, AL | 48% | $42,062 | $16,527 | $25,000 | 0.59x |
| 15 | [Talladega College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/talladega-college) | Talladega, AL | 43% | $32,229 | $15,560 | $28,500 | 0.88x |
| 16 | [Alabama State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/alabama-state-university) | Montgomery, AL | 30% | $34,502 | $20,435 | $31,000 | 0.9x |
| 17 | [Alabama A & M University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/alabama-a-m-university) | Normal, AL | 26% | $40,628 | $17,621 | $31,000 | 0.76x |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Best Education Colleges in Alabama." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-education-alabama

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.