2026 Rankings

    Best Trade Schools in Alabama

    Data-driven rankings of 38 trade colleges in Alabama based on graduation rates, student outcomes, and affordability. No paid placements.

    38 Schools RankedPowered by IPEDS Data

    Showing 1–25 of 38 schools

    #1
    59.6/ 100
    J F Ingram State Technical College

    Deatsville, AL · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:68%
    Student-Faculty:10:1
    Programs:36
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:100%
    #2
    55.2/ 100
    University Academy of Hair Design

    Tuscaloosa, AL · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:77%
    Student-Faculty:8:1
    Programs:2
    Avg Tuition:$5,450
    Financial Aid:77%
    #3
    54.9/ 100
    Blue Cliff Career College

    Mobile, AL · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:73%
    Student-Faculty:11:1
    Programs:4
    Avg Tuition:$10,917
    Financial Aid:91%
    #4
    53.7/ 100
    Brown Beauty Barber School

    Bessemer, AL · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:77%
    Student-Faculty:18:1
    Programs:5
    Avg Tuition:$9,950
    Financial Aid:100%
    #5
    51.5/ 100
    Paul Mitchell the School-Huntsville

    Madison, AL · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:58%
    Student-Faculty:7:1
    Programs:4
    Avg Tuition:$9,932
    Financial Aid:90%
    #6
    51.0/ 100
    Alabama School of Nail Technology & Cosmetology

    Jackson, AL · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:86%
    Student-Faculty:14:1
    Programs:3
    Avg Tuition:$12,958
    Financial Aid:60%
    #7
    49.3/ 100
    Northeast Alabama Community College

    Rainsville, AL · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:40%
    Student-Faculty:9:1
    Programs:40
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:93%
    #8
    46.9/ 100
    Paul Mitchell the School-Birmingham

    Hoover, AL · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:62%
    Student-Faculty:10:1
    Programs:3
    Avg Tuition:$9,982
    Financial Aid:82%
    #9
    46.5/ 100
    The Salon Professional Academy-Huntsville

    Huntsville, AL · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:81%
    Student-Faculty:18:1
    Programs:2
    Avg Tuition:$6,620
    Financial Aid:76%
    #10
    45.5/ 100
    Northwest Shoals Community College

    Muscle Shoals, AL · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:32%
    Student-Faculty:10:1
    Programs:45
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:94%
    #10
    45.5/ 100
    H Councill Trenholm State Community College

    Montgomery, AL · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:40%
    Student-Faculty:10:1
    Programs:43
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:86%
    #12
    45.4/ 100
    George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville

    Hanceville, AL · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:42%
    Student-Faculty:11:1
    Programs:65
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:78%
    #13
    44.9/ 100
    Reid State Technical College

    Evergreen, AL · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:45%
    Student-Faculty:11:1
    Programs:11
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:97%
    #14
    43.3/ 100
    Chattahoochee Valley Community College

    Phenix City, AL · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:25%
    Student-Faculty:8:1
    Programs:24
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:97%
    #15
    43.2/ 100
    Fortis College-Montgomery

    Montgomery, AL · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:45%
    Student-Faculty:12:1
    Programs:4
    Avg Tuition:$18,853
    Financial Aid:97%
    #15
    43.2/ 100
    Fortis College

    Mobile, AL · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:51%
    Student-Faculty:13:1
    Programs:4
    Avg Tuition:$18,873
    Financial Aid:96%
    #17
    42.3/ 100
    Fortis College-Dothan

    Dothan, AL · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:54%
    Student-Faculty:13:1
    Programs:3
    Avg Tuition:$17,948
    Financial Aid:99%
    #18
    42.2/ 100
    Lurleen B Wallace Community College logo
    Lurleen B Wallace Community College

    Andalusia, AL · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:40%
    Student-Faculty:12:1
    Programs:25
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:90%
    #19
    42.1/ 100
    Snead State Community College logo
    Snead State Community College

    Boaz, AL · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:34%
    Student-Faculty:11:1
    Programs:22
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:92%
    #20
    41.8/ 100
    New Beginning College of Cosmetology logo
    New Beginning College of Cosmetology

    Albertville, AL · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:57%
    Student-Faculty:16:1
    Programs:3
    Avg Tuition:$8,150
    Financial Aid:100%
    #21
    41.5/ 100
    Gadsden State Community College logo
    Gadsden State Community College

    Gadsden, AL · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:29%
    Student-Faculty:11:1
    Programs:53
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:89%
    #22
    41.2/ 100
    Central Alabama Community College logo
    Central Alabama Community College

    Alexander City, AL · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:26%
    Student-Faculty:9:1
    Programs:25
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:92%
    #23
    40.8/ 100
    Bevill State Community College logo
    Bevill State Community College

    Jasper, AL · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:32%
    Student-Faculty:12:1
    Programs:43
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:89%
    #24
    40.7/ 100
    George C Wallace State Community College-Selma logo
    George C Wallace State Community College-Selma

    Selma, AL · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:28%
    Student-Faculty:10:1
    Programs:21
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:94%
    #25
    40.6/ 100
    Coastal Alabama Community College logo
    Coastal Alabama Community College

    Bay Minette, AL · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:24%
    Student-Faculty:10:1
    Programs:42
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:89%

    Our rankings evaluate trade and vocational colleges using six weighted metrics derived from federal IPEDS data: graduation rate, student-faculty ratio, program breadth, institutional scale, financial accessibility, and affordability. Schools must meet minimum eligibility requirements to be ranked.

    How are these rankings calculated? View Methodology