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2023 Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Alabama
Identifying High-Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
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 Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Alabama ranking is one of many tools that Trade College Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 15 schools in Alabama to see which associate degree programs offered the best value experiences for trade school students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.
This ranking is not just a list of inexpensive schools. We also consider each school's quality, since we believe a low-quality school may not be a 'bargain' at any price. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.
For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
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Top Value Trade Associate Degree Schools in Alabama
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Columbia Southern University the best value school in Alabama for trade school students working on their associate degree. This fairly large private for-profit school is located in Orange Beach, Alabama, and it awarded 1,276 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Columbia Southern University undergraduate students pay an average of $6,015 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $16,106 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Columbia Southern University is primarily an online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.
Columbia Southern University not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #1 on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Alabama list.
Out of the 15 schools in Alabama that were part of this year’s value ranking, Wallace State Community College, Hanceville landed the # 2 spot on the list. Wallace State Community College, Hanceville is a medium-sized public school located in Hanceville, Alabama that handed out 911 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Wallace State, Hanceville are $8,670 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $12,315 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Wallace State, Hanceville does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 54% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Wallace State, Hanceville did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Alabama list.
Read full report on Wallace State Community College, Hanceville
The excellent associate degree programs at Wallace Community College, Dothan helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best value trade school schools in Alabama. Wallace, Dothan is a public institution located in Dothan, Alabama. The school has a small population, and it awarded 458 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Wallace, Dothan are $8,610 a year.
Depending on your major, you may be able 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.
Wallace, Dothan not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #5 on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Alabama list.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bishop State Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Alabama list. Bishop State Community College is a small public school located in Mobile, Alabama that handed out 292 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Bishop State Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $8,670 in tuition and fees each year.
Online courses are available at Bishop State Community College, 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, 54% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
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 #5 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Alabama list. Calhoun Community College is located in Tanner, Alabama and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,358 associate degrees to qualified students.
Calhoun Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $8,750 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $13,709 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Calhoun Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 63% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Gadsden State Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for trade school students to get an associate degree. It came in at #6 on the list. Gadsden, Alabama is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 691 students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at GSCC are $9,312 a year.
Some students may be able to take online classes at GSCC. 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.
With a ranking of #7, Shelton State Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Tuscaloosa, Alabama is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 572 students in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Shelton State Community College are $8,730 per year.
Online courses are available at Shelton 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 67% took at least some of their classes online.
Coastal Alabama Community College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Alabama ranking. Coastal Alabama Community College is located in Bay Minette, Alabama and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 849 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Coastal Alabama Community College are $8,670 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $11,333 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Coastal Alabama Community College. In fact, around 60% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Jefferson State Community College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Alabama list. Jeff State is located in Birmingham, Alabama and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,217 associate degrees to qualified students.
Jeff State undergraduate students pay an average of $8,910 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $9,688 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Jeff State does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 62% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Lurleen B Wallace Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Alabama ranking. Andalusia, Alabama is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 301 students in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College are $8,670 per year.
Lurleen B. Wallace 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, 63% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Southern Union State Community College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. Wadley, Alabama is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 604 students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Southern Union State Community College are $8,670 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $11,262 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Southern Union State Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 60% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Northeast Alabama Community College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Alabama list. Located in Rainsville, Alabama, the small public school handed out 446 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Northeast undergraduate students pay an average of $8,670 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $7,796 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Northeast. 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.
With a ranking of #13, Herzing University - Birmingham did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Herzing University - Birmingham is a very small private not-for-profit school situated in Birmingham, Alabama. It awarded 90 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Herzing University - Birmingham undergraduate students pay an average of $12,750 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $23,896 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Herzing University - Birmingham does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 48% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Herzing University - Birmingham also made our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Alabama list, coming in at #2.
Northwest-Shoals Community College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. NW-SCC is a public institution located in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The school has a small population, and it awarded 397 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at NW-SCC are $8,761 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $12,788 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at NW-SCC. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 43% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
South University, Montgomery came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Alabama ranking. Montgomery, Alabama is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 44 students in 2021-2022.
South University, Montgomery undergraduate students pay an average of $16,560 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,698 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at South University, Montgomery. During the 2020-2021 year, about 64% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
South University, Montgomery also made our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Alabama list, coming in at #3.
Best Value Trade Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 15 schools only.
References
- 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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