Best Community Colleges in Alabama

Why Attend Community College in Alabama?

Although many students opt to pursue a college degree at a more traditional, albeit more costly, school - many don’t know that studying in their own state can be a more viable option. Alabama is no exception; with numerous community colleges throughout the state, you can save a fortune on tuition while still getting the same education.

The best example is probably Calhoun Community College - located in the northern-most city of Decatur. As the largest community college in the state, and with a net price of just over 2,000; it's hard to pass up the incredible value. Other great choices in the Yellowhammer State are Bevill State Community College, Shelton State Community College, and J.F. Drake State Community and Technical College.

What Career Pathways Are Available in Alabama?

The Great State of Alabama employs nearly 2 million people, totaling 1.37% of the nation’s labor force. Although that number sits a modest 5.6% under the median state job quantity of Oregon, with 714 different job types, it still represents a wide array of opportunities. Furthermore, Alabama ranks just outside the top-tier (29th to be exact), which means that you’ll still have a great selection of jobs to consider.

In terms of which job types are most plentiful in the Heart of Dixie - those that would be considered most common are retail salespersons, registered nurses, and cashiers.

Retail Salespersons

In Alabama, they employ over 60,000 retail salespersons - making it the 24th most of any state in the nation. These positions tend to pay a modest salary to its employees - an hourly median of just over 11 dollars - which is slightly below the national median of 11.44. When compared to the most prominent in this field, which is California - Alabama is nearly 83% behind in total number of employees.

Registered Nurses

Considered to be one of the most reliable positions out there, registered nurses count for around 50 thousand residents of Alabama. This makes it the 23rd most of any state in the nation. On the pay side of things, the median comes in at an impressive $60,510 - putting it in the 51st slot of all states in the nation. However, the most prominent state (which is again California) has more than 6 times that many nurses and pays double the salary.

Cashiers

Extremely popular in any small town, cashiers are an evergreen pick in Alabama. This job type employs around 49,390 individuals - leaving it in the 25th spot for most roles of this type. Compensation isn’t that great however, with a median rate of $22.38 - which is 4% lower than the national median of $23.45. Of course, California leads the way again - but that shouldn’t be too much of an issue for the most part. Employees in these roles have an opportunity to earn bonuses of up to 30%.