2023 Best Associate Degree Schools in Alabama
There are so many programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school or bootcamp that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.
The Best Associate Degree Schools in Alabama ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 23 schools in Alabama to see which associate degree programs offered the best educational experiences for students. To come up with a school's ranking, we analyzed numerous factors related to post-graduation wages, the quality of education offered by the school, average accumulated student debt, and more.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Associate Degree Schools in Alabama
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Columbia Southern University to be the best school for students who want to pursue a associate degree in Alabama.
Columbia Southern University does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $5,775. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $20,725 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Columbia Southern University is one of the schools on our list that is primarily online. Each undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.
Out of the 23 schools in Alabama that were part of this year’s ranking, Herzing University - Birmingham landed the # 2 spot on the list.
The average tuition and fees at Herzing University - Birmingham is $14,200. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $33,029 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Herzing University - Birmingham. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 58% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend South University, Montgomery. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Associate Degree Schools in Alabama list.
South University, Montgomery does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $18,000. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $31,872 in student loans.
South University, Montgomery 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. In 2019-2020 about 49% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Troy University is a great place for students working on their associate degree.
Associate Degree recipients from TROY accumulate an average of $27,934 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at TROY. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 58% took at least some of their classes online.
The excellent associate degree programs at Coastal Alabama Community College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Alabama.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Coastal Alabama Community College is $4,860. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,850. Associate Degree recipients from Coastal Alabama Community College accumulate an average of $17,099 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Coastal Alabama Community College does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2019-2020 year, about 51% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #6, Wallace Community College, Dothan did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
In-state students pay an average of $4,800 in tuition and fees if they attend Wallace, Dothan full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,490. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,002 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Wallace, Dothan. In 2019-2020 about 51% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Southern Union State Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Alabama list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Southern Union State Community College is $4,860. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,550. Associate Degree recipients from Southern Union State Community College accumulate an average of $15,217 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Southern Union State Community College. During the 2019-2020 year, about 74% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #8, John C Calhoun State Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
Students from Alabama who attend Calhoun Community College full time pay an average of $4,940 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,630. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,077 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Calhoun Community College. In 2019-2020 about 78% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Gadsden State Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #9 on the list.
In-state students pay an average of $5,248 in tuition and fees if they attend GSCC full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $9,184. On average, associate degree students take out $10,115 in loans while pursuing their degree.
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. In fact, around 71% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Lawson State Community College - Birmingham Campus came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Alabama ranking.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at LSCC - Birmingham Campus is $4,860. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,550. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,662 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at LSCC - Birmingham Campus. During the 2019-2020 year, about 85% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Read full report on Lawson State Community College - Birmingham Campus
With a ranking of #11, Snead State Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
Students from Alabama who attend Snead State Community College full time pay an average of $5,344 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,280. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,185 in student loans.
Snead State 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. In 2019-2020 about 83% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Bevill State Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #12 on the list.
Students from Alabama who attend Bevill State Community College full time pay an average of $5,214 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,150. On average, associate degree students take out $15,900 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Bevill State Community College does offer online classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 72% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Wallace State Community College, Hanceville ranked #13 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Alabama list.
In-state students pay an average of $4,860 in tuition and fees if they attend Wallace State, Hanceville full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,550. On average, associate degree students take out $14,797 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Wallace State, Hanceville. During the 2019-2020 year, about 56% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Read full report on Wallace State Community College, Hanceville
Bishop State Community College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Alabama list.
In-state students pay an average of $4,860 in tuition and fees if they attend Bishop State Community College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,550. On average, associate degree students take out $15,446 in loans while pursuing their degree.
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 2019-2020 academic year, around 65% took at least some of their classes online.
Lurleen B Wallace Community College landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College is $4,860. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,850. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,456 in student loans.
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. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 55% took at least some of their classes online.
Jefferson State Community College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Alabama list.
Students from Alabama who attend Jeff State full time pay an average of $4,920 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,610. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,642 in student loans.
Online courses are available at Jeff State, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 81% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #17, Shelton State Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
Students from Alabama who attend Shelton State Community College full time pay an average of $4,587 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,277. On average, associate degree students take out $13,517 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Shelton State Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 88% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Wallace Community College, Selma came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Alabama ranking.
Students from Alabama who attend WCCS full time pay an average of $4,560 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,250. On average, associate degree students take out $15,879 in loans while pursuing their degree.
WCCS does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 60% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Chattahoochee Valley Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #19 on the list.
Students from Alabama who attend CVCC full time pay an average of $3,936 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $7,128. Associate Degree recipients from CVCC accumulate an average of $17,638 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at CVCC. During the 2019-2020 year, about 77% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #20, Northeast Alabama Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
Students from Alabama who attend Northeast full time pay an average of $4,860 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,850. Associate Degree recipients from Northeast accumulate an average of $8,132 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Northeast does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 82% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Northwest-Shoals Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #21 on the list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at NW-SCC is $4,831. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,521. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,717 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that NW-SCC does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 43% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Central Alabama Community College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Alabama ranking.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Central Alabama Community College is $4,920. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,610. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,897 in student loans.
Online courses are available at Central Alabama 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, 83% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Marion Military Institute did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #23 on the list.
In-state students pay an average of $9,218 in tuition and fees if they attend Marion Military Institute full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $15,218.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Marion Military Institute does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 25% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 23 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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