Highest ROI College Degrees in Alabama

Top 20 college + major combinations in Alabama ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

#	College	Major	20-Yr Net ROI	Median Salary	Annual Cost
1	University of Alabama at Birmingham Grad rate: 63.4%	Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences.	+$2,560,156	$175,573	$27,826	Full ROI →
2	University of Alabama at Birmingham Grad rate: 63.4%	Dentistry.	+$1,889,248	$139,245	$27,826	Full ROI →
3	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	Full ROI →
4	University of Alabama at Birmingham Grad rate: 63.4%	Systems Science and Theory.	+$1,566,128	$123,089	$27,826	Full ROI →
5	Auburn University Grad rate: 80.0%	Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration.	+$1,550,816	$122,981	$34,402	Full ROI →
6	Auburn University Grad rate: 80.0%	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	+$1,489,536	$119,917	$34,402	Full ROI →
7	The University of Alabama Grad rate: 73.2%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,465,384	$121,674	$32,024	Full ROI →
8	University of South Alabama Grad rate: 50.1%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,416,500	$117,239	$22,070	Full ROI →
9	Samford University Grad rate: 78.8%	Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration.	+$1,404,164	$122,995	$53,934	Full ROI →
10	Samford University Grad rate: 78.8%	Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration.	+$1,340,484	$120,621	$53,934	Full ROI →
11	University of South Alabama Grad rate: 50.1%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$1,338,300	$111,122	$22,070	Full ROI →
12	University of Alabama at Birmingham Grad rate: 63.4%	Optometry.	+$1,246,028	$107,084	$27,826	Full ROI →
13	University of Alabama at Birmingham Grad rate: 63.4%	Engineering, General.	+$1,224,996	$108,815	$27,826	Full ROI →
14	University of Alabama at Birmingham Grad rate: 63.4%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$1,218,128	$105,689	$27,826	Full ROI →
15	Samford University Grad rate: 78.8%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,195,404	$112,557	$53,934	Full ROI →
16	Auburn University Grad rate: 80.0%	Veterinary Medicine.	+$1,180,116	$104,446	$34,402	Full ROI →
17	University of South Alabama Grad rate: 50.1%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,166,780	$102,546	$22,070	Full ROI →
18	Tuskegee University Grad rate: 61.8%	Veterinary Medicine.	+$1,163,552	$104,370	$41,924	Full ROI →
19	Samford University Grad rate: 78.8%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,150,312	$104,909	$53,934	Full ROI →
20	The University of Alabama Grad rate: 73.2%	Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods.	+$1,117,592	$101,082	$32,024	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.