Why This Matters

  • 27 TWO-YEAR ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAMS IN ALABAMA

    According to College Navigator, there are 27 institutions in Alabama that offer two-year associate degree programs.

  • ALABAMA RESIDENTS PAY $4,997 IN TUITION AT PUBLIC IN-DISTRICT COMMUNITY COLLEGES

    Data from College Board suggests that the average Alabama student paid about $4,997 in tuition and fees at public in-district community colleges for the 2022-23 school year.

  • 452,493 STUDENTS ATTENDING TWO-YEAR INSTITUTIONS RECEIVED FINANCIAL AID

    The National Center for Education Statistics revealed that, during the 2019-20 school year, 80.6% of students enrolled in two-year institutions relied on some type of financial aid.

Our Research

This list features some of the best community colleges in Alabama. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary institutions. We included small, midsize, and large colleges as well as trade, technical, and vocational programs. Next, we compared this comprehensive list to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications like the U.S. News & World Report among others to simplify a student’s college search. We pored through these rankings so students don’t have to.

The colleges on our list are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), a reputable organization that examines objectives, quality and overall effectiveness of education programs in the southern United States.

We evaluated each school on tuition costs, admission, retention and graduation rates, faculty, and reputation as well as the student resources provided for students. Then we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.

The Top 50 Community Colleges in Alabama

Best Community Colleges In Alabama Badge 2023
01
Intelligent Pick
Wallace Community College at Dothan
01
Best Cultural Experiences
Northeast Alabama Community College
01
Best for First Generation Students
Wallace State Community College at Selma
01
Best for Veterans
Wallace State Community College at Hanceville
01
Best Graduation Rate
Snead State Community College
01
Best Adult Education
Lurleen B Wallace Community College
01
Best Faculty
Calhoun Community College
01
Best Financial Aid Opportunities
Central Alabama Community College
01
Best for the Fine Arts
Shelton State Community College
01
Best for Leadership Training
Marion Military Institute
01

Southern Union State Community College
01

Bevill State Community College
01

Lawson State Community College at Birmingham
01

Drake State Technical College
01

Gadsden State Community College
01

Northwest Shoals Community College at Muscle Shoals
01

Jefferson State Community College

What You Should Know About Graduating From Community College in Alabama

As you pursue higher education, it’s important to consider your career potential and salary expectations. Data from May 2021 revealed that the highest paying jobs that require an associate degree in Alabama were air traffic controllers, nuclear technicians, avionics technicians, funeral home managers, and occupational therapy assistants.

After getting their associate degree, many students decide to enter the workforce. The occupations projected to have the most annual job openings in Alabama between 2021 and 2031 are preschool teachers (excluding special education), paralegals and legal assistants, radiologic technicians, physical therapist assistants, and dental hygienists.

When reviewing your career options, you should also consider which jobs are expected to undergo a drop in employment. The jobs projected to have the greatest decline for associate degree holders in Alabama are desktop publishers, human resources assistants (excluding payroll and timekeeping), and drafters.

What’s Next?

As you research community college programs in Alabama, keep in mind which financial aid opportunities are available to you. Below is a list of federal and state resources that connect associate degree students to the different grants, scholarships, and financial aid opportunities in Alabama.

  • Alabama Commission on Higher Education. This commission gives students an overview of the financial aid process in Alabama, including student grant programs, scholarship awards, and state loans.
  • Federal Student Aid. Every year the U.S. Department of Education’s office of Federal Student Aid grants over $120 billion in financial aid. Interested students can determine their eligibility at the FAFSA4caster and, if they qualify, apply through the online FAFSA form.
  • CareerOneStop. Sponsored by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this resource offers helpful information about the different scholarships available in every state. After filtering information by degree level and location, users gain access to details such as award amounts, qualification requirements, and application deadlines.