2026 Best Value Teaching Schools in Alabama
Looking for the best-value Teaching degree programs in Alabama? We have ranked 79 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
So you can compare your options, Teaching Degree Search evaluated 13 schools to compile this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Teaching Degree Schools in Alabama
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
University Of West Alabama earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in Alabama. University Of West Alabama is a public school based in Livingston, AL. Students from in state pay about $10,990 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,090 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $31,894 to complete their Teaching program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $44,232. Set against $31,894 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted. Get the full University Of West Alabama report
A rank of #2 makes University Of North Alabama one of the best values in Alabama. Located in Florence, AL, University Of North Alabama is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,120, with out-of-state students paying around $22,320. Graduates carry a median of $24,291 in student loans. Median earnings reach $45,415 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $24,291 median debt. University Of North Alabama admits about 87% of applicants. More on University Of North Alabama
A rank of #3 makes Athens State University one of the best values in Alabama. Athens State University is a public school based in Athens, AL. Students from in state pay about $10,020 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,700. Athens State University Teaching students take on a median of $27,389 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,273 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $27,389 median debt. Read the full report on Athens State University
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Alabama At Birmingham earned it the #4 place in Alabama. Based in Birmingham, AL, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,098, while out-of-state students pay about $22,562. Students borrow a median of $26,162 to complete their Teaching program here. Median earnings reach $54,501 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $26,162 median debt. About 88% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on University Of Alabama At Birmingham
Out of the 13 schools in Alabama in this year's value ranking, Auburn University landed the #5 spot. Set in Auburn, AL, Auburn University is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,890 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,922 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,803 to complete their Teaching program here. Median earnings reach $65,337 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Auburn University has an acceptance rate of 46%. Read the full report on Auburn University
Troy University landed the #6 spot for value in Alabama this year. Set in Troy, AL, Troy University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,176, compared with $20,352 for out-of-state students. Typical Teaching student debt is $26,439. Median earnings reach $42,062 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $26,439 median debt. Troy University admits about 96% of applicants. More on Troy University
The University Of Alabama placed #7 among the best-value Teaching schools in Alabama. The University Of Alabama is a public school based in Tuscaloosa, AL. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,180, while out-of-state students pay about $34,172. The University Of Alabama Teaching students take on a median of $24,496 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $59,221. Set against $24,496 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Alabama has an acceptance rate of 77%. Read more about The University Of Alabama
Auburn University At Montgomery ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. This public school is set in Montgomery, AL. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,700, while out-of-state students pay about $20,668. Typical Teaching student debt is $29,746. Auburn University At Montgomery alumni report median earnings of $44,391 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $29,746 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%. More on Auburn University At Montgomery
University Of South Alabama landed the #9 spot for value in Alabama this year. This public school is set in Mobile, AL. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,116, with out-of-state students paying around $19,092. The median Teaching program debt is $26,513. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $49,379. Set against $26,513 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on University Of South Alabama
Jacksonville State University came in at #10 in this year's value ranking. Set in Jacksonville, AL, Jacksonville State University is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,894 in tuition and fees, compared with $23,334 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $24,751 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $45,235. Set against $24,751 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Jacksonville State University has an acceptance rate of 78%. Get the full Jacksonville State University report
Alabama State University came in at #11 in this year's value ranking. This public school is set in Montgomery, AL. In-state tuition and fees average $11,248, compared with $19,576 for out-of-state students. Typical Teaching student debt is $33,709. Graduates go on to earn a median of $34,502 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $33,709 median debt. Alabama State University has an acceptance rate of 98%. Read the full report on Alabama State University
Samford University landed the #12 spot for value in Alabama this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Birmingham, AL. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,150. Students borrow a median of $21,039 to complete their Teaching program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $58,469. Set against $21,039 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%. See the full Samford University profile
Alabama A And M University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. Alabama A And M University is a public school based in Normal, AL. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,024, while out-of-state students pay about $18,634. Alabama A And M University Teaching students take on a median of $31,896 in debt. Median earnings reach $40,628 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Alabama A And M University has an acceptance rate of 58%. Get the full Alabama A And M University report
Cardiac And Vascular Institute Of Ultrasound landed the #14 spot for value in Alabama this year. See the full Cardiac And Vascular Institute Of Ultrasound profile
George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. Read the full report on George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville
John C Calhoun State Community College came in at #16 in this year's value ranking. Read more about John C Calhoun State Community College
Birmingham Southern College came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. More on Birmingham Southern College
Enterprise State Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. See the full Enterprise State Community College profile
Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. Get the full Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus report
New Beginning College Of Cosmetology offered strong value this year, earning the #20 position. See the full New Beginning College Of Cosmetology profile
Remington College Mobile Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #21 position. Read the full report on Remington College Mobile Campus
University Of Alabama System Office offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. Read more about University Of Alabama System Office
Amridge University came in at #23 in this year's value ranking. See the full Amridge University profile
South University Montgomery ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. Read more about South University Montgomery
Blue Cliff Career College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. Read more about Blue Cliff Career College
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Teaching Degree Schools in Alabama
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
Reid State Technical College came in at #26 in this year's value ranking. See the full Reid State Technical College profile
Midfield Institute Of Cosmetology placed #27 among the best-value Teaching schools in Alabama. Read more about Midfield Institute Of Cosmetology
Jersey College Dothan placed #28 among the best-value Teaching schools in Alabama. Read more about Jersey College Dothan
J F Ingram State Technical College landed the #29 spot for value in Alabama this year. More on J F Ingram State Technical College
University Academy Of Hair Design landed the #30 spot for value in Alabama this year. Read more about University Academy Of Hair Design
Strayer University Alabama came in at #31 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Strayer University Alabama
Chattahoochee Valley Community College landed the #32 spot for value in Alabama this year. Read more about Chattahoochee Valley Community College
Fortis College
Fortis College came in at #33 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Fortis College
J F Drake State Community And Technical College ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. Read more about J F Drake State Community And Technical College
Shelton State Community College came in at #35 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Shelton State Community College
Bevill State Community College ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. Read more about Bevill State Community College
Lurleen B Wallace Community College landed the #37 spot for value in Alabama this year. See the full Lurleen B Wallace Community College profile
Huntingdon College landed the #38 spot for value in Alabama this year. Read more about Huntingdon College
The Salon Professional Academy Huntsville offered strong value this year, earning the #39 position. Get the full The Salon Professional Academy Huntsville report
Tuskegee University ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. See the full Tuskegee University profile
Bishop State Community College placed #41 among the best-value Teaching schools in Alabama. See the full Bishop State Community College profile
Fortis Institute Birmingham ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. Read more about Fortis Institute Birmingham
Bluefield University Edward Via College Auburn ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. Read the full report on Bluefield University Edward Via College Auburn
Faulkner University placed #44 among the best-value Teaching schools in Alabama. More on Faulkner University
University Of Alabama At Huntsville ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. Read the full report on University Of Alabama At Huntsville
Jefferson State Community College landed the #46 spot for value in Alabama this year. See the full Jefferson State Community College profile
Northwest Shoals Community College placed #47 among the best-value Teaching schools in Alabama. See the full Northwest Shoals Community College profile
Herzing University Birmingham placed #48 among the best-value Teaching schools in Alabama. Get the full Herzing University Birmingham report
Alabama College Of Osteopathic Medicine came in at #49 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Alabama College Of Osteopathic Medicine
Snead State Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #50 position. See the full Snead State Community College profile
More Teaching Value Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Teaching Degree Search (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Best Colleges For Money · Scope: State · 13 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 79 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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