Best Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Degrees in Alabama by ROI
Colleges in Alabama ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment — calculated from median graduate earnings, total attendance cost, and average student debt. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs in Alabama
20
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$312,011
Across Alabama programs
Average Annual Cost
$14,420
Cost of attendance
| # | College | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Columbia Southern University
Grad rate: 35.0% |
+$227,879 | $56,269 | $18,002 | $15,923 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Troy University
Grad rate: 46.2% |
-$239,862 | $34,045 | $21,816 | $27,504 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Marion Military Institute
Grad rate: 29.0% |
-$269,176 | $31,197 | $18,458 | $12,000 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Jefferson State Community College
Grad rate: 22.4% |
-$271,638 | $30,599 | $14,384 | $11,000 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Bishop State Community College
Grad rate: 22.4% |
-$276,479 | $29,893 | $11,530 | $8,355 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Chattahoochee Valley Community College
Grad rate: 30.2% |
-$293,715 | $29,270 | $12,032 | $11,149 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Northeast Alabama Community College
Grad rate: 39.2% |
-$294,082 | $28,897 | $10,620 | $7,987 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Snead State Community College
Grad rate: 43.6% |
-$304,521 | $28,680 | $12,583 | $9,597 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Gadsden State Community College
Grad rate: 28.2% |
-$304,768 | $28,355 | $10,687 | $7,774 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
George C Wallace Community College-Dothan
Grad rate: 28.4% |
-$317,666 | $27,103 | $9,863 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
John C Calhoun State Community College
Grad rate: 38.1% |
-$326,022 | $27,726 | $12,687 | $11,236 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Southern Union State Community College
Grad rate: 25.6% |
-$329,705 | $27,722 | $15,417 | $9,860 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Coastal Alabama Community College
Grad rate: 24.1% |
-$342,692 | $27,125 | $15,171 | $11,000 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
Bevill State Community College
Grad rate: 39.1% |
-$370,958 | $25,499 | $15,238 | $7,750 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Shelton State Community College
Grad rate: 22.2% |
-$373,770 | $25,470 | $16,607 | $7,375 | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost (annual cost × programme years) − Debt Payoff (avg debt × 1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20 = $840,000)
A positive ROI means a degree in this field pays off relative to entering the workforce without one. Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Degrees by State
Browse Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.