The Cheapest Colleges in Alabama by Out of State Total Cost for 2023
If you're looking for an affordable university in Alabama but aren't a state resident, these are the least expensive out of state colleges to consider. Additionally, if you are a foreign citizen and cannot qualify for in-state tuition, these are the cheapest universities in Alabama for international students.
Affordable doesn't simply mean finding a school with a low published out of state total cost. It's important to research the typical financial aid package offered by a school, the average net price actually paid and most importantly the quality of education you receive for your tuition dollar. Sometimes a school which appears cheap based on list price can be a poor relative value if it can't award competitive financial aid or doesn't offer a quality education. The list below is a ranking on published out of state total cost with no consideration of actual average price paid or academic quality of the school. Please see the CollegeCalc best value colleges in Alabama list for a ranking which considers school quality and average net price.
Total cost may factor in an estimated off-campus living expense if a school doens't provide housing. This estimate may vary widely by college. To view a rank by academic fees alone please see our Alabama tuition ranking.
The most affordable four year colleges in Alabama are listed by one year's out of state total cost list price for the 2021/2022 school year. Total cost includes tuition, room and board or estimated off campus living expenses, books and supplies and other fees.
What is the cheapest college in Alabama? Leading the colleges list is Selma University in Selma with an out of state total cost of $9,380.
Academic Rating is a CollegeCalc rating of a college's overall academics and effectiveness. The score ranges from zero to one hundred, with fifty being the median for all eligible colleges. Dollar value is a measure of a school's academic rating compared with the average price paid by students. Colleges which are ranked "n/a" didn't report sufficient data to formulate a score. Learn more about our rating methodology.
All price data are reprinted from the U.S. Department of Education's 2021/2022 IPEDS Survey and reflect reported costs for the 2021/2022 academic year.
| College | Out of State Total Cost | Rating | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
#1 Selma UniversitySelma, Private Not For Profit |
$9,380 | NA | NA |
#2 Huntsville Bible CollegeHuntsville, Private Not For Profit |
$12,030 | NA | NA |
#3 Columbia Southern UniversityOrange Beach, Private For Profit |
$13,983 | NA | NA |
#4 Amridge UniversityMontgomery, Private Not For Profit |
$17,450 | NA | NA |
#5 Concordia College SelmaSelma, Private Not For Profit |
$17,620 | NA | NA |
#6 University of Phoenix Birmingham CampusBirmingham, Private For Profit |
$18,390 | NA | NA |
#7 Heritage Christian UniversityFlorence, Private Not For Profit |
$18,454 | NA | NA |
#8 Southeastern Bible CollegeBirmingham, Private Not For Profit |
$18,575 | NA | NA |
#9 Brown Mackie College BirminghamBirmingham, Private For Profit |
$19,638 | NA | NA |
#10 Miles CollegeFairfield, Private Not For Profit |
$20,312 | NA | NA |
#11 Virginia College HuntsvilleHuntsville, Private For Profit |
$23,248 | NA | NA |
#12 Virginia College BirminghamBirmingham, Private For Profit |
$23,248 | NA | NA |
#13 Herzing University BirminghamBirmingham, Private Not For Profit |
$23,443 | NA | NA |
#14 Stillman CollegeTuscaloosa, Private Not For Profit |
$23,480 | NA | NA |
#15 Talladega CollegeTalladega, Private Not For Profit |
$24,020 | NA | NA |
#16 University of South AlabamaMobile, Public Not For Profit |
$26,462 | 44 | 35 |
#17 Alabama State UniversityMontgomery, Public Not For Profit |
$27,046 | 19 | 3 |
#18 Auburn University at MontgomeryMontgomery, Public Not For Profit |
$27,388 | 30 | 13 |
#19 Troy UniversityTroy, Public Not For Profit |
$27,523 | 30 | 14 |
#20 University of West AlabamaLivingston, Public Not For Profit |
$28,900 | 24 | 2 |