State Rankings
Best Colleges in Alabama
Top colleges in Alabama ranked by national standing and graduate outcomes — updated 2026.
Top Colleges in Alabama
Nationally ranked schools appear first. Remaining schools are ordered by median graduate earnings.
| State # | School | Grad Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auburn University Auburn#74 national | $65,337 |
| 2 | The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa#200 national | $59,221 |
| 3 | Samford University Birmingham#361 national | $58,469 |
| 4 | University of Alabama in Huntsville Huntsville#387 national | $61,767 |
| 5 | Birmingham-Southern College Birmingham#598 national | $59,481 |
| 6 | University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham#725 national | $54,501 |
| 7 | University of South Alabama Mobile#888 national | $49,379 |
| 8 | Tuskegee University Tuskegee#971 national | $49,641 |
| 9 | Enterprise State Community College Enterprise#1058 national | $42,572 |
| 10 | Spring Hill College Mobile#1072 national | $51,500 |
| 11 | University of North Alabama Florence#1248 national | $45,415 |
| 12 | Jefferson State Community College Birmingham#1372 national | $40,719 |
| 13 | University of Montevallo Montevallo#1473 national | $42,957 |
| 14 | John C Calhoun State Community College Tanner#1552 national | $38,192 |
| 15 | Northeast Alabama Community College Rainsville#1558 national | $34,913 |
| 16 | Huntingdon College Montgomery#1599 national | $49,601 |
| 17 | Jacksonville State University Jacksonville#1645 national | $45,235 |
| 18 | Snead State Community College Boaz#1676 national | $35,735 |
| 19 | University of Mobile Mobile#1708 national | $43,611 |
| 20 | Chattahoochee Valley Community College Phenix City#1727 national | $36,438 |
| 21 | Bevill State Community College Jasper#1741 national | $34,107 |
| 22 | Gadsden State Community College Gadsden#1752 national | $32,937 |
| 23 | Northwest Shoals Community College Muscle Shoals#1782 national | $33,828 |
| 24 | George C Wallace State Community College-Selma Selma#1795 national | $31,598 |
| 25 | George C Wallace Community College-Dothan Dothan#1805 national | $31,399 |
| 26 | George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville Hanceville#1807 national | $39,842 |
| 27 | Southern Union State Community College Wadley#1812 national | $36,597 |
| 28 | Lurleen B Wallace Community College Andalusia#1824 national | $32,307 |
| 29 | Bishop State Community College Mobile#1912 national | $29,916 |
| 30 | H Councill Trenholm State Community College Montgomery#1949 national | $32,183 |
| 31 | Coastal Alabama Community College Bay Minette#1975 national | $34,894 |
| 32 | Lawson State Community College Birmingham#2013 national | $31,701 |
| 33 | J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College Huntsville#2048 national | $28,281 |
| 34 | Shelton State Community College Tuscaloosa#2097 national | $35,014 |
| 35 | Oakwood University Huntsville#2138 national | $42,488 |
| 36 | Troy University Troy#2182 national | $42,062 |
| 37 | Talladega College Talladega#2206 national | $32,229 |
| 38 | Faulkner University Montgomery#2269 national | $43,457 |
| 39 | Central Alabama Community College Alexander City#2274 national | $33,506 |
| 40 | University of West Alabama Livingston#2321 national | $44,232 |
| 41 | Auburn University at Montgomery Montgomery#2329 national | $44,391 |
| 42 | Alabama A & M University Normal#2371 national | $40,628 |
| 43 | Stillman College Tuscaloosa#2380 national | $35,421 |
| 44 | Alabama State University Montgomery#2595 national | $34,502 |
| 45 | Miles College Fairfield#2598 national | $32,627 |
| 46 | Marion Military Institute Marion | $59,644 |
| 47 | United States Sports University Daphne | $55,257 |
| 48 | Athens State University Athens | $50,273 |
| 49 | Columbia College - Redstone Arsenal Redstone Arsenal | $45,378 |
| 50 | Heritage Christian University Florence | $42,597 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Excludes for-profit institutions.
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