Best Community Colleges in Alabama of 2023

Formerly George C. Wallace Community College, WCC is a public institution in Dothan with a satellite campus in Eufaula. The school offers a range of academic programs in subjects such as biology, communications, and psychology. These credit-based programs open the door to advanced study at a four-year college or university or allow students to begin their careers following graduation. Students wishing to transfer to an Alabama four-year institution must complete the STARS (Statewide Transfer & Articulation Reporting System) Guide. WCC also has professional training programs in the health sciences and technical fields such as automotive technology, engineering graphics, and cosmetology. Some courses are available in an online or hybrid format. High school students may apply for dual enrollment via one of two paths: academic transfer courses or career-technical programs.

Located in Rainsville, Northeast Alabama Community College provides educational programs in academic transfer, career and job training, cultural activities, the fine arts, and adult basic education. State law guarantees that student credits in the school's academic programs will transfer to any public four-year institution in the state. The school has built a reputation for outstanding cultural arts programs in the region, and there are many opportunities to participate in theater, music, arts, and the humanities. NACC recently opened a state-of-the-art Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Technology Center, and the college is completely wired for Wi-Fi access. Skills training programs include CDL truck driving and OSHA WorkKeys. Tech programs include construction, drafting, design technology, and medical assistant. Financial aid is available for many programs.

Wallace Community College Selma provides educational and job training resources to residents of West Central Alabama. The school has 1,500+ students, 70 percent of whom are full-time. Roughly 50 percent of the students are the first generation of their family to attend college. The retention rate for first-time degree-seeking freshmen is 62 percent. Seventy-four percent of the students identify as BIPOC. The school's degree programs include associate degrees in arts and science as well as A.A.S. degrees in business administration and criminal justice. An associate in applied science certificate is available in computer information systems. WCCS offers both online and in-person adult education, assisting adults in developing basic, digital, and employment skills. The school is also known for its health sciences programs, especially nursing. Technical programs are available in cosmetology, drafting and design, welding, and more.

Wallace State Community College is located in Hanceville with a satellite campus in Oneonta. It offers 100+ degree, certificate, and transfer options, and classes for high schoolers through its dual enrollment program. Academic programs in business, computer science, criminal justice, and more lead to an associate of art, an associate of science, and an associate of applied science degrees. Classes are available during both day and evening hours, and some programs feature online or hybrid classes. The school's health sciences division offers degree and certificate programs in nursing, diagnostic imaging, child development, and more, while the applied technology division includes programs ranging from agricultural production to aviation/flight technology. WSCC has been designated a Military Friendly School, and it provides additional services to veterans, including an on-campus Veterans' Corner where students can gather.

Snead State Community College, located in Boaz, is one of the older colleges in the state, dating back to its beginnings as a girls' school in 1898. It features roughly 80 programs, from social work to wildlife science, which lead to an associate in science or associate in applied science degree. Certificates are available in subjects such as aviation, business, the social sciences, and technology. Some short-term certificates require fewer credit hours and provide a focused set of skills for entry-level positions. Most of the university transfer programs are available entirely online, and dual enrollment is available for motivated high school students. SSCC's first-year retention rate is a high 71 percent for full-time students, with an overall graduation rate of 46 percent.

Lurleen B. Wallace Community College has campuses in Andalusia, Greenville, Luverne, and Opp. It offers academic, career technical, and health programs, along with dual enrollment for high school students and short-term, non-credit continuing education courses. LBWCC has free career pathways and family literacy services for students seeking to improve their academic and life skills, ranging from one-on-one tutoring to group instruction. These include both GED assistance, Ready to Work (RTW), and the National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC). The school is also known for a variety of programs that provide professional development opportunities for nurses and other healthcare professionals, such as HIPAA Workforce Proficiency, Cybersecurity Awareness, and Telehealth Skills Proficiency. The school serves nearly 2,000 students, and the student-faculty ratio is 16:1.

Alabama's largest two-year college is Calhoun Community College, with roughly 10,000 credit students in three locations in Decatur and Huntsville, including a presence at the Alabama Center for the Arts. Calhoun offers nearly 50 associate degree programs and about the same number of career and certificate courses of study. Calhoun's campus at the Huntsville/Cummings Research Park is the only two-year college campus in the nation located in a major research park. Calhoun's student-faculty ratio is 20:1, and 80 percent of its faculty have a master's or doctoral degree in their field. The school's top degree-bearing programs are general studies, registered nursing, and advanced manufacturing, while the top certificate programs are advanced manufacturing, business administration, and computer information systems. The school also provides non-credit adult education services to nearly 2,000 students each year.

Central Alabama Community College has four campuses: Talladega, Childersburg, Alexander City, and Prattville. It enrolls more than 2,000 students in degree-based and certificate programs, workforce training, and adult education. The most popular programs include a transfer degree associate in science, a medical assisting technology A.A.S., welding, which leads to an associate in occupational technology degree, and a nursing A.A.S. degree. Nearly three-quarters of the students receive more than $5 million in financial aid funding, with half a million allocated to dual enrollment high school scholarships. Athletic scholarships make up another half million. The student-faculty ratio is 15:1. The retention rate for first-time students is 64 percent, and the overall graduation rate is 22 percent.

Shelton State Community College is a two-year institution in Tuscaloosa with two campuses. Its enrollment is roughly 7,000 students, with 3,000 taking classes full-time. It features academic programs in behavioral sciences, business/computer science, fine arts, health and wellness, humanities and communication arts, language, liberal arts, and STEM. It has a full range of offerings in the health sciences, with several nursing programs, respiratory therapy, health information technology, and medical lab technician programs. Technical programs include business office management, air conditioning and refrigeration, and culinary arts. In 1997, in recognition of its contributions to music, dance, and theater, SSCC was named the Alabama Junior College of the Fine Arts by the Alabama legislature. It is home to the Alabama Stage and Screen Hall of Fame as well as the Sandra Hall Ray Fine Arts Center.

Marion Military Institute, located in Marion, is one of only four military junior colleges in the U.S. that offer the Army ROTC Early Commissioning Program, an accelerated path to becoming an officer. The school's focus is on character and leadership development, and civilians, as well as aspiring members of the military, are encouraged to apply. About 40 percent of MMI's cadets pursue a civilian career and enroll in the college's Leadership Education Program. Those working toward a military career enroll in the Service Academy Program. Degree programs all lead to an associate of science or arts degree. All students take coursework in written composition, humanities, fine arts, mathematics, natural science, history, social, behavioral sciences, and military science. Study abroad opportunities are available. MMI offers a range of institutional scholarships as well as ROTC and athletic scholarships.