by our College Data Analytics TeamIt's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. At College Factual, we're committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Alabama ranking. A school that typically has a high sticker price may actually be very affordable, depending on how much need-based financial aid you receive.
See What's Included in This Value Report:
Our analysis looked at 22 schools in Alabama to determine which ones have the best value Associate Degree programs. To come up with this ranking of the best value schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
When determining the value of a school in our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Alabama ranking, we first look at its average net price of a student coming from a family that makes $0-$30k a year. The net price is defined as the sum of room and board, tuition, and fees minus any financial aid that the student receives. But, a school that excels in providing value for your money must also be a great school overall as well.
To account for this we include a college's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a combination of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
We go into more detail on these factors on our best value ranking methodology page.
Keep scrolling for the top schools in this ranking or select one of the other rankings methods below.
If you know what major you want to study, check out our list of the best value schools by major. If you're interested in other degree levels, you can view one of the lists below.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Wallace Community College, Dothan tops this year’s ranking as the best value (income $0-$30k) school for associate degrees in Alabama for overall quality. Wallace, Dothan is a small public school situated in Dothan, Alabama.
Wallace Community College, Dothan has the honor of being ranked #4 in Alabama for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $1,556.
A rank of #2 on our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Alabama list means Northwest-Shoals Community College is a great place for students working on their degree. Muscle Shoals, Alabama is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Northwest-Shoals Community College is ranked #20 for quality in the state of Alabama. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $1,000.
Learn More About Value at Northwest-Shoals Community College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Wallace Community College, Selma. It ranked #3 on our 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Alabama list. Located in Selma, Alabama, the school is a small public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Wallace Community College, Selma is ranked #19 for quality in the state of Alabama. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $1,733.
Out of the 22 associate degree schools in Alabama that were part of this year’s ranking, John C Calhoun State Community College landed the #4 spot on the list. Calhoun Community College is a public institution located in Tanner, Alabama.
Not only is John C Calhoun State Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #5 in Alabama for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $4,940.
A rank of #5 on our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Alabama list means Bishop State Community College is a great place for students working on their degree. Bishop State Community College is a small public school situated in Mobile, Alabama.
Bishop State Community College has the honor of being ranked #12 in Alabama for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $2,967.
Northeast Alabama Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Alabama list. Northeast Alabama Community College is a small public school located in Rainsville, Alabama.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Northeast Alabama Community College is ranked #18 for quality in the state of Alabama. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $2,183.
With a ranking of #7, Chattahoochee Valley Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Alabama list. Located in Phenix City, Alabama, the school is a small public institution.
Chattahoochee Valley Community College has the honor of being ranked #15 in Alabama for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $3,166.
Learn More About Value at Chattahoochee Valley Community College
Gadsden State Community College landed the #8 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Alabama ranking. GSCC is a small public school situated in Gadsden, Alabama.
Gadsden State Community College has the honor of being ranked #14 in Alabama for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $3,742.
Coastal Alabama Community College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Alabama list. Located in Bay Minette, Alabama, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
Coastal Alabama Community College has the honor of being ranked #10 in Alabama for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $4,659.
With a ranking of #10, Wallace State Community College, Hanceville did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Alabama list. Hanceville, Alabama is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Wallace State Community College, Hanceville is ranked #6 for quality in the state of Alabama. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $7,178.
Learn More About Value at Wallace State Community College, Hanceville
Southern Union State Community College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Alabama list. Wadley, Alabama is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Southern Union State Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #8 in Alabama for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $6,333.
Jefferson State Community College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Alabama ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Birmingham, Alabama.
Not only is Jefferson State Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #3 in Alabama for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $7,947.
Bevill State Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Alabama ranking, coming in at #13. Bevill State Community College is a small public school located in Jasper, Alabama.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Bevill State Community College is ranked #11 for quality in the state of Alabama. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $6,428.
With a ranking of #14, Lawson State Community College - Birmingham Campus did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Alabama list. Birmingham, Alabama is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Lawson State Community College - Birmingham Campus a great value, but it is also ranked #17 in Alabama for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $5,855.
Full Lawson State Community College - Birmingham Campus Value Report
Lurleen B Wallace Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Alabama list. Lurleen B. Wallace Community College is a small public school situated in Andalusia, Alabama.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Lurleen B Wallace Community College is ranked #9 for quality in the state of Alabama. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $7,140.
Read full value report on Lurleen B Wallace Community College
With a ranking of #16, Shelton State Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Alabama list. This small public school is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Not only is Shelton State Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #16 in Alabama for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $7,462.
With a ranking of #17, Snead State Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Alabama list. Snead State Community College is located in Boaz, Alabama and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Snead State Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #21 in Alabama for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $6,778.
Marion Military Institute landed the #18 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Alabama ranking. Marion Military Institute is a small public school located in Marion, Alabama.
Not only is Marion Military Institute a great value, but it is also ranked #7 in Alabama for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $10,081.
Central Alabama Community College landed the #19 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Alabama ranking. Central Alabama Community College is a small public school located in Alexander City, Alabama.
Central Alabama Community College has the honor of being ranked #22 in Alabama for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $6,837.
Troy University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Alabama ranking. Troy, Alabama is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Troy University has the honor of being ranked #2 in Alabama for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $12,287.
Columbia Southern University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Alabama list. Columbia Southern University is located in Orange Beach, Alabama and has a fairly large student population. It is a private for-profit school.
Columbia Southern University has the honor of being ranked #13 in Alabama for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $11,546.
Herzing University - Birmingham landed the #22 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Alabama ranking. Birmingham, Alabama is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Herzing University - Birmingham is ranked #1 for quality in the state of Alabama. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $27,308.
View Best Value Associate Degree Schools (Income $0-$30k) Nationwide >
All Majors and Fields of Study >
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 22 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.