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Best Trade Programs in Alabama (2026)

Top 100 of 160 programs in Alabama · Updated 2026

The best trade school programs in Alabama, ranked by overall value. We scored 160 programs across Alabama trade schools on earnings, AI resilience, job demand, and tuition ROI. The top programs average $46,360/yr in graduate earnings.

Programs in AL

160

Avg Earnings (Top 100)

$46,360/yr

Avg TSW Score

67/100

#1 Program

Ground Transportation

Bevill State Community College

Top Trade Programs in Alabama

Top 100 programs by TSW Score. Click any row for full analysis.

#	Program	TSW Score	Earnings	AI-Proof	ROI
1	Ground Transportation Bevill State Community College · Jasper, AL	86 85–86	$47,167/yr	AI-Proof	104.5x
2	Criminal Justice Columbia Southern University · Orange Beach, AL	78 75–80	$58,241/yr	Resilient	52.7x
3	Practical Nursing Chattahoochee Valley Community College · Phenix City, AL	85 83–86	$63,335/yr	AI-Proof	124.7x
4	Practical Nursing Coastal Alabama Community College · Bay Minette, AL	79 78–79	$63,125/yr	AI-Proof	62.4x
5	Practical Nursing Northeast Alabama Community College · Rainsville, AL	82 81–83	$53,855/yr	AI-Proof	107.1x
6	Nursing Bishop State Community College · Mobile, AL	84 77–84	$71,034/yr	Moderate	78.7x
7	Business Administration Columbia Southern University · Orange Beach, AL	89 81–92	$49,753/yr	Moderate	134.2x
8	Nursing Chattahoochee Valley Community College · Phenix City, AL	82 77–82	$67,491/yr	Moderate	70.8x
9	Nursing Coastal Alabama Community College · Bay Minette, AL	82 77–82	$67,900/yr	Moderate	69.1x
10	Nursing George C Wallace State Community College-Selma · Selma, AL	84 77–84	$67,158/yr	Moderate	82.6x
11	Nursing Lurleen B Wallace Community College · Andalusia, AL	82 76–83	$65,605/yr	Moderate	73.7x
12	Ground Transportation Bishop State Community College · Mobile, AL	76 75–76	$35,619/yr	AI-Proof	69.7x
13	Nursing Southern Union State Community College · Wadley, AL	83 77–83	$69,147/yr	Moderate	67.0x
14	Business Administration Columbia Southern University · Orange Beach, AL	78 74–80	$49,820/yr	Moderate	43.7x
15	Nursing Central Alabama Community College · Alexander City, AL	80 74–80	$59,634/yr	Moderate	67.0x
16	Nursing Gadsden State Community College · Gadsden, AL	83 77–83	$61,443/yr	Moderate	83.8x
17	Nursing George C Wallace Community College-Dothan · Dothan, AL	81 74–82	$59,653/yr	Moderate	73.2x
18	Nursing George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville · Hanceville, AL	80 74–80	$59,770/yr	Moderate	65.8x
19	Practical Nursing Herzing University-Birmingham · Birmingham, AL	72 68–73	$47,310/yr	AI-Proof	49.0x
20	Nursing Jefferson State Community College · Birmingham, AL	81 75–81	$63,811/yr	Moderate	68.1x
21	Nursing Lawson State Community College · Birmingham, AL	81 76–81	$64,547/yr	Moderate	63.8x
22	Nursing Shelton State Community College · Tuscaloosa, AL	79 74–80	$60,540/yr	Moderate	62.7x
23	Nursing Bevill State Community College · Jasper, AL	82 76–82	$63,532/yr	Moderate	72.6x
24	Nursing John C Calhoun State Community College · Tanner, AL	78 73–78	$56,995/yr	Moderate	58.0x
25	Nursing Northwest Shoals Community College · Muscle Shoals, AL	77 73–78	$56,177/yr	Moderate	57.9x
26	Practical Nursing Reid State Technical College · Evergreen, AL	75 74–76	$44,026/yr	AI-Proof	71.6x
27	Nursing Snead State Community College · Boaz, AL	78 73–78	$58,694/yr	Moderate	56.6x
28	Practical Nursing George C Wallace State Community College-Selma · Selma, AL	77 75–77	$41,533/yr	AI-Proof	87.7x
29	Nursing Northeast Alabama Community College · Rainsville, AL	76 71–76	$52,569/yr	Moderate	54.5x
30	Fire Protection Columbia Southern University · Orange Beach, AL	75 72–77	$75,326/yr	Resilient	68.4x
31	Practical Nursing George C Wallace Community College-Dothan · Dothan, AL	76 74–77	$40,106/yr	AI-Proof	92.6x
32	Medical Assisting Jefferson State Community College · Birmingham, AL	70 67–71	$47,796/yr	Resilient	52.1x
33	Precision Metalworking Bevill State Community College · Jasper, AL	69 69–70	$45,423/yr	AI-Proof	98.7x
34	Precision Metalworking Gadsden State Community College · Gadsden, AL	68 67–68	$41,252/yr	AI-Proof	103.5x
35	Nursing Herzing University-Birmingham · Birmingham, AL	72 68–73	$73,342/yr	Moderate	27.4x
36	Nursing University of West Alabama · Livingston, AL	72 68–73	$66,312/yr	Moderate	29.3x
37	Nursing Troy University · Troy, AL	72 68–73	$61,890/yr	Moderate	33.8x
38	Nursing Fortis College · Mobile, AL	72 66–73	$64,979/yr	Moderate	—
39	Electrical Installation Bevill State Community College · Jasper, AL	69 63–69	$39,314/yr	AI-Proof	60.2x
40	Electrical Repair Technology Shelton State Community College · Tuscaloosa, AL	72 66–72	$64,821/yr	AI-Proof	89.3x
41	Precision Metalworking George C Wallace Community College-Dothan · Dothan, AL	63 62–64	$36,834/yr	AI-Proof	73.9x
42	Vehicle Repair Technology Lawson State Community College · Birmingham, AL	67 65–67	$35,347/yr	AI-Proof	80.2x
43	Precision Metalworking Lawson State Community College · Birmingham, AL	62 61–63	$35,941/yr	AI-Proof	71.2x
44	Business Strayer University-Alabama · Birmingham, AL	69 62–71	$44,154/yr	Moderate	19.1x
45	Criminal Justice George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville · Hanceville, AL	65 63–67	$35,238/yr	Resilient	34.4x
46	Allied Health Professions Herzing University-Birmingham · Birmingham, AL	65 61–65	$57,114/yr	Resilient	47.6x
47	Medical Assisting John C Calhoun State Community College · Tanner, AL	65 60–65	$37,672/yr	Resilient	47.5x
48	Quality Control & Safety Technology Columbia Southern University · Orange Beach, AL	70 65–72	$74,871/yr	Moderate	71.5x
49	Allied Health Professions Jefferson State Community College · Birmingham, AL	65 62–65	$51,826/yr	Resilient	53.0x
50	Precision Metalworking Lurleen B Wallace Community College · Andalusia, AL	59 58–60	$32,714/yr	AI-Proof	64.7x
51	Allied Health Professions Shelton State Community College · Tuscaloosa, AL	64 61–64	$48,862/yr	Resilient	52.2x
52	IT Management Strayer University-Alabama · Birmingham, AL	68 61–71	$61,810/yr	Exposed	20.1x
53	Health Administration Columbia Southern University · Orange Beach, AL	68 63–70	$39,247/yr	Moderate	32.8x
54	Industrial Production Technology Coastal Alabama Community College · Bay Minette, AL	67 62–69	$55,570/yr	Resilient	76.7x
55	Vehicle Repair Technology Gadsden State Community College · Gadsden, AL	68 63–69	$31,387/yr	AI-Proof	119.4x
56	Medical Assisting George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville · Hanceville, AL	62 60–63	$37,346/yr	Resilient	40.4x
57	Allied Health Professions George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville · Hanceville, AL	64 61–65	$48,422/yr	Resilient	53.0x
58	Industrial Production Technology John C Calhoun State Community College · Tanner, AL	66 63–67	$59,567/yr	Resilient	65.3x
59	Allied Health Professions Lurleen B Wallace Community College · Andalusia, AL	65 63–66	$52,384/yr	Resilient	42.9x
60	Precision Metalworking George C Wallace State Community College-Selma · Selma, AL	59 57–60	$31,092/yr	AI-Proof	84.5x
61	Precision Metalworking Bishop State Community College · Mobile, AL	56 55–57	$30,688/yr	AI-Proof	54.9x
62	Allied Health Professions Bevill State Community College · Jasper, AL	69 65–69	$43,416/yr	Resilient	91.8x
63	Liberal Arts & Humanities Columbia Southern University · Orange Beach, AL	61 61–61	$55,667/yr	AI-Proof	56.0x
64	Heavy Equipment Technology Gadsden State Community College · Gadsden, AL	61 56–62	$37,595/yr	AI-Proof	87.8x
65	Allied Health Professions Gadsden State Community College · Gadsden, AL	61 59–62	$41,946/yr	Resilient	53.7x
66	Allied Health Professions Cardiac and Vascular Institute of Ultrasound · Mobile, AL	61 57–61	$60,226/yr	Resilient	—
67	Allied Health Professions George C Wallace Community College-Dothan · Dothan, AL	60 57–61	$42,801/yr	Resilient	45.7x
68	Computer Science John C Calhoun State Community College · Tanner, AL	65 57–67	$36,258/yr	Exposed	38.4x
69	Clinical Laboratory Science George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville · Hanceville, AL	58 56–58	$42,590/yr	Resilient	45.6x
70	Funeral Service & Mortuary Science Jefferson State Community College · Birmingham, AL	57 56–57	$49,566/yr	AI-Proof	44.8x
71	Allied Health Professions Southern Union State Community College · Wadley, AL	58 53–58	$37,835/yr	Resilient	46.1x
72	Clinical Laboratory Science John C Calhoun State Community College · Tanner, AL	57 56–58	$42,551/yr	Resilient	41.0x
73	Medical Assisting South University-Montgomery · Montgomery, AL	56 52–56	$39,761/yr	Resilient	12.0x
74	Allied Health Professions Gadsden State Community College · Gadsden, AL	63 60–63	$34,083/yr	Resilient	83.5x
75	Business Administration Herzing University-Birmingham · Birmingham, AL	60 53–62	$30,536/yr	Moderate	13.8x
76	Health Administration Fortis College · Mobile, AL	59 52–61	$27,459/yr	Moderate	—
77	Environmental Technology Gadsden State Community College · Gadsden, AL	53 52–54	$36,407/yr	Resilient	44.1x
78	Computer Networking Herzing University-Birmingham · Birmingham, AL	60 50–62	$43,901/yr	Exposed	17.9x
79	Electrical Repair Technology Reid State Technical College · Evergreen, AL	53 52–53	$39,940/yr	AI-Proof	31.7x
80	Medical Assisting Bishop State Community College · Mobile, AL	55 53–55	$30,528/yr	Resilient	27.9x
81	Medical Assisting George C Wallace Community College-Dothan · Dothan, AL	55 49–55	$26,719/yr	Resilient	37.5x
82	Dental Assisting George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville · Hanceville, AL	53 50–53	$34,837/yr	Resilient	41.5x
83	Health Administration Herzing University-Birmingham · Birmingham, AL	57 51–59	$27,871/yr	Moderate	23.2x
84	Business Operations Support Jefferson State Community College · Birmingham, AL	54 48–58	$25,648/yr	Exposed	33.0x
85	Precision Metalworking Reid State Technical College · Evergreen, AL	46 46–47	$24,349/yr	AI-Proof	38.9x
86	Health Administration Ross Medical Education Center-Huntsville · Huntsville, AL	57 50–59	$24,758/yr	Moderate	—
87	Business Operations Support George C Wallace Community College-Dothan · Dothan, AL	53 49–57	$26,151/yr	Exposed	28.4x
88	Health Administration Herzing University-Birmingham · Birmingham, AL	56 50–58	$30,821/yr	Moderate	11.9x
89	Medical Assisting Herzing University-Birmingham · Birmingham, AL	53 50–54	$30,106/yr	Resilient	24.1x
90	Medical Assisting Herzing University-Birmingham · Birmingham, AL	53 49–53	$34,039/yr	Resilient	13.2x
91	Accounting Herzing University-Birmingham · Birmingham, AL	57 51–59	$31,620/yr	Exposed	22.5x
92	Business Operations Support Bevill State Community College · Jasper, AL	53 48–56	$25,182/yr	Exposed	29.6x
93	Health Administration Fortis Institute-Birmingham · Birmingham, AL	56 49–58	$26,833/yr	Moderate	21.6x
94	Business Operations Support Gadsden State Community College · Gadsden, AL	52 46–56	$22,360/yr	Exposed	32.9x
95	Allied Health Professions Herzing University-Birmingham · Birmingham, AL	52 49–53	$43,769/yr	Resilient	16.6x
96	Engineering Technology Jefferson State Community College · Birmingham, AL	56 48–59	$38,981/yr	Moderate	59.9x
97	HVAC Technology Fortis Institute-Birmingham · Birmingham, AL	49 47–48	$36,485/yr	AI-Proof	28.5x
98	Electrical Engineering Technology Gadsden State Community College · Gadsden, AL	56 48–59	$37,302/yr	Moderate	76.3x
99	Criminal Justice Remington College-Mobile Campus · Mobile, AL	51 47–53	$26,952/yr	Resilient	6.5x
100	Physiology Cardiac and Vascular Institute of Ultrasound · Mobile, AL	55 48–56	$50,024/yr	Moderate	—

Methodology

This ranking includes the top 100 trade programs at Alabama schools, drawn from 160 total programs with earnings data. Programs are ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score (0–100), which combines graduate earnings, AI automation resilience, job market demand, and tuition ROI.

Only in-state tuition is used for ROI calculations. Earnings data comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best trade program in Alabama?

By TradeSchoolOutlook Score, Ground Transportation at Bevill State Community College ranks #1 in Alabama with a score of 86/100 and graduate earnings of $47,167/yr.

How many trade programs are in Alabama?

Our database includes 160 trade programs across Alabama schools with reported earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education.

Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Last updated 2025.