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2026 Best Value General Economics Schools in Alabama

[General Economics](/majors/social-sciences/economics/economics-general/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find the best return on investment for general economics students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value General Economics Schools in Alabama

2026 Best Value General Economics Schools in Alabama

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general economics, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value General Economics Schools

1

The University Of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL

$12,180 In-State Tuition & Fees

$24,496 Avg Student Debt

$59,221 Median Earnings (10yr)

Leading the list is The University Of Alabama, our #1 best value for general economics in Alabama. Located in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,180, while out-of-state students pay about $34,172. Students borrow a median of $24,496 to complete the general economics program here. Early-career general economics graduates make about $50,740. That is a strong return on a $24,496 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.

2

Auburn University
Auburn, AL

$12,890 In-State Tuition & Fees

$22,803 Avg Student Debt

$65,337 Median Earnings (10yr)

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Auburn University earned it the #2 place for general economics. Auburn University is a very large public school located in the city of Auburn. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,890, while out-of-state students pay about $34,922. Students borrow a median of $22,803 to complete the general economics program here. Soon after graduation, general economics degree recipients from Auburn University generally make around $55,422. That is a strong return on a $22,803 median debt. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.

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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 2 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.