Best Community Colleges in Alabama

Alabama houses excellent community colleges and four-year colleges that help students launch their careers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual average salary for all jobs in Alabama was $46,840 in 2020. The highest-paid professionals in Alabama are obstetricians and gynecologists, surgeons, and anesthesiologists.

In this guide, readers can explore educational opportunities and employment outlook in Alabama. Readers can also find answers to frequently asked questions, such as the number of community colleges in Alabama, what jobs are in demand in Alabama, and the cost of community college in the state.

Alabama is home to 37 four-year colleges and universities and 25 community colleges. Students in Alabama who enroll in a two-year community college program often transfer their credits to a four-year university to earn a bachelor’s degree. Many of the top colleges in Alabama offer accredited online programs for both in-state and out-of-state students.

About 60,660 students graduate annually in the state of Alabama each year, about 20% of whom earn associate degrees and about 54% of whom earn bachelor’s degrees.

The University of Alabama’s business school projects that the state’s economy will grow by 5.5% in 2021. Alabama gained 89,200 jobs from June 2020 to June 2021. In that same time period, the unemployment rate dropped from 7.7% to 3.3%.

Overall, the cost of living in Alabama is cheaper than the average cost of living in the United States. The median home cost in the state is $129,300 compared to the national median home cost of $231,200.

Alabama residents pay less on average for groceries, housing, and transportation than in other states. However, costs such as healthcare and utilities are more expensive in Alabama than the national average.

Alabama offers many art and music festivals throughout the year. Students can enjoy events like the Sidewalk Film Festival in Birmingham, the Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival in Foley, and the Annual National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores.

Students can also explore museums like the Birmingham Civil Rights Museum and the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts. Alabama features music festivals as well, especially for country music lovers. Students with access to a car or public transportation can easily access most community offerings.

Alabama has a humid, subtropical climate. The state typically experiences hot summers and mild winters, though parts of the state may see freezing temperatures during the winter. Alabama may experience tropical storms and hurricanes throughout the year due to its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico. Hurricane season generally lasts from June through November.

Alabama boasts one of the largest inland waterway systems in the nation. As a result, large parts of the state feature wetlands and swamps.

Alabama employs almost two million workers across all industries with an average annual salary of $46,840 in 2020. The state government found that Alabama’s unemployment numbers were below the national average for 2021.

High-demand jobs in Alabama include administrative support, sales, transportation, and healthcare. The most lucrative careers in the state are also in the healthcare industry, with obstetricians and gynecologists earning an average annual salary of $269,920 in 2020.

Below are five in-demand jobs that students can attain with an associate degree in Alabama.