Is Bishop State Community College Worth It?

Bishop State Community College keeps your upfront cost low, but the payoff depends almost entirely on which program you pick. At $4,176 a year, the price is manageable, and you can finish an associate degree without heavy debt. The problem is the median earnings figure ten years out sits below $30,000, which barely clears what many jobs pay without any college at all.

The split between programs is stark. Registered Nursing and Allied Health both land graduates above $50,000, roughly double the school-wide median. Practical Nursing and Ground Transportation certificates land in the mid-$30,000s, still solid given how little time and money they take. Health and Medical Administrative Services is the outlier going the wrong way at $23,113, below the school median and hard to justify against the nursing tracks that share the same campus.

The clear risk here is the 23% graduation rate. More than three of every four students don't finish, and a partial year of tuition with no credential is the worst outcome. The programs that pay, nursing especially, are also the ones with clinical requirements and licensing exams, so dropping out costs you the entire return.

This school works for you if you commit to nursing or allied health and can push through to the credential. Mobile's healthcare employers back up those salary numbers. If you're aiming at medical administration or unsure of your major, the earnings data says look harder before enrolling.

On price by income: if your family earns over $110k you pay just $970, the cheapest tier by far. Families in the $48-75k range actually pay the most at $5,809, more than the lowest earners. Middle-income households get the worst deal here, so factor that in before assuming community college is automatically the budget option.