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Colleges / AL / Birmingham
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Lawson State Community College

Public Birmingham, AL · Urban · Southeast · 73% data reported · Agent Insights · Claim Your School's Profile ➜
26%
Graduation Rate
$31,701
Earnings (10yr)
$6,275
Net Price
2,900
Enrollment
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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, Culinary & Personal Services, Business & Marketing

Why students choose Lawson State Community College

Outstanding value
Low net price against strong graduate earnings
HBCU community
A historically Black college with a strong leadership pipeline
Strength in Humanities
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C
Top 52% overall
D
Earnings
$31,701 median
B+
Value
5.1× net price
A-
Affordability
$6,275/yr net
F
Graduation
26% graduate
D
Diversity
0.36 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

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

1

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.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

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 school reports a graduation rate of 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%
2

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

When weighing the true cost of attending Lawson State Community College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $8,910 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $6,275 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,102 after need-based grants.

$5,040
In-State Tuition
$8,910
Out-of-State
$6,275
Avg Net Price
60%
Pell Grant Rate
0%
Federal Loan Rate

What Families Actually Pay

$6,102
Family Income $0–$30K
$5,464
Family Income $30K–$48K
$8,151
Family Income $48K–$75K
3

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

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; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.

$27,733
6 Years After Entry
$29,498
8 Years
$31,701
10 Years
36%
Earning > $25K

Earnings Trajectory

$27,733 6yr $29,498 8yr $31,701 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

14%
100% (95)
14%
100% (95)
14%
100% (95)
14%
100% (95)

How Lawson Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation26%Earnings 10yr$32KNet Price$6KRetention59%Pell Grant Rate60%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$6K$0-30K$5K$30-48K$8K$48-75K

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.

$25,100
Total Cost (4yr)
$741,878
Projected 20yr Earnings
$716,778
Net Return
29.6×
ROI Multiple
$6,275
Cost Per Year
26%
Graduation Rate
4

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

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, with an economic connectedness score of 0.43 (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.

0.43
Economic Connectedness
Cross-class friendships
0.07
Friending Bias
Lower = more inclusive
3.0%
Volunteering Rate
0.98
Support Ratio
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

$599,017
Endowment
Total Expenses
$5,264,073
Federal Grants
$90,718
Investment Income

Top Programs

The fields Lawson State Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.

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 school reports a graduation rate of roughly 26%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Lawson State Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +

When weighing the true cost of attending Lawson State Community College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $8,910 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $6,275 for families who qualify for aid. 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; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.

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, with an economic connectedness score of 0.43 (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.

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