Top 50 Best Doctoral Degree Programs in Alabama by ROI

Every Doctoral Degree program in Alabama ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment across all majors. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Programs in Alabama

Colleges with salary data

Average 20-Yr Net ROI

+$826,097

Across all Alabama programs

Average Annual Cost

$32,870

Cost of attendance

#	College	Major	20-Yr Net ROI	Median Salary	Annual Cost	Avg Debt
1	University of Alabama at Birmingham Grad rate: 63.4%	Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences.	+$2,560,156	$175,573	$27,826	N/A	Full ROI →
2	University of Alabama at Birmingham Grad rate: 63.4%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,626,156	$128,873	$27,826	N/A	Full ROI →
3	The University of Alabama Grad rate: 73.2%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,465,384	$121,674	$32,024	N/A	Full ROI →
4	University of South Alabama Grad rate: 50.1%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,416,500	$117,239	$22,070	N/A	Full ROI →
5	Samford University Grad rate: 78.8%	Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration.	+$1,404,164	$122,995	$53,934	N/A	Full ROI →
6	Samford University Grad rate: 78.8%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,195,404	$112,557	$53,934	N/A	Full ROI →
7	Samford University Grad rate: 78.8%	Educational Administration and Supervision.	+$721,944	$88,884	$53,934	N/A	Full ROI →
8	The University of Alabama Grad rate: 73.2%	Educational Administration and Supervision.	+$679,544	$82,382	$32,024	N/A	Full ROI →
9	University of South Alabama Grad rate: 50.1%	Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions.	+$651,760	$79,002	$22,070	N/A	Full ROI →
10	United States Sports University	Health and Physical Education/Fitness.	+$627,100	$73,355	N/A	N/A	Full ROI →
11	Alabama State University Grad rate: 28.8%	Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions.	+$608,908	$76,851	$22,028	N/A	Full ROI →
12	University of Alabama at Birmingham Grad rate: 63.4%	Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions.	+$531,256	$74,128	$27,826	N/A	Full ROI →
13	Auburn University Grad rate: 80.0%	Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas.	+$459,332	$71,847	$34,402	N/A	Full ROI →
14	University of South Alabama Grad rate: 50.1%	Communication Disorders Sciences and Services.	+$438,200	$68,324	$22,070	N/A	Full ROI →
15	University of South Alabama Grad rate: 50.1%	Medicine.	+$340,120	$63,420	$22,070	N/A	Full ROI →
16	University of Alabama at Birmingham Grad rate: 63.4%	Educational Administration and Supervision.	+$286,376	$61,884	$27,826	N/A	Full ROI →
17	The University of Alabama Grad rate: 73.2%	Chemistry.	+$264,464	$61,628	$32,024	N/A	Full ROI →
18	Strayer University-Alabama	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	+$243,888	$58,962	$23,838	N/A	Full ROI →
19	Samford University Grad rate: 78.8%	Law.	+$175,204	$61,547	$53,934	N/A	Full ROI →

How ROI is calculated

20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.