Best small colleges in Alabama
Colleges with fewer than 2,000 undergraduates, ranked by Compass Score.
Best small colleges in Alabama10 schools
10 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in Alabama.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Fewer than 2,000 undergraduate students (federal enrollment).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
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Herzing University-Birmingham
Birmingham, AL · Private nonprofit#20 in Alabama
- 446 undergraduates
- 13% graduate
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South University-Montgomery
Montgomery, AL · Private for-profit#23 in Alabama
- 302 undergraduates
- 9% graduate
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Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Mobile | $22,382 | $26,500 | $43,611 | 57% |
| Spring Hill College | $20,449 | $27,000 | $51,500 | 52% |
| Oakwood University | $25,669 | $27,000 | $42,488 | 45% |
| Huntingdon College | $22,566 | $27,000 | $49,601 | 48% |
| Faulkner University | $22,085 | $23,000 | $43,457 | 37% |
| Herzing University-Birmingham | $19,651 | $21,500 | $36,909 | 13% |
| Stillman College | $15,258 | $29,067 | $35,421 | 25% |
| South University-Montgomery | $27,807 | $26,123 | $34,421 | 9% |
| Miles College | $14,271 | $31,217 | $32,627 | 16% |
| Talladega College | $15,560 | $28,500 | $32,229 | 31% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Arizona 8
- Arkansas 13
- California 63
- Colorado 5
- Connecticut 10
- Florida 27
- Georgia 24
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 25
- Indiana 20
- Iowa 23
- Kansas 18
- Kentucky 18
- Louisiana 8
- Maine 11
- Maryland 13
- Massachusetts 31
- Michigan 23
- Minnesota 19
- Mississippi 8
- Missouri 31
- Montana 7
- Nebraska 12
- New Hampshire 7
- New Jersey 18
- New Mexico 7
- New York 55
- North Carolina 34
- North Dakota 4
- Ohio 58
- Oklahoma 11
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 69
- Puerto Rico 31
- South Carolina 19
- South Dakota 5
- Tennessee 24
- Texas 31
- Utah 7
- Vermont 4
- Virginia 30
- Washington 12
- West Virginia 12
- Wisconsin 15