2024 Best Grad Schools in Alabama for Master's Degrees
When pursuing a grad degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Best Master's Degree Colleges in Alabama ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
Jump to Any of the Following Sections: * Our Methodology
Your Choice of Grad School Matters
After analyzing 19 grad schools in Alabama, we came up with our list of those that offered the best master's degree programs. Instead of depending on subjective information to rank the best grad schools, we focus on objective factors in our analysis. More specifically, the following explains what we consider and why.
Average Early-Career Salaries
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of master's graduates during the early years of their career. This is because one of the main reasons people pursue a master's degree is to enable themselves to find better-paying positions.
Student Loan Borrowing
Another factor that we look at to determine a school's ranking is the average debt load that graduate students take on while they are working on their master's degree.
The average amount taken out in student loans for graduates at a particular school may be crippling for those who earn less than average wages after graduation.
Additional Ranking Factors We Use
Our Best Master's Degree Schools considers other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt.
These factors include things like the educational resources, the demand associated with the school, whether or not the school offers online classes, and the student body caliber - just to name a few.
To learn more, visit our graduate school ranking methodology page.
Custom Rankings
Are you more interested in the top master's degree schools in your area? Try narrowing this list
by location. In addition, we've put together a number of other
college rankings that may help you in your search.
If you plan to take your education even further, you may want to visit our Best Doctorate Degree Schools ranking.
Top Master's Degree Schools in Alabama
Learn more about these excellent grad schools below:
2,073
Master's Degrees Awarded
$62,616
Average Early-Career Earnings
Our 2024 rankings named Columbia Southern University the best grad school in Alabama in terms of overall quality for students working on their master’s degree. This fairly large private for-profit school is located in Orange Beach, Alabama, and it awarded 2,073 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from Columbia Southern University is $62,616 during the early years of their career.
Full Columbia Southern University Report
1,295
Master's Degrees Awarded
$58,279
Average Early-Career Earnings
A rank of #2 on our Best Master’s Degree in Alabama list means Auburn University is a great place for students working on their degree. Auburn is located in Auburn, Alabama and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,295 master’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Graduates with a master’s degree from Auburn make an average of $58,279 per year during the early years of their career.
Learn More About Auburn University
1,859
Master's Degrees Awarded
$56,503
Average Early-Career Earnings
Out of the 19 master’s degree schools in Alabama that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Alabama landed the #3 spot on the list. This large public school is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and it awarded 1,859 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from UA make an average of $56,503 a year.
Read full report on The University of Alabama
2,433
Master's Degrees Awarded
$58,175
Average Early-Career Earnings
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Alabama at Birmingham. It ranked #4 on our 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Alabama list. University of Alabama at Birmingham is a large public school located in Birmingham, Alabama that handed out 2,433 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from UAB is $58,175 during the early years of their career.
Full University of Alabama at Birmingham Report
1,193
Master's Degrees Awarded
$51,240
Average Early-Career Earnings
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of West Alabama. It ranked #5 on our 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Alabama list. University of West Alabama is a medium-sized public school located in Livingston, Alabama that handed out 1,193 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from University of West Alabama go into careers with an average salary of $51,240 during the early years of their career.
Full University of West Alabama Report
274
Master's Degrees Awarded
$58,758
Average Early-Career Earnings
Samford University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in Alabama ranking. Samford is located in Birmingham, Alabama and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 274 master’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from Samford make an average of $58,758 a year.
Read full report on Samford University
1,230
Master's Degrees Awarded
$58,255
Average Early-Career Earnings
University of South Alabama came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in Alabama ranking. USA is a fairly large public school situated in Mobile, Alabama. It awarded 1,230 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from USA go into careers with an average salary of $58,255 during the early years of their career.
Full University of South Alabama Report
516
Master's Degrees Awarded
$76,934
Average Early-Career Earnings
University of Alabama in Huntsville landed the #8 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Alabama ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Huntsville, Alabama, and it awarded 516 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from UAH go into careers with an average salary of $76,934 during the early years of their career.
Learn More About University of Alabama in Huntsville
561
Master's Degrees Awarded
$61,530
Average Early-Career Earnings
With a ranking of #9, University of North Alabama did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Alabama list. Florence, Alabama is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 561 students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from UNA make an average of $61,530 per year during the early years of their career.
Full University of North Alabama Report
78
Master's Degrees Awarded
Athens State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in Alabama ranking. Located in Athens, Alabama, the small public school handed out 78 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Athens State University
110
Master's Degrees Awarded
$44,017
Average Early-Career Earnings
University of Montevallo landed the #11 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Alabama ranking. Located in Montevallo, Alabama, the small public school awarded 110 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from Montevallo is $44,017 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on University of Montevallo
1,137
Master's Degrees Awarded
$49,234
Average Early-Career Earnings
Troy University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in Alabama list. Located in Troy, Alabama, the fairly large public school handed out 1,137 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $49,234 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Troy University
76
Master's Degrees Awarded
$51,709
Average Early-Career Earnings
Tuskegee University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in Alabama list. Tuskegee is located in Tuskegee, Alabama and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 76 master’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Graduates with a master’s degree from Tuskegee make an average of $51,709 per year during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Tuskegee University
456
Master's Degrees Awarded
$49,506
Average Early-Career Earnings
Jacksonville State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in Alabama ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Jacksonville, Alabama, and it awarded 456 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from Jacksonville State University make an average of $49,506 per year during the early years of their career.
Learn More About Jacksonville State University
85
Master's Degrees Awarded
University of Mobile ranked #15 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in Alabama list. University of Mobile is a small private not-for-profit school located in Mobile, Alabama that handed out 85 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Learn More About University of Mobile
105
Master's Degrees Awarded
$45,350
Average Early-Career Earnings
With a ranking of #16, Alabama State University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Alabama list. Located in Montgomery, Alabama, the small public school awarded 105 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $45,350 during the early years of their career.
Full Alabama State University Report
433
Master's Degrees Awarded
$42,293
Average Early-Career Earnings
Faulkner University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in Alabama list. Montgomery, Alabama is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 433 students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $42,293 during the early years of their career.
Learn More About Faulkner University
277
Master's Degrees Awarded
$47,953
Average Early-Career Earnings
Auburn University at Montgomery came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in Alabama ranking. AUM is located in Montgomery, Alabama and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 277 master’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from AUM make an average of $47,953 a year.
Full Auburn University at Montgomery Report
251
Master's Degrees Awarded
$43,734
Average Early-Career Earnings
Alabama A & M University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Alabama ranking, coming in at #19. AAMU is a medium-sized public school situated in Normal, Alabama. It awarded 251 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from AAMU is $43,734 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Alabama A & M University
Best Master's Degree Schools in the Southeast Region
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