Dsc 3587 2048X1365 1 E1788276505407 — Washington Monthly named it the best college in rural America. (University of West Alabama)

The best college for rural America is located right here in Alabama, according to Washington Monthly.

The University of West Alabama topped the list and was one of two in-state schools to make the top 100. Jacksonville State came in at No. 58 on the list.

The rankings were built from a wide variety of criteria including:

Pell grant recipients
In-state student percentage + success
Projected earnings for graduates
Student debt
Degrees in rural fields

Keep reading to see what helped West Alabama stand out + learn more about Washington Monthly’s methodology.

University of West Alabama ranked the best in rural America

West Alabama, located in Livingston, topped the overall list in large part due to finishing first in two different categories including:

Rural degrees rank
Earnings performance rank

Washington Monthly pointed to the university’s ability to impact real-world issues in the region, specifically the teacher shortage in rural Alabama.

“Churning out educators remains central to its mission. In 2024, more than a quarter of UWA’s undergraduates and more than three-quarters of its master’s students finished with an education credential in a region plagued by teacher shortages. UWA’s College of Education also provides scholarships up to $10,000 for students committed to teaching in public schools and hosts a Center for Reimagining Rural Education.”
Washington Monthly

According to the report, UWA graduates also have a median income of $64,000 four years after graduation.

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Washington Monthly’s Best Colleges for Rural America

The study started with a list of more than 1,000 rurally located schools before being filtered to just the four-year universities with acceptance rates above 75%. That left 225 colleges across the country.

“Today, there’s a set of colleges and universities powering upward mobility in rural America. These schools are load-bearing pillars of local tax bases, essential infrastructure for rural communities, and anchors of civic life. They are often their regions’ largest employers or host the only museum in their county.”
Washington Monthly

The report also emphasized which colleges return state taxpayer investments by rewarding the colleges who recruit well in state and the colleges with alumni staying in state after graduation.

Washington Monthly said it gave extra points to colleges that graduate students in fields that are in demand in rural areas but in short supply. That list includes: