Best College Return on Investment: Alabama

Auburn University
Auburn

The Basics
School Type: Public
Applicants Admitted: 79 percent
Most Popular Majors: Business/Marketing (25 percent), Engineering (14 percent), Education (9 percent)

The Payout
Sticker Price: $78,930 (in-state), $128,800 (out-of-state)
Net Cost: $45,230 (in-state), $95,100 (out-of-state)
Annual Out-of-Pocket Cost: $19,490 (in-state), $31,970 (out-of-state)
Average Annual Financial Aid Package: $7,426
Undergraduates Receiving Aid: 56 percent

The Payoff
National ROI Rank: 211 (in-state), 246 (out-of-state)
Graduation Rate: 67 percent
30-Year Net Return on Investment: $569,400
30-Year Net Return for Graduates Only: $849,900
Annualized Net ROI: 13.5 percent

Runners-Up

Samford University
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
University of Alabama, Huntsville