Best College ROI in Al 2026
31 colleges in Al analyzed for return on investment. Troy University leads with a ROI Score of 98/100 (STRONG BUY).
Al has 31 colleges tracked in the Department of Education's College Scorecard, split between 13 public institutions and 18 private ones. Across the 31 schools with enough data to score, graduates of the top-paying major at each school carry a median federal debt of $25K and earn $84K in their first year out — the gap that determines whether a degree pays back.
94% of Al colleges earn an A or B on the ROI Score, with the rest landing at C or below. First-year earnings top out at Troy University (median $95K on Computer and Information Sciences).
All numbers come from the latest College Scorecard release, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients only — graduates who paid cash or used private loans aren't in this dataset, so actual median debt at high-income schools may be lower than shown. The ROI Score weights debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), BLS job outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%).
Top 3 Best ROI Colleges in Al
Troy University
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Tops Al's ROI rankings on its Computer and Information Sciences program. Graduates earn a median $95K in their first year against $16K in median debt.
Jacksonville State University
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Second-best ROI in the state, driven by Computer and Information Sciences. Five-year median earnings: $147K.
Columbia Southern University
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Third on the ROI Score with Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management. Graduation rate 10000%, debt $21K.
Top 20 Colleges by ROI in Al
| # | School | Best Major | Median Debt | 1yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Troy University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $16K | $95K | A (98) |
| 2 | Jacksonville State University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $19K | $95K | A (97) |
| 3 | Columbia Southern University(private) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 4 | Alabama A & M University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 5 | Auburn University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $21K | $95K | A (95) |
| 6 | Auburn University at Montgomery(public) | Computer Science | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 7 | Birmingham-Southern College(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 8 | Herzing University-Birmingham(private) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $25K | $95K | A (95) |
| 9 | Huntingdon College(private) | Applied Mathematics | $22K | $78K | A (95) |
| 10 | Miles College(private) | Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications | $24K | $95K | A (95) |
| 11 | Tuskegee University(private) | Computer Science | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 12 | University of Alabama at Birmingham(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 13 | University of Alabama in Huntsville(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 14 | University of North Alabama(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 15 | Spring Hill College(private) | Mathematics | $23K | $78K | A (95) |
| 16 | Oakwood University(private) | Computer Science | $26K | $95K | A (93) |
| 17 | Talladega College(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $27K | $95K | A (93) |
| 18 | Alabama State University(public) | Computer Science | $29K | $95K | A (92) |
| 19 | South University-Montgomery(private) | Information Science/Studies | $27K | $95K | A (92) |
| 20 | University of West Alabama(public) | Mathematics | $28K | $78K | A (92) |
College debt and earnings data for Al is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Troy University has the best ROI in Al with a score of 98/100 (STRONG BUY). The top major is Computer and Information Sciences, with $95K in first-year median earnings against $16K in median debt.
Across 31 Al colleges with ROI data, graduates carry a median debt of about $25K on the best-paying major at each school. First-year median earnings on those same programs average $84K.
Troy University graduates earn the most one year out, with median first-year pay of $95K on its top major (Computer and Information Sciences). After five years, those graduates earn a median of $147K.
Al has 31 colleges in our database (13 public, 18 private). Of the 31 with reportable ROI, 94% earn an A or B grade.
The ROI Score (0-100) weighs debt-to-income ratio (35%), earnings premium over a high school graduate (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%). Scores are graded A-F with verdicts from "Strong Buy" to "Avoid." Data comes from the College Scorecard and BLS occupational projections.
ROI Score: debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), debt vs. national average (10%).