2026 Best Value Computer Science Schools in Alabama
Looking for the best-value Computer Science degree programs in Alabama? Our ranking highlights 79 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To arm you with the information you need, Computer Science Degree analyzed 14 schools to compile this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Computer Science Degree Schools in Alabama
Explore the best-value schools below:
Jefferson State Community College tops our 2026 ranking of the best-value Computer Science degree schools in Alabama. This public school is set in Birmingham, AL. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,100, with out-of-state students paying around $8,970. Jefferson State Community College Computer Science students take on a median of $15,083 in debt. Jefferson State Community College alumni report median earnings of $40,719 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. More on Jefferson State Community College
Request InformationYou'll get strong value at Auburn University, which ranked #2 this year. This public school is set in Auburn, AL. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,890, while out-of-state students pay about $34,922. Students borrow a median of $22,803 to complete their Computer Science program here. Median earnings reach $65,337 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 46%. Read the full report on Auburn University
Request InformationYou'll get strong value at Herzing University Birmingham, which ranked #3 this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Birmingham, AL. In-state tuition and fees average $13,450. The median Computer Science program debt is $29,954. Herzing University Birmingham alumni report median earnings of $36,909 a decade after entry. Set against $29,954 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%. More on Herzing University Birmingham
Request InformationYou'll get strong value at Columbia Southern University, which ranked #4 this year. Located in Orange Beach, AL, Columbia Southern University is a private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,224. Graduates carry a median of $25,447 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,534. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about Columbia Southern University
Request InformationThe University Of Alabama came in at #5 on this year's best-value Computer Science ranking in Alabama. Based in Tuscaloosa, AL, The University Of Alabama is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,180, with out-of-state students paying around $34,172. The median Computer Science program debt is $24,496. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $59,221. Set against $24,496 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 77% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on The University Of Alabama
Request InformationUniversity Of Alabama At Birmingham placed #6 among the best-value Computer Science schools in Alabama. Located in Birmingham, AL, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,098, compared with $22,562 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $26,162 in student loans. Median earnings reach $54,501 ten years out. Set against $26,162 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%. Read the full report on University Of Alabama At Birmingham
Request InformationTroy University landed the #7 spot for value in Alabama this year. Troy University is a public school based in Troy, AL. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,176, with out-of-state students paying around $20,352. Students borrow a median of $26,439 to complete their Computer Science program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $42,062. Set against $26,439 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 96% of those who apply are admitted. More on Troy University
Request InformationUniversity Of Alabama At Huntsville came in at #8 in this year's value ranking. Based in Huntsville, AL, University Of Alabama At Huntsville is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,132 in tuition and fees, compared with $26,408 for out-of-state students. Typical Computer Science student debt is $24,797. Median earnings reach $61,767 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $24,797 median debt. The acceptance rate is 69%. Get the full University Of Alabama At Huntsville report
Request InformationAlabama A And M University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best-value Computer Science schools. Set in Normal, AL, Alabama A And M University is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,024, while out-of-state students pay about $18,634. Graduates carry a median of $31,896 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $40,628. That is a strong return on a $31,896 median debt. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted. More on Alabama A And M University
Request InformationUniversity Of South Alabama came in at #10 in this year's value ranking. Located in Mobile, AL, University Of South Alabama is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,116 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,092 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,513 to complete their Computer Science program here. Median earnings reach $49,379 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of South Alabama admits about 71% of applicants. Read the full report on University Of South Alabama
Request InformationAuburn University At Montgomery came in at #11 in this year's value ranking. Based in Montgomery, AL, Auburn University At Montgomery is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,700, with out-of-state students paying around $20,668. Typical Computer Science student debt is $29,746. Median earnings reach $44,391 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%. More on Auburn University At Montgomery
Request InformationJacksonville State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best-value Computer Science schools. Based in Jacksonville, AL, Jacksonville State University is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,894, compared with $23,334 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,751 to complete their Computer Science program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,235 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Jacksonville State University admits about 78% of applicants. Read the full report on Jacksonville State University
Request InformationAlabama State University came in at #13 in this year's value ranking. Set in Montgomery, AL, Alabama State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,248, with out-of-state students paying around $19,576. The median Computer Science program debt is $33,709. Median earnings reach $34,502 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $33,709 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%. Get the full Alabama State University report
Request InformationSouth University Montgomery ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Computer Science schools. Based in Montgomery, AL, South University Montgomery is a private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $17,895. Students borrow a median of $48,920 to complete their Computer Science program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $34,421. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. More on South University Montgomery
Request InformationWinonahs International School Of Cosmetology placed #15 among the best-value Computer Science schools in Alabama. Get the full Winonahs International School Of Cosmetology report
Request InformationSnead State Community College placed #16 among the best-value Computer Science schools in Alabama. Read the full report on Snead State Community College
Request InformationReid State Technical College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best-value Computer Science schools. Read the full report on Reid State Technical College
Request InformationGeorge C Wallace State Community College Selma placed #18 among the best-value Computer Science schools in Alabama. Get the full George C Wallace State Community College Selma report
Request InformationThe Salon Professional Academy Huntsville landed the #19 spot for value in Alabama this year. More on The Salon Professional Academy Huntsville
Request InformationBlue Cliff Career College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Computer Science schools. More on Blue Cliff Career College
Request InformationPaul Mitchell The School Huntsville placed #21 among the best-value Computer Science schools in Alabama. See the full Paul Mitchell The School Huntsville profile
Request InformationGeorge C Wallace State Community College Dothan ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best-value Computer Science schools. See the full George C Wallace State Community College Dothan profile
Request InformationUniversity Of West Alabama ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best-value Computer Science schools. Get the full University Of West Alabama report
Request InformationHuntingdon College landed the #24 spot for value in Alabama this year. See the full Huntingdon College profile
Request InformationLawson State Community College Birmingham Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #25 position. Read more about Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus
Request InformationRest of the Top 50 Best-Value Computer Science Degree Schools in Alabama
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
Lurleen B Wallace Community College came in at #26 in this year's value ranking. See the full Lurleen B Wallace Community College profile
Request InformationUniversity Academy Of Hair Design ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best-value Computer Science schools. Read the full report on University Academy Of Hair Design
Request InformationBirmingham Southern College landed the #28 spot for value in Alabama this year. Read more about Birmingham Southern College
Request InformationJohn C Calhoun State Community College ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best-value Computer Science schools. Get the full John C Calhoun State Community College report
Request InformationBluefield University Edward Via College Auburn landed the #30 spot for value in Alabama this year. More on Bluefield University Edward Via College Auburn
Request InformationOakwood University ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value Computer Science schools. Read more about Oakwood University
Request InformationJames H Faulkner State Community College came in at #32 in this year's value ranking. Read more about James H Faulkner State Community College
Request InformationFortis Institute Birmingham offered strong value this year, earning the #33 position. Read the full report on Fortis Institute Birmingham
Request InformationHuntsville Bible College offered strong value this year, earning the #34 position. See the full Huntsville Bible College profile
Request InformationJersey College Dothan ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best-value Computer Science schools. Read more about Jersey College Dothan
Request InformationMiles College
Miles College landed the #36 spot for value in Alabama this year. Read more about Miles College
Request InformationBishop State Community College landed the #37 spot for value in Alabama this year. Read the full report on Bishop State Community College
Request InformationUniversity Of North Alabama placed #38 among the best-value Computer Science schools in Alabama. See the full University Of North Alabama profile
Request InformationFortis College Dothan placed #39 among the best-value Computer Science schools in Alabama. Read more about Fortis College Dothan
Request InformationNew Beginning College Of Cosmetology came in at #40 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on New Beginning College Of Cosmetology
Request InformationPaul Mitchell The School Birmingham ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best-value Computer Science schools. More on Paul Mitchell The School Birmingham
Request InformationHeritage Christian University offered strong value this year, earning the #42 position. Get the full Heritage Christian University report
Request InformationSpring Hill College came in at #43 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Spring Hill College report
Request InformationJ F Drake State Community And Technical College ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best-value Computer Science schools. Read more about J F Drake State Community And Technical College
Request InformationTuskegee University came in at #45 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Tuskegee University
Request InformationUniversity Of Alabama System Office offered strong value this year, earning the #46 position. Read the full report on University Of Alabama System Office
Request InformationRemington College Mobile Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #47 position. More on Remington College Mobile Campus
Request InformationH Councill Trenholm State Technical College ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best-value Computer Science schools. See the full H Councill Trenholm State Technical College profile
Request InformationEnterprise State Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #49 position. Read more about Enterprise State Community College
Request InformationMarion Military Institute ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best-value Computer Science schools. See the full Marion Military Institute profile
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Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Computer Science Degree (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Best Colleges For Money · Scope: State · 14 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).