Career Training Path › Alabama › J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College
J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College
Huntsville, Alabama · Public technical college · Training programs available:
Address: 3421 Meridian St N, Huntsville, AL 35811 · Phone: (256) 539-8161 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College is a public trade school in Huntsville, Alabama offering cosmetology, LPN, and medical assistant programs, accredited by SACS.
Per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, J. F. Drake State's completion rate is 14.0%, below the Alabama state average of 45.5%, with median graduate earnings of $28,281 ten years after entry. Median graduate debt is not reported for this campus.
Annual cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for J. F. Drake State; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid can be used here, and 44.3% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists | $21,300 | $29,150 | $37,230 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $39,880 | $57,030 | $61,800 |
| Medical assistants | $29,630 | $36,100 | $38,360 |
| Chefs and head cooks | $39,940 | $62,400 | $74,130 |
| Electricians | $37,640 | $55,690 | $64,450 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Alabama (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 20 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 18 | not reported | $38,906 | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 8 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 8 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Associate degree | 7 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Associate degree | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Certificate, 1–2 years | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College is a public trade and career school located in Huntsville, Alabama. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, with its nursing program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, and federal financial aid (FAFSA and Pell Grants) can be used here. Across its 10 program families, the campus awards the most credentials in cosmetology schools, LPN/LVN programs, and medical assistant programs.
Federal data shows a completion rate of 14.0%, which is below the Alabama state average of 45.5%. Median earnings for graduates 10 years after entry are reported at $28,281. About 44.3% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a significant share of lower-income students. Median debt of graduates and annual cost of attendance are not reported for this campus in federal data.
This campus, situated in a midsize city with 755 undergraduate students and 70 trade completers, offers programs that appear geared toward shorter, career-focused training such as cosmetology and LPN credentials rather than lengthy degree paths, though exact program lengths are not reported here. Career changers and adults considering enrollment should confirm current schedules, tuition, and completion outcomes directly with the school and review the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard for verified federal data before enrolling.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
J. F. Drake State offers 10 program families, most notably cosmetology schools (38 completers), LPN/LVN programs (18), and medical assistant programs (9).
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and its nursing program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so FAFSA and Pell Grants can be used.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 14.0%, which is below the Alabama state average of 45.5%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Median debt of graduates is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school or check the College Scorecard for updates.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are reported at $28,281, per the College Scorecard.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
This is a public institution, which typically means state funding supports operations and tuition may be lower than private alternatives, though exact costs are not reported here.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program lengths are not reported in the available data; contact the school at (256) 539-8161 or visit drakestate.edu for specifics.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can confirm accreditation status and review federal outcome data through the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard at the school's dedicated page.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The program mix, including cosmetology and LPN training, suggests options for shorter career-focused training, but specific fit for adult learners is not detailed in the data; contact the school for guidance.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach J. F. Drake State at (256) 539-8161 or through its website at https://drakestate.edu/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data with nearby schools is not reported here; consult the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?101462 for comparison tools.
Other trade and career schools in Huntsville, AL
- Ross Medical Education Center-HuntsvilleHuntsville, AL · 51% completion
- The Salon Professional Academy-HuntsvilleHuntsville, AL · 57% completion
- J.F. Drake State Community & Technical CollegeHuntsville, AL
- Madison county schoolsHuntsville, AL
- George C Wallace State Community College-HancevilleHanceville, AL · 51% completion
- J F Ingram State Technical CollegeDeatsville, AL · 21% completion
- Bevill State Community CollegeJasper, AL · 38% completion
- Gadsden State Community CollegeGadsden, AL · 38% completion
See all trade and career schools in Alabama or search by ZIP code.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.