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2026 Best Value Value Schools in Alabama
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the value degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Value Schools
Our analysis ranked Alabama State University the best value for a degree in value in Alabama. Alabama State University is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Montgomery. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,248, with out-of-state students paying around $19,576. Value graduates carry a median of $33,709 in student loans. Value graduates of Alabama State University earn a median of $37,721 early in their careers. Set against $33,709 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Alabama State University admits about 98% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at Jacksonville State University, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Jacksonville, Jacksonville State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,894 in tuition and fees, compared with $23,334 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $24,250. Early-career value graduates make about $27,926. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
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 · 2 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
ADBLOCK #116
[Value](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/security-science-and-technology/criminalistics-and-criminal-science/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
