Best Public Colleges in Alabama 2024

Badge for BEST IN ALABAMA PUBLIC COLLEGES

Published: Feb 15, 2021
Updated: Oct 26, 2023

Public colleges and universities account for almost 75 percent of all undergraduate students in the U.S. The best public colleges in Alabama provide broad access to reputable degree programs, affordable tuition, and sprawling educational communities.

University of Alabama
Auburn University
University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Alabama in Huntsville
Alabama State University
University of South Alabama
Troy University
Jacksonville State University
University of North Alabama
Auburn University at Montgomery

Alabama State University 97%
University of North Alabama 96%
Troy University 95%
Auburn University at Montgomery 92%
University of Alabama at Birmingham 87%
University of Alabama 80%
University of Alabama in Huntsville 78%
Jacksonville State University 78%
University of West Alabama 69%
Alabama A&M University 68%

Auburn University 20 to 1
Alabama A&M University 19 to 1
University of Alabama 19 to 1
Jacksonville State University 19 to 1
University of North Alabama 18 to 1
University of Alabama at Birmingham 18 to 1
University of West Alabama 18 to 1
University of Alabama in Huntsville 17 to 1
Troy University 16 to 1
University of South Alabama 16 to 1

University of Montevallo $12,090
University of Alabama $11,100
Auburn University $10,392
University of North Alabama $10,200
University of Alabama in Huntsville $10,120
Jacksonville State University $9,990
Troy University $9,312
University of West Alabama $9,100
University of Alabama at Birmingham $8,832
University of South Alabama $8,616

University of Alabama $11,100
University of Alabama in Huntsville $10,632
University of Montevallo $10,512
Auburn University $10,386
Alabama A&M University $10,128
Jacksonville State University $9,840
Troy University $8,550
University of Alabama at Birmingham $8,424
University of South Alabama $8,424
Athens State University $8,352

Athens State University
University of West Alabama
University of Montevallo
Alabama A&M University
University of North Alabama
Auburn University at Montgomery
Alabama State University
Troy University
Jacksonville State University
University of South Alabama

Athens State University
University of West Alabama
University of Montevallo
Alabama A&M University
Auburn University at Montgomery
University of North Alabama
Jacksonville State University
Troy University
University of South Alabama
Alabama State University

Auburn University 44%
University of Montevallo 60%
University of South Alabama 65%
Alabama A&M University 68%
University of West Alabama 69%
Jacksonville State University 78%
University of Alabama in Huntsville 78%
University of Alabama 80%
University of Alabama at Birmingham 87%
Auburn University at Montgomery 92%

University of Montevallo 12 to 1
Alabama State University 14 to 1
Athens State University 14 to 1
Auburn University at Montgomery 15 to 1
Troy University 16 to 1
University of South Alabama 16 to 1
University of Alabama in Huntsville 17 to 1
University of North Alabama 18 to 1
University of Alabama at Birmingham 18 to 1
University of West Alabama 18 to 1

Athens State University $7,230
Auburn University at Montgomery $8,232
Alabama State University $8,328
Alabama A&M University $8,610
University of South Alabama $8,616
University of Alabama at Birmingham $8,832
University of West Alabama $9,100
Troy University $9,312
Jacksonville State University $9,990
University of Alabama in Huntsville $10,120

University of North Alabama $6,600
University of West Alabama $6,678
Alabama State University $7,416
Auburn University at Montgomery $7,812
Athens State University $8,352
University of Alabama at Birmingham $8,424
University of South Alabama $8,424
Troy University $8,550
Jacksonville State University $9,840
Alabama A&M University $10,128

Table of Contents

Colleges and Universities in Alabama

Online students and traditional students alike have a lot of options in the state of Alabama. The 54 colleges and universities in Alabama allow students to pursue associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in many fields all over the state, as well as through a variety of excellent online degree programs. Some of the most notable degree areas include law, nursing, biology, history, engineering, and religious studies.

Students in Alabama can study any of these subjects either online or through online courses. If you’re looking for educational flexible education, Alabama has over 20 colleges and universities offering online degree programs.

Find college admissions consultants in your state.

Students hoping to obtain a four-year degree at a larger university can attend one of the two largest - as well as rivalry - schools, the University of Alabama and Auburn University. Both schools’ tuition is about $11,000, though the University of Alabama’s student population, at nearly 36,000 students, is larger than Auburn’s.

Students also have the option of attending one of Alabama’s 18 private higher education institutes, many of which have religious affiliations. Tuition costs vary widely, from $4,000 per year to $36,000 per year. Student populations also vary widely, from less than 100 students to as many as 15,000 students.

Additionally, students who need more flexibility can take advantage of the satellite campuses, like at the University of North Alabama. Alabama also has a larger number of online college offerings. With 70 online degree programs offered at the University of Alabama alone, in-state residents have a lot of degree options, both for a traditional and online education.

For die-hard football fans and lovers of sweet tea, obtaining a higher education degree in Alabama can seem like an obvious choice. The Yellowhammer State, however, is also home to a unique mixture of coastal, mountainous, and swamp environments, making it a great choice for students who love soaking up the outdoors.

And if you’re looking for a mix of the campus experience and online education, many schools in Alabama have hybrid programs. With a hybrid program, you can take both online courses and classes on campus.

What are Alabama’s Colleges & Universities?

Alabama’s Best Overall

What is the difference between public and private colleges?

Public and private colleges and universities operate under different business models. Public colleges and universities are owned by the state and receive both state and federal funding to operate. Private colleges and universities are private companies with private funding. If you’re looking at the pros and cons of private vs. public colleges, consider that many public colleges provide diverse course offerings, influential professors, and an excellent return on your investment.

Public colleges are schools that receive most of their funding from tax revenues. As a result, the cost of a bachelor’s degree at a public university is often lower than the equivalent cost at a private college — especially for students attending a public school in their home state. Attending a college in-state is usually the cheapest option. Private universities and colleges can be very competitive with their funding opportunities, so do not simply believe that private colleges are always going to be more expensive. According to National Center for Educational Statistics, the average annual cost (tuition, fees, room and board for full-time students) at a public university was slightly over $20,000. In contrast, private universities cost, on average, nearly $43,000 annually. But in the end, the cost of college comes down to each student’s academic and financial situation.

This list is composed entirely of public colleges and universities that offer bachelor’s degrees. We’ve identified 14 public universities in Alabama. To be included in our list of the best public colleges in Alabama, shcools must receive direct funding from the state, be fully accredited, and offer a broad range of bachelor’s degress.

How do we determine Alabama's best public colleges and universities?

Methodology

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great! If you are serious about finding the best colleges and universities for a bachelor’s degree, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching and whether their graduates are themselves advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence in their fields of study.

Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Concentrated Influence provides a ranking that is freer from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

To rank the influence of schools, we first determine the influence of scholars and professionals based on the number of citations and publications they have had over the past 10 years. In addition to publications and citations, we consider the web links to and from these sources, and the page views of those sources. We then match the influential people to their alma maters and institutions of employment, so that their influence is attributed to those schools. Our machine-learning Influence Ranking algorithm produces a numerical score of academic achievements, merits, and citations across Wikipedia, wikidata, Crossref, Semantic Scholar and an ever-growing body of data. If you are interested in exploring how and why we rank by influence, explore our methodology in more depth.

Best Public Colleges in Alabama 2023

Build your own college ranknigs

Alabama’s Best Public College in Your Area of Interest

2021 Ranking Archive

Many of our 2024 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2023. That’s because we took a fundamentally different approach. For 2024 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.

Check out our directory of public colleges throughout the U.S. for a look at the top public colleges in every state.

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Best Public Colleges in Alabama 2024

10 Best Public Colleges in Alabama

Colleges and Universities in Alabama

What are Alabama’s Colleges & Universities?

Best Public Colleges in Alabama 2023

Career Outlook for degree at University of Alabama

Most Influential Alumni

University of Alabama’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Auburn University

Most Influential Alumni

Auburn University’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at University of Alabama at Birmingham

Most Influential Alumni

University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at University of Alabama in Huntsville

Most Influential Alumni

University of Alabama in Huntsville’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at University of South Alabama

Most Influential Alumni

University of South Alabama’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Jacksonville State University

Most Influential Alumni

Jacksonville State University’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Troy University

Most Influential Alumni

Troy University’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Alabama State University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Auburn University at Montgomery

Most Influential Alumni

Auburn University at Montgomery’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at University of North Alabama

Most Influential Alumni

University of North Alabama’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Alabama A&M University

Most Influential Alumni

Alabama A&M University’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at University of Montevallo

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at University of West Alabama

Most Influential Alumni

University of West Alabama’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Athens State University

Most Influential Alumni

Athens State University’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Alabama’s Best Public College in Your Area of Interest