Colleges in Alabama

At a Glance Admission, Tuition, Population, and more Updated: May 14, 2026 collegetuitioncompare

Alabama has 78 colleges and universities. 77 schools offer undergraduate programs and 35 schools offer graduate programs. In Alabama, there are 3 ABA-accredited law schools and 2 LCME-accredited medical schools.

By school type, 39 public and 39 private colleges are active for the academic year 2024-2025 in Alabama. By school level, there are 36 4-Years Colleges, 26 Community Colleges, and 16 Technical Colleges in Alabama. 4-Years Colleges Community Colleges Technical Colleges Total 36 26 16 Public 15 23 1 Private (not-for-profit) 18 1 1 Private (for-profit) 3 2 14 View Detailed Stats

Average Tuition & Fees

For 4-year colleges, the average undergraduate tuition & fees are $11,335 for Alabama residents and $23,573 for out-of-state students. For graduate programs, the average tuition & fees are $10,538 for Alabama residents and $21,886 for out-of-state students. View Detailed Stats

4-Year Colleges Tuition

Over the past 5 years, 4-year college tuition has increased 11.3% for in-state and 14.8% for out-of-state students at public schools. At private schools, the tuition has increased 3.3%. See the detailed tuition history below. Alabama Colleges Tuition & Fees Public Schools Private Schools AL Residents Out-of-State 2021 $10,180 $20,533 $17,760 2022 $10,762 $22,043 $16,670 2023 $11,060 $22,672 $16,779 2024 $11,305 $23,164 $17,626 2025 $11,335 $23,573 $18,339 View Detailed Stats

Community Colleges Tuition

Over the past 5 years, community college tuition has increased 2.6% for in-state and -1.1% for out-of-state students at public schools. At private community colleges, the tuition has increased 26.8%. Alabama Community Colleges Tuition & Fees Public Schools Private Schools AL Residents Out-of-State 2021 $5,132 $9,280 $13,649 2022 $5,039 $8,879 $13,655 2023 $5,183 $9,061 $16,740 2024 $5,205 $9,100 $16,996 2025 $5,264 $9,180 $17,305 View Detailed Stats

Graduate Schools Tuition

The graduate tuition has increased 8.5% for in-state and 7.4% for out-of-state students over the past 5 years At private graduate schools, the tuition has increased 6.4%. Alabama Graduate Schools Tuition & Fees Public Schools Private Schools AL Residents Out-of-State 2021 $9,716 $20,375 $13,006 2022 $9,969 $20,834 $13,689 2023 $10,126 $21,335 $14,129 2024 $10,531 $21,833 $13,330 2025 $10,538 $21,886 $13,839 View Detailed Stats

Living Costs

The average living costs at Alabama colleges are $13,718 when a student lives on-campus and $16,185 when living-off campus. On-campus living costs have increased 11.1% and off-campus costs have increased 23.3% over the past 5 years. Living Costs at Alabama Colleges On-Campus Off-Campus 2021 $12,345 $13,126 2022 $12,418 $13,553 2023 $12,745 $14,270 2024 $13,200 $15,622 2025 $13,718 $16,185 View Detailed Stats

Admission & SAT Scores

On average, 72.8% of applicants are admitted to Alabama colleges. The admission rate ranges from 42.7% to 97.6% across colleges in Alabama. The average SAT score at Alabama colleges is 1,123. SAT scores range from 858 to 1,340 across colleges in Alabama.

Financial Aid

On average, 74.93% students have received grants and/or scholarships at Alabama colleges. The average amount of aid received is $7,895 Check by School

Enrollment

A total of 316,091 students is attending Alabama colleges - 261,233 undergraduate and 54,823 graduate students. Of them, 90,368 students enrolled in online programs exclusively. Total Number of Students 316,091 Undergraduate 261,233 Graduate 54,823 Online Students 90,368 Compare Schools

Faculty & Staff

A total of 19,934 faculties (instructional staffs) are working for colleges in Alabama and the average faculty salary is $68,053. There are 54,232 non-instructional staffs and its average salary is $63,928. Number of Faculties 19,934 Average Faculty Salary $68,053 Number of Staffs 54,232 Average Staff Salary $63,928 Faculty/Staff Salary

Best Alabama colleges

Samford University is ranked #1 in the Alabama college rankings, followed by Tuskegee University in second place. #1. Samford University #2. Tuskegee University #3. University of South Alabama #4. Troy University #5. The University of Alabama Full Rankings

Highest Tuition & Fees

Samford University is the most expensive college in Alabama with a tuition & fees of $40,150 and Auburn University has the second-highest tuition & fees of $34,922. #1. Samford University $40,150 #2. Auburn University $34,922 #3. The University of Alabama $34,172 #4. Huntingdon College $29,070 #5. University of Montevallo $26,968 Full Rankings

Highest Graduate Tuition

For graduate programs, Auburn University requires the most expensive tuition & fees of $33,986 and The University of Alabama has the second-highest graduate tuition & fees of $33,972. #1. Auburn University $33,986 #2. The University of Alabama $33,972 #3. University of Alabama in Huntsville $28,270 #4. University of Montevallo $26,532 #5. Tuskegee University $26,228 Full Rankings

Highest SAT Scores

University of Alabama at Birmingham has the highest SAT scores of 1,340 submitted by enrolled students and Auburn University has the second-highest SAT score of 1,320. #1. University of Alabama at Birmingham SAT Score: 1340 #2. Auburn University SAT Score: 1320 #3. University of Alabama in Huntsville SAT Score: 1310 #4. The University of Alabama SAT Score: 1270 #5. Marion Military Institute SAT Score: 1175 Full Rankings

Largest Alabama colleges

The University of Alabama is the largest college with 40,846 students and Auburn University has the second-most students of 34,145. #1. The University of Alabama 40,846 students #2. Auburn University 34,145 students #3. University of Alabama at Birmingham 20,905 students #4. Columbia Southern University 17,763 students #5. University of South Alabama 14,003 students Full Rankings

Largest Online colleges

Columbia Southern University has the most online students of 17,763 students and Troy University has the second-most online students of 6,980. #1. Columbia Southern University 17,763 online enrollment #2. Troy University 6,980 online enrollment #3. The University of Alabama 6,289 online enrollment #4. University of Alabama at Birmingham 5,802 online enrollment #5. University of West Alabama 5,126 online enrollment Full Rankings

	4-Years Colleges	Community Colleges	Technical Colleges
Total	36	26	16
Public	15	23	1
Private (not-for-profit)	18	1	1
Private (for-profit)	3	2	14

Alabama Colleges Tuition & Fees
	Public Schools	Private Schools
2021	$10,180	$20,533	$17,760
2022	$10,762	$22,043	$16,670
2023	$11,060	$22,672	$16,779
2024	$11,305	$23,164	$17,626
2025	$11,335	$23,573	$18,339

Alabama Community Colleges Tuition & Fees
	Public Schools	Private Schools
2021	$5,132	$9,280	$13,649
2022	$5,039	$8,879	$13,655
2023	$5,183	$9,061	$16,740
2024	$5,205	$9,100	$16,996
2025	$5,264	$9,180	$17,305

Alabama Graduate Schools Tuition & Fees
	Public Schools	Private Schools
2021	$9,716	$20,375	$13,006
2022	$9,969	$20,834	$13,689
2023	$10,126	$21,335	$14,129
2024	$10,531	$21,833	$13,330
2025	$10,538	$21,886	$13,839

Living Costs at Alabama Colleges

2021	$12,345	$13,126
2022	$12,418	$13,553
2023	$12,745	$14,270
2024	$13,200	$15,622
2025	$13,718	$16,185

	Public Schools		Private Schools
	AL Residents	Out-of-State	Private Schools
2021	$10,180	$20,533	$17,760
2022	$10,762	$22,043	$16,670
2023	$11,060	$22,672	$16,779
2024	$11,305	$23,164	$17,626
2025	$11,335	$23,573	$18,339

2025-26 Statistics