2023 Most Popular Schools in Alabama
It's not easy to decide which program to enroll in when you have so many options available. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Also there are many trade schools and bootcamps that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Most Popular Schools in Alabama ranking. This report analyzed 75 schools in Alabama to see which ones were the most popular programs for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school on the list.
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Most Popular Schools in Alabama
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named The University of Alabama the most popular school in Alabama for students working on their degree. Tuscaloosa, Alabama is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 10,311 students in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from UA accumulate an average of $24,032 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $629 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from UA, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $44,898 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 59% were women.
The programs at Auburn University helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular schools in Alabama. Located in Auburn, Alabama, the large public school handed out 8,031 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $22,004 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $582, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Auburn graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $49,769 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 51% were women.
Out of the 75 schools in Alabama that were part of this year’s ranking, Columbia Southern University landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in Orange Beach, Alabama, the fairly large private for-profit school awarded 7,022 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from Columbia Southern University accumulate an average of $27,476 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Columbia Southern University graduates make an average of $55,041 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 38% were women.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Alabama at Birmingham. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Popular Schools in Alabama list. University of Alabama at Birmingham is a large public school located in Birmingham, Alabama that handed out 6,323 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $26,869 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $244 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, UAB graduates make an average of $51,494 annually. Around 65% of those degree recipients were women.
You’ll be in good company if you attend Troy University. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Most Popular Schools in Alabama list. Troy University is a fairly large public school located in Troy, Alabama that handed out 3,917 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $28,305 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $155, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, TROY graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $41,526 during the early year of their career. Around 64% of those degree recipients were women.
University of South Alabama landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. University of South Alabama is a fairly large public school located in Mobile, Alabama that handed out 3,795 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from USA accumulate an average of $28,397 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $279. During the early years of their career, USA graduates make an average of $46,663 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 72% were women.
John C Calhoun State Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students. It came in at #7 on the list. Calhoun Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Tanner, Alabama. It awarded 2,850 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $15,738 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Calhoun Community College graduates make an average of $38,694 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 50% were women.
University of Alabama in Huntsville landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. Huntsville, Alabama is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 2,333 students in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $25,994 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $272. Once they receive their degree, UAH graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $58,920 during the early year of their career. Around 48% of those degree recipients were women.
Wallace State Community College, Hanceville ranked #9 on this year’s Most Popular Schools in Alabama list. Hanceville, Alabama is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 2,322 students in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $14,666 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Wallace State, Hanceville, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,585 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 60% were women.
Northwest-Shoals Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Most Popular Schools in Alabama list. Located in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, the small public school handed out 2,014 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from NW-SCC accumulate an average of $14,717 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, NW-SCC graduates make an average of $28,614 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 53% were women.
Jacksonville State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Schools in Alabama ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Jacksonville, Alabama, and it awarded 2,043 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $26,150 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $97. Once they receive their degree, Jacksonville State University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $39,073 during the early year of their career. Around 66% of those degree recipients were women.
University of North Alabama came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Schools in Alabama ranking. Located in Florence, Alabama, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,973 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,719 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $304, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from UNA, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,683 during the early years of their career. Around 63% of those degree recipients were women.
University of West Alabama came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Schools in Alabama ranking. Located in Livingston, Alabama, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,781 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $27,626 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from University of West Alabama, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $48,388 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 77% were women.
Samford University landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. Located in Birmingham, Alabama, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 1,756 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $21,711 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $518 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Samford graduates make an average of $55,075 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 66% were women.
Southern Union State Community College landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. This small public school is located in Wadley, Alabama, and it awarded 1,702 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $15,217 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Southern Union State Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $32,006 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 54% were women.
Jefferson State Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students. It came in at #16 on the list. Jeff State is located in Birmingham, Alabama and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,526 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,579 in student loans.After graduating from Jeff State, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $37,906 during the early years of their career. Around 63% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #17, Coastal Alabama Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working. Located in Bay Minette, Alabama, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,485 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from Coastal Alabama Community College accumulate an average of $17,099 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Coastal Alabama Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $33,085 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 55% were women.
Northeast Alabama Community College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Schools in Alabama ranking. Northeast is a small public school situated in Rainsville, Alabama. It awarded 1,228 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $8,406 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Northeast graduates make an average of $29,138 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 59% were women.
Bevill State Community College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Schools in Alabama ranking. Located in Jasper, Alabama, the small public school handed out 1,196 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from Bevill State Community College accumulate an average of $14,189 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Bevill State Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $34,370 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 46% were women.
Gadsden State Community College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Schools in Alabama ranking. GSCC is a public institution located in Gadsden, Alabama. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,118 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from GSCC accumulate an average of $9,802 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, GSCC graduates make an average of $34,201 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 54% were women.
Auburn University at Montgomery came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Schools in Alabama ranking. AUM is a medium-sized public school situated in Montgomery, Alabama. It awarded 1,083 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from AUM accumulate an average of $31,476 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $124. Once they receive their degree, AUM graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,928 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 66% were women.
Wallace Community College, Dothan ranked #22 on this year’s Most Popular Schools in Alabama list. Wallace, Dothan is located in Dothan, Alabama and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,070 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,701 in student loans.After graduating from Wallace, Dothan, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $29,871 during the early years of their career. Around 68% of those degree recipients were women.
Faulkner University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Schools in Alabama ranking. Faulkner is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Montgomery, Alabama. It awarded 878 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from Faulkner accumulate an average of $33,336 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Faulkner graduates make an average of $38,864 annually. Around 65% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #24, Athens State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working. Athens State University is a small public school located in Athens, Alabama that handed out 831 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from Athens State University accumulate an average of $30,330 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Athens State University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,004 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 68% were women.
Alabama A & M University landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. AAMU is located in Normal, Alabama and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 821 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $34,238 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $180, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from AAMU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,907 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 68% were women.
Most Popular Schools in the Southeast Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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