2023 Best Value Trade School Bachelor's Degree Schools in Alabama
Identifying High-Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for trade school students. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Trade College Search has created its Best Value Trade School Bachelor's Degree Schools in Alabama ranking. Our analysis looked at 15 schools in Alabama to see which bachelor's degree programs offered the best value experiences for trade school students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.
This ranking is not just a list of inexpensive schools. We also consider each school's quality, since we believe a low-quality school may not be a 'bargain' at any price. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.
For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
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Top Value Trade Bachelor's Degree Schools in Alabama
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Columbia Southern University to be the best value school for trade school students who want to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Alabama. Columbia Southern University is located in Orange Beach, Alabama and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2,691 bachelor’s degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Columbia Southern University are $6,015 a year. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $24,110 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Since Columbia Southern University is primarily an online school, it is an excellent choice for undergraduate students who need more flexibility than what is offered at some other schools.
Columbia Southern University also made our Best Bachelor’s Degree Trade Schools in Alabama list, coming in at #1.
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at University of Alabama at Birmingham helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best value trade school schools in Alabama. UAB is a large public school situated in Birmingham, Alabama. It awarded 2,844 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at UAB are $21,216 a year. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $23,518 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that UAB does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 70% took at least some of their classes online.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of South Alabama. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Alabama list. Located in Mobile, Alabama, the fairly large public school awarded 1,924 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2021-2022.
USA undergraduate students pay an average of $17,732 in tuition and fees each year. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $25,905 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since USA does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 52% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Herzing University - Birmingham. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Trade School Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Alabama list. Herzing University - Birmingham is a very small private not-for-profit school situated in Birmingham, Alabama. It awarded 16 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Herzing University - Birmingham undergraduate students pay an average of $12,750 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $32,896 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Herzing University - Birmingham does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 48% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Herzing University - Birmingham also took the #2 spot in our Best Bachelor’s Degree Trade Schools in Alabama rankings.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Auburn University is a great place for trade school students working on their bachelor’s degree who want the most bang for their educational buck. Auburn is a public institution located in Auburn, Alabama. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5,764 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Auburn undergraduate students pay an average of $32,960 in tuition and fees each year. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $20,756 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Auburn. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 46% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Auburn did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree Trade Schools in Alabama list.
Auburn University at Montgomery did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for trade school students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #6 on the list. Located in Montgomery, Alabama, the medium-sized public school handed out 678 bachelor’s degree awards in 2021-2022.
AUM undergraduate students pay an average of $19,348 in tuition and fees each year. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $27,407 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at AUM, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2020-2021 year, about 55% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
The University of Alabama ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Alabama list. Tuscaloosa, Alabama is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 7,332 students in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UA are $32,300 per year. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $22,044 in loans while pursuing their degree.
UA does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 37% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
UA also took the #5 spot in our Best Bachelor’s Degree Trade Schools in Alabama rankings.
With a ranking of #8, Jacksonville State University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their bachelor’s degree. Jacksonville State University is located in Jacksonville, Alabama and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,435 bachelor’s degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Jacksonville State University are $21,912 a year. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,374 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Jacksonville State University. During the 2020-2021 year, about 65% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
University of North Alabama did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for trade school students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #9 on the list. Florence, Alabama is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,169 students in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UNA are $21,420 per year. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,776 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that UNA does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 70% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
University of West Alabama ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Alabama list. This medium-sized public school is located in Livingston, Alabama, and it awarded 399 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
University of West Alabama undergraduate students pay an average of $20,090 in tuition and fees each year. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $31,286 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at University of West Alabama. In 2020-2021 about 64% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Troy University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Alabama list. TROY is located in Troy, Alabama and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2,320 bachelor’s degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at TROY are $18,624 a year. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $25,655 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since TROY does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 59% took at least some of their classes online.
Alabama State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for trade school students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #12 on the list. Located in Montgomery, Alabama, the small public school handed out 480 bachelor’s degree awards in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Alabama State are $19,396 a year. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $32,463 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Alabama State does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 89% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Tuskegee University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for trade school students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #13 on the list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Tuskegee, Alabama, and it awarded 413 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Tuskegee are $22,614 per year. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $31,189 in loans while pursuing their degree.
With a ranking of #14, Samford University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their bachelor’s degree. Samford is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Birmingham, Alabama. It awarded 930 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Samford are $36,725 a year. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $19,339 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Samford does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 24% took at least some of their classes online.
Samford also took the #3 spot in our Best Bachelor’s Degree Trade Schools in Alabama rankings.
South University, Montgomery did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for trade school students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #15 on the list. South University, Montgomery is a very small private for-profit school located in Montgomery, Alabama that handed out 31 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
South University, Montgomery undergraduate students pay an average of $16,560 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $38,641 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that South University, Montgomery does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 64% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Best Value Trade Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Southeast Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 15 schools only.
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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