With all of the options you have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take when you want to pursue a college degree. 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 in Alabama ranking.
Our analysis looked at 23 schools in Alabama to determine which ones have the best associate degree programs. Instead of depending on subjective information to rank the best schools, we focus on objective factors in our analysis. More specifically, the following explains what we consider and why.
Better Early-Career Average Salaries
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of associate graduates during the early years of their career. While associate degree recipients from schools in Alabama earn an average starting salary of $42,167, those from the top 23 school on this list made an average of $43,824.
Starting Salary ( 33567 to 53066 )
Student Loan Borrowing
Students may also take on a lot of debt while working on their associate so we factor that into our rankings as well.
During their time at college, associate degree seekers from schools in Alabama take out an average of $9,094.
We consider this number in conjunction with average post-graduation earnings to gauge the difficulty associate recipients will have paying back their loans.
Additional Ranking Factors We Use
In addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt loads, we also look at a host of other factors to determining our Best Associate Degree Schools ranking.
These factors include things like the educational resources, the demand associated with the school, whether or not the school offers online classes, and the student body caliber - just to name a few.
Are you more interested in the top associate degree schools in your area? Try narrowing this list by location. In addition, we've put together a number of other college rankings that may help you in your search.
Our 2025 rankings named Columbia Southern University the best school in Alabama in terms of overall quality for 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.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Columbia Southern University is $64,227 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $6,958.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Herzing University - Birmingham. The school came in at #2 in Alabama on this year’s best associate degree schools ranking. Herzing University - Birmingham is a private not-for-profit institution located in Birmingham, Alabama. The school has a small population, and it awarded 90 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a associate degree from Herzing University - Birmingham go into careers with an average salary of $44,785 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $12,470 in student loans.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Wallace Community College, Dothan. The school came in at #3 in Alabama on this year’s best associate degree schools ranking. Located in Dothan, Alabama, the small public school awarded 458 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from Wallace, Dothan make an average of $42,977 per year during the early years of their career.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bishop State Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Alabama list. Bishop State Community College is a small public school situated in Mobile, Alabama. It awarded 292 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a associate degree from Bishop State Community College go into careers with an average salary of $43,317 during the early years of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Shelton State Community College. The school came in at #5 in Alabama on this year’s best associate degree schools ranking. Located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the small public school awarded 572 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Shelton State Community College is $48,796 during the early years of their career.
Lurleen B Wallace Community College landed the #6 spot on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Alabama ranking. Lurleen B. Wallace Community College is a public institution located in Andalusia, Alabama. The school has a small population, and it awarded 301 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a associate degree from Lurleen B. Wallace Community College go into careers with an average salary of $43,091 during the early years of their career.
Bevill State Community College landed the #7 spot on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Alabama ranking. Bevill State Community College is a public institution located in Jasper, Alabama. The school has a small population, and it awarded 436 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Bevill State Community College make an average of $49,004 a year.
With a ranking of #8, Gadsden State Community College did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Alabama list. Located in Gadsden, Alabama, the small public school handed out 691 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a associate degree from GSCC go into careers with an average salary of $39,704 during the early years of their career.
John C Calhoun State Community College landed the #9 spot on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Alabama ranking. Tanner, Alabama is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 1,358 students in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Calhoun Community College make an average of $42,390 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $7,000 after getting their degree.
Marion Military Institute came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Alabama ranking. Marion Military Institute is a public institution located in Marion, Alabama. The school has a small population, and it awarded 88 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Marion Military Institute is $25,501 during the early years of their career.
Wallace Community College, Selma ranked #11 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Alabama list. Located in Selma, Alabama, the small public school handed out 229 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a associate degree from WCCS go into careers with an average salary of $48,672 during the early years of their career.
Lawson State Community College - Birmingham Campus came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Alabama ranking. LSCC - Birmingham Campus is a small public school situated in Birmingham, Alabama. It awarded 303 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from LSCC - Birmingham Campus is $40,469 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $7,250 after getting their degree.
Coastal Alabama Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Alabama ranking. Bay Minette, Alabama is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 849 students in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a associate degree from Coastal Alabama Community College go into careers with an average salary of $43,772 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $7,094.
Wallace State Community College, Hanceville did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Alabama ranking, coming in at #14. Wallace State, Hanceville is located in Hanceville, Alabama and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 911 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Wallace State, Hanceville is $45,395 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $12,000.
Enterprise State Community College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Alabama ranking. Enterprise, Alabama is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 233 students in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a associate degree from Enterprise-Ozark Community College go into careers with an average salary of $22,991 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #16, Jefferson State Community College did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Alabama list. Located in Birmingham, Alabama, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,217 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $50,105 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $10,933 in student loans.
Troy University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Alabama ranking. TROY is a fairly large public school situated in Troy, Alabama. It awarded 268 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from TROY is $48,397 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $6,145 after getting their degree.
Snead State Community College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Alabama list. Located in Boaz, Alabama, the small public school awarded 395 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Snead State Community College make an average of $33,996 a year.
Southern Union State Community College did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Alabama ranking, coming in at #19. Located in Wadley, Alabama, the small public school awarded 604 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $52,835 during the early years of their career.
Northeast Alabama Community College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Alabama list. Northeast is a public institution located in Rainsville, Alabama. The school has a small population, and it awarded 446 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Northeast is $32,977 during the early years of their career.
Northwest-Shoals Community College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Alabama list. Northwest-Shoals Community College is a small public school located in Muscle Shoals, Alabama that handed out 397 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a associate degree from NW-SCC go into careers with an average salary of $42,469 during the early years of their career.
Chattahoochee Valley Community College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Alabama ranking. Located in Phenix City, Alabama, the small public school awarded 227 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from CVCC make an average of $63,944 a year.
With a ranking of #23, Central Alabama Community College did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Alabama list. Central Alabama Community College is located in Alexander City, Alabama and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 221 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Those who receive a associate degree from Central Alabama Community College go into careers with an average salary of $38,135 during the early years of their career.
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%.
