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Most affordable public universities in Alabama

13 public universities in Alabama report net price data, ranging from $10,441 at the lowest to higher costs at more selective schools. The median net price across these is $14,781. Alabama's public universities run a bit higher than the national average for the kind. The list below shows the most affordable options, ranked by net price.

Median net price in Alabama

$14,781

National median for public universities

$10,692

public universities reporting in Alabama

13

The most affordable public universities in Alabama, ranked by net price

1

University of North Alabama

AL

Net price

$10,441

Receive grant aid

96%

2

Troy University

AL

Net price

$12,504

Receive grant aid

86%

3

Net price

$13,504

Receive grant aid

88%

4

University of South Alabama

AL

Net price

$13,613

Receive grant aid

94%

5

Net price

$14,064

Receive grant aid

86%

6

Jacksonville State University

AL

Net price

$14,511

Receive grant aid

100%

7

University of West Alabama

AL

Net price

$14,781

Receive grant aid

93%

8

Net price

$15,458

Receive grant aid

99%

9

University of Montevallo

AL

Net price

$17,280

Receive grant aid

98%

10

University of Alabama at Birmingham

AL

Net price

$17,413

Receive grant aid

95%

11

University of Alabama in Huntsville

AL

Net price

$19,847

Receive grant aid

95%

12

The University of Alabama

AL

Net price

$21,761

Receive grant aid

72%

13

Net price

$24,524

Receive grant aid

75%

What makes a school affordable here

In Alabama, the most affordable public universities share two things in common. First, low published net prices reflect both reasonable sticker prices and meaningful institutional or state aid. Second, a high share of students receive grant aid. At University of North Alabama, the most affordable on this list, 96% of students receive grant aid. Net price reflects what a typical family actually pays, not the sticker price you see at first glance. A school with a $50,000 sticker price and a $10,000 net price is more affordable for most families than a school with a $20,000 sticker and a $19,000 net price.

Affordable colleges in Alabama, other types

Affordable public universities in other states

Find your personalized cost

National rankings use publicly available federal cost data. Plug in your actual aid offer and family situation for a Worth-It Score that reflects your specific picture.

Affordability rankings use publicly available federal higher-ed cost data. Net price reflects the average cost a family pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from total cost of attendance, for the 2022-23 reporting year. See full methodology →