2026 Best Value Sociology Schools in Alabama
[Sociology](/majors/social-sciences/sociology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong sociology education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 18 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for sociology students.
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2026 Best Value Sociology Schools in Alabama
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in sociology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Sociology Schools
For return on investment in sociology, no school beat University Of North Alabama this year. University Of North Alabama is a large public school located in the city of Florence. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,120, with out-of-state students paying around $22,320. Sociology graduates carry a median of $26,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of North Alabama generally make around $30,591. That is a strong return on a $26,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Students looking for strong value in sociology will find it at Troy University, which ranked #2. Set in the town of Troy, Troy University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,176, while out-of-state students pay about $20,352. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $43,500. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Troy University generally make around $26,803. Set against $43,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Students looking for strong value in sociology will find it at University Of Alabama At Birmingham, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Birmingham, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,098, while out-of-state students pay about $22,562. Sociology graduates carry a median of $28,979 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of Alabama At Birmingham generally make around $36,515. Set against $28,979 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Auburn University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value sociology schools. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $34,922. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $22,250. Sociology graduates of Auburn University earn a median of $35,378 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 46%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 18 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.
