Cost advantage
Affordable two-year option
Tuition in the low range for community colleges.
Source: IPEDS 2024
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Community College public Verified data
Lawson State Community College
Birmingham, AL
Lawson State Community College at a glance
Lawson State Community College is a public community college in Birmingham, Alabama with 3,453 students (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). It has an open admission policy (IPEDS, admission policy reported in the 2024-25 IC collection). Its published in-state tuition is $5,040 (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25); students who received federal aid paid an average net price of $6,275 a year after grants (College Scorecard, a prior cohort). 27% of students finish within the federal tracking window (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021). Its Liberal Arts and General Studies, associate's graduates earn a median $40,467 four years after finishing (College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates).
Tuition
$5,040
2024-25
Acceptance
Open admission
2024-25
Students
3,453
Fall 2024
Type
Community College
Setting
Urban
Cost & Financial Aid
In-State Tuition
$5,040
Out-of-State Tuition
$8,910
Avg On-Campus Living
$4,760
Avg Off-Campus Living
$7,560
Financial Aid & Outcomes
College Scorecard
What will it actually cost?
Sticker price: $9,800
Net price (after aid): $6,275
Most students pay the net price after financial aid, not the sticker price.
Net price by family income
$0 – $30k: $6,102
$30k – $48k: $5,464
$48k – $75k: $8,151
$75k – $110k: $9,449
$110k+: $6,338
Can federal loans cover it? (2026 limits)
At every income level reported here, the average net price is within the $25,500 a first-year dependent student and their parents can borrow from the federal government for loans made from 1 July 2026.
The ceiling is $5,500 in the student’s own Direct Loan plus up to $20,000 in Parent PLUS, which requires that the parent has no adverse credit history. Net prices are averages for a prior cohort of aid recipients, not a quote. Source: Federal Student Aid loan limits. Where this gap is largest.
After graduation
Median earnings (10yr): $31,701
Financial access
Students on Pell Grants: 60%
Pell Grants are federal aid for students from low-income families.
Students with federal loans: 0%
Share of students who borrowed to pay for school.
Some fields may not be reported by this institution. Verify final details with the school directly.
How does cost line up with outcomes across colleges? See our analysis of college cost vs. graduation and earnings, an association shaped by selectivity and sector, not proof a pricier college pays off.
FAFSA earnings check
: Not flaggedLawson State Community College does not trigger the FAFSA's "lower earnings" notice. Its graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $46,935, above the $31,815 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 in Alabama.
This is one figure for the whole institution, not for any program: earnings differ by credential and field. It covers graduates who completed in 2017-18 and 2018-19, received federal aid, and were working and not enrolled when earnings were measured in 2022 and 2023, in January 2026 dollars. The Department says the notice is informational only: it does not change aid eligibility. Source: U.S. Department of Education, FSA Data Center, March 2026 release. Which colleges are flagged, and what changed.
Student Outcomes
Graduation Rate
27%
Freshman Retention
59%
Source: IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25 (provisional release)
Final aid offers, scholarships, and net price vary per family. Always verify with the school's financial aid office.
Scholarships available
Decision support · Cost & value
Quick Decision Highlights
The strongest cost, aid, and value reasons to consider this school.
Lower net price
$6.3k below avg
Out-of-state value
$8.9k below avg
Strong aid for lower incomes
Reported net price for the $0–30k band runs below average.
Affordability snapshot
In-state tuition
$5.0k
Out-of-state
$8.9k
Net price
$6.3k
below avg
Pell
60%
above avg
Earnings (10y)
$31.7k
“Avg” comparisons reference national IPEDS / College Scorecard averages (~2022–23); figures are directional and vary by school and year.
Admissions
Acceptance rate
Open admission
SAT range
Institution does not report this
Institution does not report this
ACT range
Institution does not report this
Institution does not report this
Source: IPEDS, open-admission policy reported for 2024-25 (final (revised) release)
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Location
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UniversitiesCommunity Colleges1 school
Institution does not report this
Birmingham, AL 35221
Academics
Studying online: a substantial share study entirely online
In Fall 2023, 532 of Lawson State Community College's 3,153 students (17%) were enrolled entirely at a distance. A further 937 (30%) took at least one distance course alongside in-person study.
Distance-education figures count STUDENTS enrolled in Fall 2023, not programs on offer. "Exclusively at a distance" means a student took only distance courses that term. A college with few or no such students may still run online courses or an online degree, so a low figure is not evidence that online study is unavailable, and a high one is not a judgement of quality either way.
U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Fall Enrollment (distance education status), Fall 2023
Fields of study
Lawson State Community College reported conferring credentials in 28 different fields to the federal government. See which ones, and at what credential level.
Campus & Student Life
Area Safety Rating
Decision support
Similar schools
Worth a closer look if Lawson State Community College caught your interest.
Bevill State Community College
Jasper, AL
Tuition $4,734 Open admissionSame state. Similar tuition. Similar acceptance.Enterprise State Community College
Enterprise, AL
Tuition $5,100 Open admissionSame state. Similar tuition. Similar acceptance.Northeast Alabama Community College
Rainsville, AL
Tuition $5,040 Open admissionSame state. Similar tuition. Similar acceptance.Snead State Community College
Boaz, AL
Tuition $5,278 Open admissionSame state. Similar tuition. Similar acceptance.Bishop State Community College
Mobile, AL
Tuition $5,340 Open admissionSame state. Similar tuition. Similar acceptance.George C Wallace Community College-Dothan
Dothan, AL
Tuition $4,980 Open admissionSame state. Similar tuition. Similar acceptance.
Graduate earnings by program
What Lawson State Community College graduates earn, by program
Lawson State Community College's associate's graduates in Liberal Arts and General Studies earned a median $40,467 four years after graduating, 8% below the $44,125 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $26,759; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth.
9 programs at Lawson State Community College have federal earnings or debt figures, largest graduating classes first. Earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, earnings measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Debt: graduates of 2018-19 and 2019-20. The national median is the same measure for every program in that field and credential in the U.S.
| Program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after | National median | Federal debt borrowed at this college (median) | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and General Studies, Associate's | $40,467 | $44,125, −8% | — | — |
| Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians, Undergraduate certificate | $53,044 | $45,268, +17% | — | — |
| Nursing (RN), Associate's | $73,910 | $80,813, −9% | — | — |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair, Undergraduate certificate | $45,656 | $51,586, −11% | — | — |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians, Associate's | $62,162 | $64,773, −4% | — | — |
| Welding and Machining, Undergraduate certificate | $45,380 | $48,702, −7% | — | — |
| Practical Nursing (LPN/LVN), Undergraduate certificate | $74,030 | $56,073, +32% | — | — |
| Interdisciplinary Studies, Associate's | $29,307 | $50,491, −42% | — | — |
| Dental Hygiene and Dental Support, Undergraduate certificate | $29,314 | $33,673, −13% | — | — |
What the job pays locally
- Nursing (RN) graduates train as registered nurses: median $77,080 in Alabama.
- Dental Hygiene and Dental Support graduates train as dental assistants: median $39,080 in Alabama.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: everyone working in the job, every experience level, not only recent graduates.
Median earnings of graduates who received federal student aid, worked, and were not enrolled in school; debt is the median federal loans borrowed at this college by graduates who borrowed (Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized and Grad PLUS; not Parent PLUS, private loans or interest). Programs with too few graduates are suppressed by the Department of Education. Monthly payment assumes a standard 10-year plan. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field-of-study data, 10 June 2026. Download every program (CSV). Same degree, different paycheck: what the national data show. Nursing graduates vs RN pay by state: the early-career benchmark.
Frequently asked questions
About Lawson State Community College
Built from CampusPin profile data. Always verify final admissions, cost, financial aid, and program details with the institution before applying. See our data methodology and data dictionary.
- Where is Lawson State Community College located?
- Lawson State Community College is located in Birmingham, AL, in the United States.
- What type of institution is Lawson State Community College?
- Lawson State Community College is a public community college based in AL. CampusPin classifies institutions as either four-year universities or two-year community colleges, with control labeled public or private.
- Is Lawson State Community College open admission?
- Yes. Lawson State Community College reports an open admission policy to the federal IPEDS survey (IPEDS, admission policy reported in the 2024-25 IC collection), which IPEDS defines as accepting any student who applies. Individual programs, often nursing and other health programs, can still set their own entry requirements, so check the program you want with the college.
- What is the tuition at Lawson State Community College?
- Lawson State Community College's published in-state tuition is approximately $5,040 per year (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25). This is the published price before financial aid; the net price most students actually pay is typically lower. Verify the current academic-year tuition with the institution before applying.
- How many students attend Lawson State Community College?
- Lawson State Community College reports total enrollment of approximately 3,453 students (undergraduate plus graduate) (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). Total enrollment is a useful sizing signal, see the institutional profile for additional breakdowns when available.
- How much does Lawson State Community College actually cost after financial aid?
- The average net price at Lawson State Community College is approximately $6,275 per year. Net price is the total cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships that never have to be repaid, so it is what students actually paid rather than the published sticker price. What families pay varies with income: students from families earning under $30,000 paid about $6,102 on average, and those from families earning $110,000 or more about $6,338. These are averages for students who received federal aid in a prior cohort, not a quote for any individual family. Run the institution's own Net Price Calculator for a figure specific to you.
- What is the graduation rate at Lawson State Community College?
- Lawson State Community College reports a graduation rate of approximately 27% (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021). This measures the share of a prior entering cohort who completed their degree within the federal tracking window. It reflects who enrolls as much as what the institution does, so it is not on its own a measure of teaching quality, and it is not comparable across institutions serving very different students.
- How much do graduates of Lawson State Community College earn?
- Median earnings approximately ten years after entry are $31,701 for students who received federal financial aid at Lawson State Community College. This reflects the mix of programs the institution offers and the students who enroll, not the effect of attending, and it covers aid recipients rather than all graduates.
- How should I verify final details about Lawson State Community College?
- CampusPin compiles institutional data from public datasets like IPEDS and the College Scorecard, plus institutional websites and editorial review. Before applying, paying a deposit, or making a final decision, confirm admissions requirements, current tuition, financial aid, deadlines, and program details directly with Lawson State Community College.
- How much do Liberal Arts and General Studies graduates from Lawson State Community College earn?
- Lawson State Community College's associate's graduates in Liberal Arts and General Studies earned a median $40,467 four years after graduating, 8% below the $44,125 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $26,759; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth.
- Does Lawson State Community College get a "lower earnings" warning on the FAFSA?
- No. In the Department of Education's March 2026 data, which the FAFSA uses now, Lawson State Community College's graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $46,935, above the $31,815 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 in Alabama, so first-year students who list it do not see the lower-earnings notice. The figure describes the whole institution, not any one program.
Fields this college awarded credentials in
The 14 largest of 28 fields Lawson State Community College reported, by credentials conferred in 2024-25, using the federal classification of each field. The level is the highest credential actually awarded, which is not always the one a field is best known for.
| Field | Awarded | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 136 | Associate's |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | 63 | Associate's (32 associate · 31 certificate) |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 60 | Associate's (28 associate · 32 certificate) |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 48 | Associate's |
| Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians | 42 | Certificate |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | 37 | Certificate |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | 30 | Certificate |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 26 | Associate's (22 associate · 4 certificate) |
| Precision Metal Working | 22 | Certificate |
| Design and Applied Arts | 21 | Certificate |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | 19 | Associate's (10 associate · 9 certificate) |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 18 | Associate's (9 associate · 9 certificate) |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | 18 | Associate's (10 associate · 8 certificate) |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 16 | Associate's |
Fields are as classified in the federal IPEDS completions collection, which records credentials already conferred. A field listed here was awarded in the reporting year; it does not confirm the program is currently admitting students, and a field CampusPin has no guide for is still shown under its official federal title. Confirm current offerings with the institution.
Explore more
Compare colleges side by side. Other colleges in Birmingham, AL. All colleges in Alabama. Alabama college costs by family income. Student debt at Alabama colleges. Computer science in Alabama. Business in Alabama. Nursing in Alabama. Psychology in Alabama. Engineering major guide.
Always verify final admissions, cost, financial aid, and program details with Lawson State Community College before applying.
Data sources & methodology
Reporting period: 2024. Last verified: June 10, 2026.
Facts on this profile of Lawson State Community College are compiled from federal datasets and the institution's own published information.
Sources used across this page
Not every source informs every figure. Each data point draws on the source appropriate to it see the relevant section and the data dictionary for field-level provenance.
IPEDS / NCES College Navigator
Federal enrollment, admissions, tuition, retention, and program data. Released annually with a 1–2 year lag.
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
Net price by income band, post-graduation earnings, and federal aid context.
Clery Act campus security reports
Annual campus security and fire-safety disclosures required of U.S. institutions.
Institutional websites
Each school's official admissions, registrar, and financial-aid pages are the authoritative source for current details.
Where a value is unavailable it is shown as unavailable, never as 0, free, or a negative judgment. Always confirm final details with the institution before applying.
Suggested citation
CampusPin. (2024). Lawson State Community College, college profile. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/schools/lawson-state-community-college
About this information
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