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Madison takes education seriously. With its labor force drawing on a highly-educated population where over 96% of the adults have a minimum of a high school diploma, it’s no wonder why. There are both excellent public and private schools in the city, with 2- and 4-year colleges serving the area. More than 55% of Madison residents hold a Bachelor's Degree or higher and 22% hold a graduate degree or higher. There is an active and viable workforce available with 53% of the Madison population between the ages of 20 and 59.
Public Schools
The Madison City School system serves over 12,600 students, operating on a budget of over $140 million annually. There are over 1,500 employed throughout the 12 schools. Bob Jones High School was ranked 1,318th of 17,680 high schools nationwide and James Clemens High School was ranked 1,020th by US News. James Clemens High School was ranked 8th statewide by US News. Bob Jones was ranked 11th statewide. NICHE ranked the Madison City School system 80th out of 12,291 nationwide school systems. Each of Madison's Elementary, Middle, and High Schools received an 'A' ranking, above 90%.
Private Schools
There are numerous private preschools in the city of Madison, AL, and one elementary/middle school. There are no private high schools in the city of Madison at this time.
Two-Year & Technical Colleges
There are six two-year and technical colleges within a 20-minute drive of Madison.
John C. Calhoun Community College
Calhoun Community College is the largest two-year institution in the state of Alabama, offering 49 associate degree programs and 52 career/certificate programs. Calhoun serves over 12,000 students on three campuses including Decatur and Huntsville, AL.
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School of Radiologic Technology
Established in 1969 and affiliated with Huntsville Hospital, the Radiological School provides a 24-month, full-time Radiologic Technology program that allows students to attend classes and participate in clinical rotations. Graduates are awarded an Associate Degree in Occupational Technology and are eligible to take the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists national certification exam or pursue a B.S. in Management of Technology through Athens State University.
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Snead State Community College
Founded in 1898 and with campuses in Boaz, Arab, and Oneonta, Snead State Community College is the oldest community college in Alabama to offer the two-year Associate’s Degree. It offers affordable tuition, challenging curriculum, cutting-edge technology, and experienced faculty and staff for students looking to prepare for the future, close to home.
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J.F. Drake State Tech College
Drake State is built on land given by Alabama A&M University. In 1967, it became the first desegregated post-secondary technical school in the nation. Today, it is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education (COE). Drake offers classes on weekdays, Saturdays, and evenings at two locations in Huntsville, AL.
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Alabama Industrial Development Training (AIDT)
AIDT is one of the nation's most effective state-sponsored workforce training programs. For decades, AIDT has provided state-of-the-art industrial training at no cost for Alabama's qualifying new and expanding industries. Awarded the ISO 9001:2015 certification by the International Organization for Standardization, AIDT's effective training resources cater to each company's personalized workforce needs by facilitating manufacturing, job-ready workforce on day one.
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Four-Year Colleges
There are ten four-year colleges and universities within a 20-minute drive of Madison.
Alabama A&M University
Founded in 1875 by a former slave, William Hooper Council, Alabama Agricultural & Mechanical University (Alabama A&M) embodies the traditional land-grant institution. Alabama A&M functions as a teaching, research, and public service. To date, over 40,000+ individuals have received an undergraduate to a terminal degree from one of Alabama A&M's four colleges.
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Athens State University
Located in Athens, AL, and founded in 1822, Athens State is the oldest institution in Alabama. Athens State offers over 50 undergraduate and graduate degrees and over 40 minors available in Business, Education, Arts & Science, and Education. Over 1,000 individuals receive their baccalaureate degree from Athens State every year – more than at any other university in North Alabama.
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Columbia College, Redstone Campus
Established in 1854, Columbia College offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in business, computer science, criminal justice, psychology, and more. Offering classroom and online options for working individuals to obtain their desired degree.
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Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Huntsville Campus
Embry-Riddle is the world’s pre-eminent university for aviation and aerospace education. The Embry-Riddle Huntsville Campus — located at Redstone Arsenal — offers associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees, as well as undergraduate certifications.
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Faulkner University, Huntsville Campus
Founded in 1942 as a private Christian, liberal arts university, Faulkner University has been serving students in Huntsville for more than 30 years. With over 70 undergraduate degrees, classes are offered during weekdays, evenings, weekends, and online to accommodate working individuals and those with family commitments.
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Florida Institute of Technology, Huntsville Campus
Florida Tech has offered master's degrees to military personnel and civilians on Redstone Arsenal and in the Huntsville area since 1976. Degree programs offered include a doctorate in business administration as well as specialized master's of science degrees in acquisition and contract management, computer information systems, engineering management, human resources management, logistics management, operations management, project management, and systems management.
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Oakwood University
Oakwood University is a historically black Seventh-day Adventist college founded in 1896, providing higher education that is Christianity-based. Oakwood offers a variety of undergraduate degrees in biology, math & computer science, chemistry, communication, psychology, and more. Their campus is located in Huntsville, and they have an adult-only division, Oakwood LEAP, that helps non-traditional students finish their degrees. Oakwood also offers online options.
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Strayer University
Founded in 1892 as a private, for-profit higher education institution. An accredited school with programs from associate, bachelor's, and master's in business, IT systems, accounting, human resource management, and more. Offering affordable tuition, class offerings for the working professional, and labs for access to technology, this provides an experience for students wanting to attend college closer to home.
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University of Alabama, Huntsville (UAH)
Part of the University of Alabama System, UAH offers 89 degrees in one of the nine colleges of Business, Engineering, Liberal Arts, Nursing, Science, and more. It is a public, coeducational, state-supported research university with roughly 8,700 students enrolled per semester. Incoming freshmen average 28 on their ACT, one of the highest average scores among Alabama’s public universities.
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