2024 Average Tuition, Fees, and Living Costs in Alabama State

The average tuition & fees of Alabama colleges is $7,588 for Alabama residents and $14,375 for students from other States. Samford University has the highest (most expensive) tuition & fees of $38,144 and Huntsville Bible College has the lowest tuition & fees (cheapest) of $4,730.

For graduate programs, Auburn University has the highest (most expensive) graduate tuition & fees of $33,944 and Columbia Southern University has the lowest graduate tuition & fees (cheapest) of $5,808 in Alabama.

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2024 Costs of Attendance (COA)

The average COA of Alabama 4-year colleges in 2024 is $26,228 for Alabama residents and $36,978 for students from other states. The COA includes tuition & fees, books & supplies, room & board, and other living expenses, but it excludes health insurance fee and uncommon expenses.

Table

Table. 2024 Average Costs of Attendance for Alabama Colleges (4-Years)
	Undergraduate		Graduate
	In-State	Out-of-State	In-State	Out-of-State
Tuition & Fees	$10,797	$21,547	$10,239	$21,404
Books & Supplies	$1,226		$1,226
Room & Board	$14,206		$14,206
COA	$26,228	$36,978	$25,670	$36,835

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Alabama Best Colleges

Samford University

Tuskegee University

University of South Alabama

Troy University

The University of Alabama

University of West Alabama

Faulkner University

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Auburn University

University of Alabama in Huntsville

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Undergraduate Tuition & Fees

In Alabama, 83 schools offer undergraduate programs. The average undergraduate tuition & fees of Alabama colleges is $7,588 for Alabama residents and $14,375 for out-of-state students for the academic year 2023-2024.

The Alabama tuition & fees have risen 2.85% from last year (4 years colleges). The following table and chart describe the 2024 undergraduate tuition & fees trends over last 5 years in 4-years and 2-4 years (community colleges) colleges.

Table

Table. 2024 Average Undergraduate Tuition & Fees for Alabama Universities and Colleges
	Public Schools				Private Schools
	4 Years or High		2-4 Years		4 Years or High	2-4 Years
	In-State	Out-of-State	In-State	Out-of-State	4 Years or High	2-4 Years
2020	$9,887	$19,751	$5,020	$8,881	$16,557	$15,466
2021	$9,976	$19,835	$5,146	$9,121	$17,266	$16,259
2022	$10,237	$20,484	$5,057	$8,737	$16,549	$16,469
2023	$10,450	$20,949	$5,162	$8,879	$16,141	$17,957
2024	$10,797	$21,547	$5,216	$8,995	$16,796	$17,712

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Expensive Alabama Colleges (Highest Undergraduate Tuition)

Samford University	$38,144
Auburn University	$33,944
The University of Alabama	$33,200
Huntingdon College	$28,650
University of Montevallo	$26,730

Inexpensive Alabama Colleges (Lowest Undergraduate Tuition)

Huntsville Bible College	$4,730
Selma University	$4,800
Columbia Southern University	$5,808
Columbia College - Redstone Arsenal	$8,304
Troy University-Online	$9,792

Based on out-of-state tuition rates of 4 years (or high) colleges

Graduate Program Tuition & Fees

39 Alabama colleges offer graduate programs. The average graduate program tuition fees of Alabama colleges is $10,239 for Alabama residents and $21,404 for students from other States. The graduate tuition & fees rose 102.24% from last year.

The following table and chart describe the 2024 graduate tuition & fees and show last 5 years' tuition change.

Table

Table. 2024 Average Graduate Tuition & Fees for Alabama Universities and Colleges
	Public Schools		Private Schools
	In-State	Out-of-State	Private Schools
2020	$9,505	$19,948	$12,044
2021	$9,600	$20,290	$13,047
2022	$9,734	$20,450	$13,674
2023	$9,892	$20,935	$13,492
2024	$10,239	$21,404	$12,922

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Expensive Graduate Schools in Alabama

Auburn University	$33,908
The University of Alabama	$33,040
University of Montevallo	$26,532
University of Alabama in Huntsville	$25,484
Tuskegee University	$24,224

Inexpensive Graduate Schools in Alabama

Columbia Southern University	$3,820
Selma University	$4,800
Huntsville Bible College	$4,814
Heritage Christian University	$5,742
Spring Hill College	$7,854

Based on out-of-state tuition rates of 4 years (or high) colleges

2024 Books & Supplies Costs

The average books & supplies costs of Alabama colleges in 2024 is $1,226. The books & supplies costs rose 102.94% from last year. Next table and chart describes the 2024 books & supplies costs and costs changes over last 5 years

Table

Table. 2024 Average Books & Supplies Costs for Alabama Universities and Colleges
	Books & Supplies
2020	$1,261
2021	$1,249
2022	$1,243
2023	$1,191
2024	$1,226

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2024 Average Living Costs

The average living costs of Alabama colleges in 2024 is $14,206 when a student lives on campus such as dormitory and college apartment and $15,939 living off campus. 34 schools have on-campus living facilities in Alabama State. The on-campus living costs rose 101.22% and off-campus costs rose 105.63% from last year. Next table and chart describes the 2024 living costs and compares to last 5 years.

Table

Table. 2024 Average Living Costs for Alabama Universities and Colleges
	On-Campus	Off-Campus
2020	$13,457	$14,435
2021	$13,620	$14,774
2022	$13,714	$14,927
2023	$14,034	$15,089
2024	$14,206	$15,939

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Most Searched Alabama Colleges (last 30 days)

Undergraduate

South University-Montgomery Private, four-years | Montgomery
The University of Alabama Public, four-years | Tuscaloosa
Herzing University-Birmingham Private, four-years | Birmingham
Auburn University Public, four-years | Auburn
Lawson State Community College Public, 2-4 years | Birmingham
University of Alabama at Birmingham Public, four-years | Birmingham
Samford University Private, four-years | Birmingham
Northeast Alabama Community College Public, 2-4 years | Rainsville
Alabama A & M University Public, four-years | Normal
University of South Alabama Public, four-years | Mobile

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Graduate

Auburn University Public, four-years | Auburn
University of Alabama at Birmingham Public, four-years | Birmingham
University of South Alabama Public, four-years | Mobile
The University of Alabama Public, four-years | Tuscaloosa
University of North Alabama Public, four-years | Florence
Alabama State University Public, four-years | Montgomery
Auburn University at Montgomery Public, four-years | Montgomery
University of Alabama in Huntsville Public, four-years | Huntsville
Jacksonville State University Public, four-years | Jacksonville
Faulkner University Private, four-years | Montgomery

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Online Schools

Alabama State University Public, four-years | Montgomery
Columbia Southern University Private, four-years | Orange Beach
Auburn University Public, four-years | Auburn
Amridge University Private, four-years | Montgomery
United States Sports Academy Private, four-years | Daphne
Jefferson State Community College Public, 2-4 years | Birmingham
Bishop State Community College Public, 2-4 years | Mobile
University of Alabama at Birmingham Public, four-years | Birmingham
J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College Public, 2-4 years | Huntsville
Alabama A & M University Public, four-years | Normal

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Technical Colleges

Fortis College-Montgomery Private, Less than 2-years | Montgomery
Paul Mitchell the School-Birmingham Private, Less than 2-years | Hoover
Alabama School of Nail Technology & Cosmetology Private, Less than 2-years | Jackson
Fortis College Private, Less than 2-years | Mobile
Winonah's International School of Cosmetology Private, Less than 2-years | Hoover
The Salon Professional Academy-Huntsville Private, Less than 2-years | Huntsville
Blue Cliff Career College Private, Less than 2-years | Mobile
Fortis College-Dothan Private, Less than 2-years | Dothan
Paul Mitchell the School-Huntsville Private, Less than 2-years | Madison
Mitchell Cosmetology College Private, Less than 2-years | Alabaster

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