Best English Colleges in Alabama (2026)
Updated
This page ranks the 9 English programs in Alabama by the median earnings of English graduates four years after completing. University of South Alabama ranks 1st on this list, reporting median earnings of $51,718 for its graduates four years after completing.
Across the listed schools, the median figure is $46,923, with a range from $51,718 to $40,585.
All 9 schools are public. University of North Alabama posts the lowest average net price at $12,170.
Auburn University reports the highest six-year completion rate, graduating 82% of its students within six years. The University of Alabama ranks 233rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median English Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of South Alabama · Mobile, AL | $51,718 | $17,648 | $12,657 | 71.0% |
| University of South Alabama ranks 1st on this list with median earnings of $51,718 for its English graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (31 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: English Language and Literature, General ($51,718) | |||||
| 2 | University of Alabama at Birmingham · Birmingham, AL | $48,706 | $18,749 | $16,172 | 88.2% |
| A six-year completion rate of 64% and median earnings of $48,706 for its English graduates four years after completing are reported by University of Alabama at Birmingham. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (53 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: English Language and Literature, General ($48,706) | |||||
| 3 | Athens State University · Athens, AL | $47,773 | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
| Athens State University reports $47,773 in median earnings for its English graduates four years after completing and ranks 491st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (16 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: English Language and Literature, General ($47,773) | |||||
| 4 | University of North Alabama · Florence, AL | $47,150 | $12,170 | $9,741 | 87.3% |
| With an average net price of $12,170, University of North Alabama ranks 4th on this list and reports median earnings of $47,150 for its English graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (27 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: English Language and Literature, General ($47,150) | |||||
| 5 | Troy University · Troy, AL | $46,923 | $16,527 | $12,656 | 96.0% |
| Troy University admits 96% of applicants and reports median earnings of $46,923 for its English graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (36 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: English Language and Literature, General ($46,923) | |||||
| 6 | The University of Alabama · Tuscaloosa, AL | $44,278 | $22,420 | $19,169 | 76.7% |
| The University of Alabama ranks 233rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $44,278 for its English graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (94 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: English Language and Literature, General ($44,278) | |||||
| 7 | Auburn University · Auburn, AL | $44,158 | $24,323 | $16,681 | 45.9% |
| Auburn University graduates 82% of its students within six years and reports median earnings of $44,158 for its English graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (62 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: English Language and Literature, General ($44,158) | |||||
| 8 | Jacksonville State University · Jacksonville, AL | $42,655 | $14,279 | $12,472 | 77.7% |
| Jacksonville State University reports an average net price of $14,279 and median earnings of $42,655 for its English graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (11 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: English Language and Literature, General ($42,655) | |||||
| 9 | University of Montevallo · Montevallo, AL | $40,585 | $17,683 | $14,471 | 53.9% |
| University of Montevallo admits 54% of applicants and reports median earnings of $40,585 for its English graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (17 graduates), Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (13 graduates) | |||||
How this list is ordered
Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their English graduates four years after completing, highest first. The figures cover federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range from University of South Alabama to the bottom of the list is $11,133, and the gap between University of South Alabama and University of Alabama at Birmingham is $3,012. The median across the 9 listed schools is $46,923.
Related rankings
- Best English Colleges in the United States
- Best Colleges in Alabama
- Best English Colleges in Virginia
- Best English Colleges in New Jersey
- English Colleges in Alabama for Social Mobility