Lawson State Community College

Lawson State Community College is a public two-year institution located in Birmingham, Alabama, with an enrollment of approximately 2,900 students. The college offers career and technical programs across a range of fields, including construction management, dental hygiene, industrial machinery mechanics, radiologic technology, and plumbing, among others.

In-state tuition is $5,040 per year, while out-of-state students pay $8,910 per year. The average annual net price — the total estimated cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, and living expenses, after grant and scholarship aid is applied — is $6,275. For some students, this figure may exceed published tuition because it reflects full living costs, not tuition alone. Nearly 60% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating that a substantial portion of the student body qualifies for need-based federal aid. Notably, none of the student population takes out federal student loans, meaning students at this institution are financing their education without federal borrowing.

Median earnings stand at $31,701 annually, measured ten years after initial enrollment. This figure is calculated across all federally aided students who enrolled at the college, including those who did not complete a credential — it is not limited to graduates. As a result, actual earnings for students who complete a program may differ from this figure.

Lawson State serves a largely career-focused student population, with programs designed to prepare students for entry into specific trades and health care fields. Fields represented include energy auditing, physician assisting, social work, and radiologic technology, alongside skilled trades such as plumbing and industrial machinery mechanics.