2026 Best Value Teacher Education Schools in Alabama
[Teacher Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/teacher-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong teacher education education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find the best return on investment for teacher education students.
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2026 Best Value Teacher Education Schools in Alabama
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the teacher education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Teacher Education Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of North Alabama the best value for a degree in teacher education in Alabama. Set in the city of Florence, University Of North Alabama is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,120, compared with $22,320 for out-of-state students. Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career teacher education graduates make about $47,767. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in teacher education will find it at University Of West Alabama, which ranked #2. University Of West Alabama is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Livingston. In-state tuition and fees average $10,990, with out-of-state students paying around $20,090. Typical student debt for teacher education graduates is $31,894. Early-career teacher education graduates make about $54,953. Set against $31,894 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 43%.
Troy University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value teacher education schools. Located in the town of Troy, Troy University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,176 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,352. Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career teacher education graduates make about $48,733. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Troy University admits about 96% of applicants.
Alabama State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in teacher education, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Montgomery, Alabama State University is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,248 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,576. Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $34,750 in student loans. Teacher Education graduates of Alabama State University earn a median of $46,178 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $34,750 median debt. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Alabama At Huntsville came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value teacher education schools. Set in the city of Huntsville, University Of Alabama At Huntsville is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,132, with out-of-state students paying around $26,408. Students borrow a median of $24,797 to complete the teacher education program here. Soon after graduation, teacher education degree recipients from University Of Alabama At Huntsville generally make around $54,661. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Alabama At Huntsville admits about 69% of applicants.
Auburn University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value teacher education schools. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. 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 $22,250 to complete the teacher education program here. Early-career teacher education graduates make about $47,618. Set against $22,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
Samford University came in at #7 for value in teacher education this year. Samford University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Birmingham. Students from in state pay about $40,150 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for teacher education graduates is $24,250. Soon after graduation, teacher education degree recipients from Samford University generally make around $46,164. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on 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 Major Best Value · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
