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Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Alabama

2023 Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Alabama

15 Schools Ranked
$5,107 Avg Tuition & Fees*

When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for trade school students. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country.

The Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Alabama ranking is one of many tools that Trade College Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 15 schools in Alabama to see which ones offered the best basic certificate programs for trade school students.

View our full ranking methodology.

Top Trade Basic Certificate Schools in Alabama

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Columbia Southern University

Orange Beach, Alabama
134 Total Awards
$6,015 Average Tuition & Fees

Our analysis found Columbia Southern University to be the best school for trade school students who want to pursue a basic certificate in Alabama. Orange Beach, Alabama is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out basic certificates to 134 students in 2021-2022.

Columbia Southern University does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $6,015. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid.

If you are interested in distance education, Columbia Southern University is an excellent choice, since the school is online.

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570 Total Awards
$5,278 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 15 schools in Alabama that were part of this year’s ranking, Bevill State Community College landed the # 2 spot on the list. Jasper, Alabama is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 570 students in 2021-2022.

In-state students pay an average of $5,278 in tuition and fees if they attend Bevill State Community College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $9,278.

Online courses are available at Bevill State Community College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 42% took at least some of their classes online.

Full Bevill State Community College Report

1,737 Total Awards
$5,000 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend John C Calhoun State Community College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Alabama list. Calhoun Community College is a public institution located in Tanner, Alabama. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,737 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

In-state students pay an average of $5,000 in tuition and fees if they attend Calhoun Community College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,750.

Some students may be able to take online classes at Calhoun Community College. In 2020-2021 about 63% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on John C Calhoun State Community College

395 Total Awards
$4,860 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 15 schools in Alabama that were part of this year’s ranking, Wallace Community College, Dothan landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in Dothan, Alabama, the small public school handed out 395 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.

Full-time students from Alabama pay an average of $4,860 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Wallace, Dothan. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,610.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Wallace, Dothan. In fact, around 40% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Full Wallace Community College, Dothan Report

180 Total Awards
$4,920 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Lurleen B Wallace Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Alabama list. Lurleen B. Wallace Community College is located in Andalusia, Alabama and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 180 basic certificates to qualified students.

Full-time students from Alabama pay an average of $4,920 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Lurleen B. Wallace Community College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,670.

Some students may be able to take online classes at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 63% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Full Lurleen B Wallace Community College Report

1,253 Total Awards
$4,920 Average Tuition & Fees

Wallace State Community College, Hanceville ranked #6 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Alabama list. Located in Hanceville, Alabama, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,253 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.

The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Wallace State, Hanceville is $4,920. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,670.

Wallace State, Hanceville does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 54% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Wallace State Community College, Hanceville

482 Total Awards
$5,312 Average Tuition & Fees

Gadsden State Community College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. Located in Gadsden, Alabama, the small public school handed out 482 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.

Students from Alabama who attend GSCC full time pay an average of $5,312 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,312.

GSCC does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 65% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Full Gadsden State Community College Report

#8

Coastal Alabama Community College

Bay Minette, Alabama
422 Total Awards
$4,920 Average Tuition & Fees

Coastal Alabama Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #8 on the list. Coastal Alabama Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Bay Minette, Alabama. It awarded 422 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Coastal Alabama Community College is $4,920. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,670.

Coastal Alabama Community College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 60% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

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#9

Jefferson State Community College

Birmingham, Alabama
241 Total Awards
$5,220 Average Tuition & Fees

Jefferson State Community College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Alabama ranking. Jeff State is a public institution located in Birmingham, Alabama. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 241 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Jeff State is $5,220. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,910.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Jeff State. In fact, around 62% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

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891 Total Awards
$4,920 Average Tuition & Fees

Southern Union State Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Alabama ranking. Located in Wadley, Alabama, the small public school handed out 891 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.

Students from Alabama who attend Southern Union State Community College full time pay an average of $4,920 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,670.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Southern Union State Community College. In 2020-2021 about 60% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full Southern Union State Community College Report

#11

Northeast Alabama Community College

Rainsville, Alabama
609 Total Awards
$4,920 Average Tuition & Fees

Northeast Alabama Community College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Alabama list. Located in Rainsville, Alabama, the small public school awarded 609 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.

Students from Alabama who attend Northeast full time pay an average of $4,920 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,670.

Online courses are available at Northeast, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 72% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Read More…

#12

Chattahoochee Valley Community College

Phenix City, Alabama
356 Total Awards
$4,980 Average Tuition & Fees

Chattahoochee Valley Community College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Alabama ranking. This small public school is located in Phenix City, Alabama, and it awarded 356 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Students from Alabama who attend CVCC full time pay an average of $4,980 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,730.

CVCC does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 55% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Chattahoochee Valley Community College

214 Total Awards
$5,408 Average Tuition & Fees

Snead State Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Alabama list. Snead State Community College is a public institution located in Boaz, Alabama. The school has a small population, and it awarded 214 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

In-state students pay an average of $5,408 in tuition and fees if they attend Snead State Community College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $9,408.

Some students may be able to take online classes at Snead State Community College. In 2020-2021 about 81% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

#14

Northwest-Shoals Community College

Muscle Shoals, Alabama
850 Total Awards
$5,011 Average Tuition & Fees

Northwest-Shoals Community College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. Northwest-Shoals Community College is a small public school located in Muscle Shoals, Alabama that handed out 850 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Full-time students from Alabama pay an average of $5,011 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend NW-SCC. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,761.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at NW-SCC. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 43% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on Northwest-Shoals Community College

#15

Bishop State Community College

Mobile, Alabama
244 Total Awards
$4,920 Average Tuition & Fees

Bishop State Community College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Alabama ranking. Located in Mobile, Alabama, the small public school handed out 244 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.

Students from Alabama who attend Bishop State Community College full time pay an average of $4,920 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,670.

One thing to take note of is that Bishop State Community College does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 54% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on Bishop State Community College

View Best Trade Basic Certificate Schools Nationwide >

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 15 schools only.

References

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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