2026 Best Graduate Degrees Schools in Alabama
Looking for the best Graduate Degrees degree programs in Alabama? Our ranking highlights 79 institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Grad Degree evaluated 60 schools to compile this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Graduate Degrees Degree Schools in Alabama
Explore the leading schools below:
Our analysis found Auburn University to be the best Graduate Degrees school in Alabama. Based in Auburn, AL, Auburn University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. In-state tuition and fees average $12,890, compared with $34,922 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,803 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. More on Auburn University
You'll be in good company at Samford University, which ranked #2 this year. Located in Birmingham, AL, Samford University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 77% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $40,150 in tuition and fees. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $21,039. Read more about Samford University
Out of the 60 schools in Alabama in this year's ranking, University Of West Alabama landed the #3 spot. Based in Livingston, AL, University Of West Alabama is a public institution. Roughly 28% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,990, while out-of-state students pay about $20,090. Students borrow a median of $31,894 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. See the full University Of West Alabama profile
You'll be in good company at The University Of Alabama, which ranked #4 this year. The University Of Alabama is a public school based in Tuscaloosa, AL. The University Of Alabama graduates 73% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,180, compared with $34,172 for out-of-state students. The University Of Alabama Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $24,496 in debt. Get the full The University Of Alabama report
A rank of #5 makes University Of Alabama At Birmingham one of the top choices in Alabama. Set in Birmingham, AL, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a public institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $9,098, with out-of-state students paying around $22,562. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $26,162. Read the full report on University Of Alabama At Birmingham
University Of Alabama At Huntsville landed the #6 spot in Alabama this year. Located in Huntsville, AL, University Of Alabama At Huntsville is a public institution. University Of Alabama At Huntsville graduates 64% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,132, while out-of-state students pay about $26,408. University Of Alabama At Huntsville Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $24,797 in debt. More on University Of Alabama At Huntsville
University Of South Alabama did well this year, earning the #7 position. This public school is set in Mobile, AL. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,116, with out-of-state students paying around $19,092. University Of South Alabama Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $26,513 in debt. More on University Of South Alabama
Columbia Southern University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Columbia Southern University is a private for-profit school based in Orange Beach, AL. Columbia Southern University graduates 26% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $6,224. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $25,447. Get the full Columbia Southern University report
University Of North Alabama ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. This public school is set in Florence, AL. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,120, compared with $22,320 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $24,291 in student loans. Read the full report on University Of North Alabama
University Of Montevallo did well this year, earning the #10 position. Based in Montevallo, AL, University Of Montevallo is a public institution. About 54% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $13,948 in tuition and fees, compared with $26,968 for out-of-state students. University Of Montevallo Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $25,096 in debt. Get the full University Of Montevallo report
Jacksonville State University placed #11 among Graduate Degrees schools in Alabama. Located in Jacksonville, AL, Jacksonville State University is a public institution. About 55% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,894, while out-of-state students pay about $23,334. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $24,751. Get the full Jacksonville State University report
Tuskegee University landed the #12 spot in Alabama this year. Located in Tuskegee, AL, Tuskegee University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 55% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,386. Graduates carry a median of $29,356 in student loans. See the full Tuskegee University profile
Troy University landed the #13 spot in Alabama this year. Located in Troy, AL, Troy University is a public institution. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,176, with out-of-state students paying around $20,352. Graduates carry a median of $26,439 in student loans. Read more about Troy University
Alabama State University landed the #14 spot in Alabama this year. This public school is set in Montgomery, AL. About 30% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $11,248, with out-of-state students paying around $19,576. Students borrow a median of $33,709 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. See the full Alabama State University profile
Faulkner University placed #15 among Graduate Degrees schools in Alabama. Faulkner University is a private not-for-profit school based in Montgomery, AL. The six-year graduation rate is 38%. In-state tuition and fees average $23,920. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $29,942. See the full Faulkner University profile
University Of Mobile did well this year, earning the #16 position. University Of Mobile is a private not-for-profit school based in Mobile, AL. About 57% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,910. Graduates carry a median of $30,127 in student loans. Get the full University Of Mobile report
Auburn University At Montgomery came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Auburn University At Montgomery is a public school based in Montgomery, AL. Roughly 33% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,700, while out-of-state students pay about $20,668. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $29,746. Read the full report on Auburn University At Montgomery
Alabama A And M University came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Based in Normal, AL, Alabama A And M University is a public institution. About 24% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $10,024 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,634. Alabama A And M University Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $31,896 in debt. Get the full Alabama A And M University report
Chattahoochee Valley Community College came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Read more about Chattahoochee Valley Community College
Jefferson State Community College placed #20 among Graduate Degrees schools in Alabama. See the full Jefferson State Community College profile
Heritage Christian University landed the #21 spot in Alabama this year. See the full Heritage Christian University profile
Ross Medical Education Center Huntsville ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. More on Ross Medical Education Center Huntsville
Northwest Shoals Community College landed the #23 spot in Alabama this year. Get the full Northwest Shoals Community College report
Alabama School Of Nail Technology And Cosmetology placed #24 among Graduate Degrees schools in Alabama. Read more about Alabama School Of Nail Technology And Cosmetology
Lurleen B Wallace Community College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Read the full report on Lurleen B Wallace Community College
Rest of the Top 50 Best Graduate Degrees Degree Schools in Alabama
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
Brown Beauty Barber School came in at #26 in this year's ranking. Read more about Brown Beauty Barber School
Paul Mitchell The School Huntsville ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Read the full report on Paul Mitchell The School Huntsville
Huntingdon College did well this year, earning the #28 position. Get the full Huntingdon College report
Midfield Institute Of Cosmetology landed the #29 spot in Alabama this year. Get the full Midfield Institute Of Cosmetology report
South University Montgomery came in at #30 in this year's ranking. See the full South University Montgomery profile
Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus landed the #31 spot in Alabama this year. More on Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus
Birmingham Southern College did well this year, earning the #32 position. Read more about Birmingham Southern College
Gadsden State Community College came in at #33 in this year's ranking. Get the full Gadsden State Community College report
Shelton State Community College landed the #34 spot in Alabama this year. See the full Shelton State Community College profile
George C Wallace State Community College Dothan came in at #35 in this year's ranking. Read more about George C Wallace State Community College Dothan
Northeast Alabama Community College placed #36 among Graduate Degrees schools in Alabama. See the full Northeast Alabama Community College profile
George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. See the full George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville profile
Cardiac And Vascular Institute Of Ultrasound did well this year, earning the #38 position. More on Cardiac And Vascular Institute Of Ultrasound
Marion Military Institute placed #39 among Graduate Degrees schools in Alabama. Get the full Marion Military Institute report
The Salon Professional Academy Huntsville ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Get the full The Salon Professional Academy Huntsville report
Oakwood University placed #41 among Graduate Degrees schools in Alabama. More on Oakwood University
Central Alabama Community College placed #42 among Graduate Degrees schools in Alabama. Get the full Central Alabama Community College report
George C Wallace State Community College Selma ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. See the full George C Wallace State Community College Selma profile
Herzing University Birmingham did well this year, earning the #44 position. Get the full Herzing University Birmingham report
Bevill State Community College came in at #45 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Bevill State Community College
Alabama College Of Osteopathic Medicine ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. More on Alabama College Of Osteopathic Medicine
Amridge University ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Read the full report on Amridge University
John C Calhoun State Community College ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Get the full John C Calhoun State Community College report
Huntsville Bible College did well this year, earning the #49 position. Get the full Huntsville Bible College report
New Beginning College Of Cosmetology ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Get the full New Beginning College Of Cosmetology report
More Graduate Degrees Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Grad Degree (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: State · 60 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 79 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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