Lawson State Community College
- Graduation Rate
- 26% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $31,701 D
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $6,275 A-
- 63% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 2,900
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 29.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $29.6 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $29.6 over 20 years. Net gain: $716,778.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduate earnings fall 22% below the national college median.
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Graduation of 26% — 54% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $29.6 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Lawson State Community College
Lawson State Community College is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 2,900
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HBCU
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Mechanic & Repair Tech
Why students choose Lawson State Community College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $6,275 a year after grants and scholarships — 63% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $31,701 ten years after enrolling — 22% below the typical college.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 0.43 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Lawson State Community College has a net price of just $6,275, making it an accessible choice for many students seeking affordable higher education. This low cost opens doors for individuals pursuing degrees in popular fields like health professions, culinary services, and business.
The college has a graduation rate of 26%, which highlights the challenges some students face in completing their degrees. However, the institution serves a diverse student body, with 60% of students receiving Pell Grants. This suggests that many students are from low-income backgrounds, and while graduation rates may be low, there is a significant effort to support those who are economically disadvantaged.
Graduates from Lawson State Community College earn an average of $31,701 within ten years of completing their programs. This median income indicates a solid return on investment for students, especially given the low cost of attendance. Students who thrive here are likely those who appreciate a supportive community and are focused on practical programs that lead to immediate job opportunities.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Lawson State Community College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Lawson State Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Lawson State Community College, located in Birmingham, Alabama, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 26%.
- Retention Rate
- 59%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 48%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,547
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 16:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.36
- First-Gen Students
- 47%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Lawson State Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Lawson State Community College is $8,910, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $6,275. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,102 after need-based grants.
- In-State Tuition
- $5,040
- Out-of-State
- $8,910
- Avg Net Price
- $6,275
- Pell Grant Rate
- 60%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 0%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $6,102
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $5,464
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $8,151
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Lawson State Community College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Lawson State Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Lawson State Community College report median earnings of $31,701, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $27,733
- 8 Years
- $29,498
- 10 Years
- $31,701
- Earning > $25K
- 36%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (95)
- 14%
- 100% (95)
- 14%
- 100% (95)
- 14%
- 100% (95)
- 14%
How Lawson Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Lawson State Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Lawson State Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $6,275/year ($25,100 total). Graduates earn $31,701 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $741,878 in total earnings — a net gain of $716,778 (29.6× your investment).. With a 26% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $25,100
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $741,878
- Net Return
- $716,778
- ROI Multiple
- 29.6×
- Cost Per Year
- $6,275
- Graduation Rate
- 26%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $599,017
- Federal Grants
- $5,264,073
- Investment Income
- $90,718
Top Programs
The fields Lawson State Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Humanities 20%
- Health Professions 19% $60,427 early-career
- Business & Marketing 9%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 8% $35,271 early-career
- Culinary & Personal Services 8%
- Precision Production 3% $50,635 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 3%
- Computer Science & IT 3%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Lawson State Community College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Lawson State Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Lawson State Community College, located in Birmingham, Alabama, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 26%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Lawson State Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Lawson State Community College is $8,910, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $6,275. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,102 after need-based grants.
Is Lawson State Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Lawson State Community College report median earnings of $31,701, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Lawson State Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at Lawson State Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.43, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.07). Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Lawson State Community College.
- Los Angeles Southwest CollegeLos Angeles, CA · Close peer34% grad $32,172 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar net price
- Jackson State Community CollegeJackson, TN · Close peer23% grad $35,224 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size · similar net price
- Jones County Junior CollegeEllisville, MS · Close peer38% grad $33,377 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar net price
- Meridian Community CollegeMeridian, MS · Close peer39% grad $31,002 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Northeast Mississippi Community CollegeBooneville, MS · Close peer35% grad $34,081 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Central Carolina Community CollegeSanford, NC · Close peer42% grad $33,525 earnWhy: similar earnings
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Lawson State Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at Lawson State Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.43, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.07). Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note