About J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College
J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Huntsville, Alabama. It enrolls 755 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
58/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes7
Value64
Affordability70
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $6,005 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$6,005
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
44%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
0%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$5,190
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$9,060
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,450
Books & Supplies
$2,000
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,050
Total Cost of Attendance
$14,456
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$5,916
$30,001 – $48,000
$4,108
$48,001 – $75,000
$8,546
$75,001 – $110,000
$7,763
What this means:
Aid reaches a meaningful share of the student body: 44% of students receive Pell grants. If your family qualifies for Pell, the real cost to you could be substantially lower than the average.
Graduation Rate & Retention
9% of full-time students who enrolled at J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College graduate within six years, and 52% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
9%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
52%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College earn a median of $28,281 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$28,281
Earning > $25K
47%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$24,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$32,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $7,900, about 24% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
What this means:
Solid return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$4.7 of median earnings 10 years out.
Who Studies Here
J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College is home to 755 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 59% are first-generation college students, 59% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
755
Part-Time
59%
First-Generation
59%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Black 60.4%456
White 21.9%165
Hispanic 7.8%59
Other 7.5%57
International 1.5%11
Asian 0.7%5
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityHuntsville, Alabama
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
37%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Historically Black College / University (HBCU)
What You Can Study
J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College offers
a varied set of programs:
14 distinct programs across
7 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$5,302
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Avg Faculty Salary
$58,591
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
25 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
No Rank
25
100%
$58,591
Pros & Cons of J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Open admissions
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Below-average post-graduation earnings
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College.
Is J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College hard to get into?
J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College?
J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College cost?
The average net price after aid at J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College is $6,005 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $28,281 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $6,005 per year. That's roughly 4.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College known for?
J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College is best known for its programs in Nursing, Industrial Production Tech, Practical Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College are $28,281, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College accredited?
Yes. J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College?
J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College enrolls 755 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College?
J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College graduates 9% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College a public or private college?
J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College is a Public institution.
Where is J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College located?
J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College is located in Huntsville, Alabama.
What programs does J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College offer?
J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College offers 14 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Industrial Production Tech, Practical Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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