Alabama doesn't get a lot of attention for its colleges, but there are 16 towns in the state with at least one four-year school -- and some of them make great places to spend four years.
We wanted to know which ones are the best college towns. You know the type of place: plenty of students, plenty to do, affordable rent, and safe enough to walk around at night.
So we used Saturday Night Science to rank all 16 of them on the colleges themselves, the town around them, and things to do. Jacksonville came out on top.
The 10 Best College Towns In Alabama For 2026
Want the bigger picture? See where Alabama's towns land among the best college towns in America.
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| Colleges | Jacksonville State University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 7,036 (49 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 14,437 |
| Median rent | $820 |
| Graduation rate | 59% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $24,257 |
Jacksonville is home to Jacksonville State University. There are 49 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $820 a month, and the average cost to attend is $24,257 a year. It ranks 4th for crime among the 16 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of North Alabama, Heritage Christian University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 5,886 (14 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 41,701 |
| Median rent | $820 |
| Graduation rate | 48% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $22,348 |
Florence is home to University of North Alabama, Heritage Christian University. There are 14 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $820 a month, and the average cost to attend is $22,348 a year. It ranks 8th for crime among the 16 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Troy University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 9,805 (55 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 17,716 |
| Median rent | $922 |
| Graduation rate | 51% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $23,165 |
Troy is home to Troy University. There are 55 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $922 a month, and the average cost to attend is $23,165 a year. It ranks 15th for crime among the 16 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | The University of Alabama, Stillman College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 33,933 (31 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 111,038 |
| Median rent | $1,055 |
| Graduation rate | 55% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $29,744 |
Tuscaloosa is home to The University of Alabama, Stillman College. There are 31 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,055 a month, and the average cost to attend is $29,744 a year. It ranks 12th for crime among the 16 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Auburn University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 26,816 (33 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 80,594 |
| Median rent | $1,098 |
| Graduation rate | 78% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $34,919 |
Auburn is home to Auburn University. There are 33 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,098 a month, and the average cost to attend is $34,919 a year. It ranks 2nd for crime among the 16 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Athens State University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 2,446 (8 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 29,002 |
| Median rent | $899 |
| Graduation rate | 63% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $30,211 |
Athens is home to Athens State University. There are 8 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $899 a month, and the average cost to attend is $30,211 a year. It ranks 5th for crime among the 16 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of Alabama at Birmingham, Samford University, Strayer University-Alabama |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 17,479 (9 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 198,173 |
| Median rent | $1,107 |
| Graduation rate | 56% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $37,784 |
Birmingham is home to University of Alabama at Birmingham, Samford University, Strayer University-Alabama. There are 9 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,107 a month, and the average cost to attend is $37,784 a year. It ranks 16th for crime among the 16 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | United States Sports University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 228 (1 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 29,453 |
| Median rent | $1,388 |
| Graduation rate | 50% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $32,606 |
Daphne is home to United States Sports University. There are 1 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,388 a month, and the average cost to attend is $32,606 a year. It ranks 1st for crime among the 16 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of Montevallo |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 2,151 (28 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 7,556 |
| Median rent | $956 |
| Graduation rate | 57% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $27,398 |
Montevallo is home to University of Montevallo. There are 28 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $956 a month, and the average cost to attend is $27,398 a year. It ranks 3rd for crime among the 16 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of South Alabama, University of Mobile, Spring Hill College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 10,968 (5 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 203,416 |
| Median rent | $1,068 |
| Graduation rate | 56% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $35,509 |
Mobile is home to University of South Alabama, University of Mobile, Spring Hill College. There are 5 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,068 a month, and the average cost to attend is $35,509 a year. It ranks 6th for crime among the 16 towns we ranked.
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the best college towns in Alabama
First, we decided that every town on the list had to have at least one four-year college -- a school that grants bachelor's degrees -- and at least 5,000 residents. There are 16 towns in Alabama that fit the bill.
Then we ranked every town on these categories:
- The town: unemployment rate, median rent, and crime per capita
- The colleges: graduation rate, the average cost to attend, and student body diversity
- Things to do: bars, museums and libraries per capita, and population density
- Students: undergrads as a share of the population
- Size: population, since bigger towns have more going on
We ranked each town on every measure, averaged those ranks into a score for each category, and then averaged the categories. The town with the best overall score is the best college town in Alabama.
Our data comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (enrollment, graduation rates, cost, and diversity), the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey, the FBI's 2024 crime report. We left out colleges that are online-only or mostly online, since their students don't actually live in town. A handful of towns don't report crime to the FBI, so we gave them the average.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best college towns in Alabama.
Summary
There You Have It -- The Best College Towns In Alabama
If you're looking for the best college towns in Alabama, Jacksonville is where to start.
The best college towns in Alabama are Jacksonville, Florence, Troy, Tuscaloosa, Auburn, Athens, Birmingham, Daphne, Montevallo, and Mobile.
For more college towns, check out the best college towns in America.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best college town in Alabama for 2026?
Jacksonville is the best college town in Alabama for 2026, followed by Florence and Troy.
How did you rank the best college towns in Alabama?
We looked at every town in Alabama with at least 5,000 residents and a four-year college, then ranked them on city characteristics, college characteristics, things to do, the share of residents who are students, and size. The town with the best average rank is number one.
What is the worst college town in Alabama?
Dothan ranks last of the 16 college towns we ranked in Alabama for 2026.
Best College Towns In Alabama For 2026
| Rank | City | Population | Undergrads | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacksonville, AL | 14,437 | 7,036 | $820 |
| 2 | Florence, AL | 41,701 | 5,886 | $820 |
| 3 | Troy, AL | 17,716 | 9,805 | $922 |
| 4 | Tuscaloosa, AL | 111,038 | 33,933 | $1,055 |
| 5 | Auburn, AL | 80,594 | 26,816 | $1,098 |
| 6 | Athens, AL | 29,002 | 2,446 | $899 |
| 7 | Birmingham, AL | 198,173 | 17,479 | $1,107 |
| 8 | Daphne, AL | 29,453 | 228 | $1,388 |
| 9 | Montevallo, AL | 7,556 | 2,151 | $956 |
| 10 | Mobile, AL | 203,416 | 10,968 | $1,068 |
| 11 | Huntsville, AL | 222,791 | 7,808 | $1,171 |
| 12 | Tuskegee, AL | 8,938 | 2,630 | $757 |
| 13 | Fairfield, AL | 9,728 | 1,155 | $1,008 |
| 14 | Talladega, AL | 14,760 | 701 | $776 |
| 15 | Montgomery, AL | 197,494 | 8,746 | $1,089 |
| 16 | Dothan, AL | 71,514 | 0 | $960 |
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