The college explorer
Find a college.
See what it returns.
Look beyond the sticker price. Explore real costs, graduate earnings, and how long a degree takes to pay for itself.
How we measure value3,376colleges to explore
434with a Strong ROI verdict
College Scorecard · 2026 release
Federal figures. Our calculations.
54 matching colleges · Showing 1–24
Compare collegesBrowse by state or territory
Payback guideStrong ≤5 yearsSolid ≤10Slow ≤20Weak >20 or no payback
Alabama 54 matching
View state rankingSolid ROI
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL
Net price / year$22,420Payback8.3 years
Solid ROI
Auburn University
Auburn, AL
Net price / year$24,323Payback5.7 years
Strong ROI
Columbia Southern University
Orange Beach, AL
Net price / year$14,580Payback3.8 years
Slow ROI
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, AL
Net price / year$18,749Payback12.2 years
Weak ROI
Troy University
Troy, AL
Net price / year$16,527PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
University of South Alabama
Mobile, AL
Net price / year$17,648Payback69.3 years
Weak ROI
John C Calhoun State Community College
Tanner, AL
Net price / year$7,660PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Jacksonville State University
Jacksonville, AL
Net price / year$14,279PaybackNot available
Solid ROI
University of Alabama in Huntsville
Huntsville, AL
Net price / year$18,796Payback5.6 years
Weak ROI
Alabama A & M University
Normal, AL
Net price / year$17,621PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
University of North Alabama
Florence, AL
Net price / year$12,170PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Jefferson State Community College
Birmingham, AL
Net price / year$9,086PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Coastal Alabama Community College
Bay Minette, AL
Net price / year$13,644PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville
Hanceville, AL
Net price / year$13,170PaybackNot available
Slow ROI
Samford University
Birmingham, AL
Net price / year$32,622Payback12.9 years
Weak ROI
Southern Union State Community College
Wadley, AL
Net price / year$6,142PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Gadsden State Community College
Gadsden, AL
Net price / year$3,515PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Alabama State University
Montgomery, AL
Net price / year$20,435PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Shelton State Community College
Tuscaloosa, AL
Net price / year$14,557PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
George C Wallace Community College-Dothan
Dothan, AL
Net price / year$1,170PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
University of West Alabama
Livingston, AL
Net price / year$12,684PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Lawson State Community College
Birmingham, AL
Net price / year$6,275PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Tuskegee University
Tuskegee, AL
Net price / year$35,013Payback109.3 years
Weak ROI
Auburn University at Montgomery
Montgomery, AL
Net price / year$13,224PaybackNot available