Career Training Path › Alabama › Lawson State Community College
Lawson State Community College
Birmingham, Alabama · Public community college · Training programs available:
Address: 3060 Wilson Rd SW, Birmingham, AL 35221 · Phone: (205) 925-2515 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Lawson State Community College is a public trade school in Birmingham, Alabama offering welding, dental assistant, and LPN programs, accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Lawson State's completion rate is 26.6%, below the state average of 45.5%, and median graduate earnings 10 years after entry are $31,701, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for this campus; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid can be used here, and about 59.9% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $36,710 | $48,490 | $60,120 |
| Dental assistants | $30,840 | $39,080 | $47,100 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $39,880 | $57,030 | $61,800 |
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $31,030 | $45,640 | $61,560 |
| Chefs and head cooks | $39,940 | $62,400 | $74,130 |
| Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists | $21,300 | $29,150 | $37,230 |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters | $37,720 | $58,670 | $64,730 |
| Radiologic technologists and technicians | $41,060 | $60,700 | $71,620 |
| Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists | $37,470 | $50,470 | $61,030 |
| Barbers | $26,380 | $29,120 | $29,120 |
| Construction laborers | $23,980 | $36,900 | $45,240 |
| Nursing assistants | $28,330 | $34,140 | $36,390 |
| Emergency medical technicians | $28,620 | $37,810 | $44,210 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 21 | $42,615 | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 14 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 12 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Certificate, 1–2 years | 12 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 11 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 11 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 8 | $42,615 | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Associate degree | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Associate degree | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 5 | not reported | $29,685 | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 5 | not reported | $29,685 | not reported |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | Associate degree | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 4 | not reported | $29,685 | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 4 | not reported | $29,685 | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 3 | not reported | $29,685 | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 2 | not reported | $29,685 | 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
Lawson State Community College is a public trade and career training campus located in Birmingham, Alabama. It participates in federal Title IV financial aid, meaning students may use FAFSA, Pell Grants, and federal loans to help cover costs. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, with nursing programs additionally accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Across its 23 program offerings, the top trade programs by completions are welding schools, dental assistant schools, and LPN/LVN programs.
According to federal data, Lawson State's completion rate is 26.6%, which is below the state average of 45.5%. Median earnings for graduates 10 years after entry are reported at $31,701. About 59.9% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a large share of the student body qualifies for need-based aid. Median debt of graduates, annual cost of attendance, and locale-specific completion nuances beyond the state comparison are not reported for this campus in federal data.
With a mix of shorter certificate-style trade programs like welding and dental assisting alongside longer LPN training, this campus may suit both students seeking quick entry into a trade and those pursuing more extensive healthcare training; program length details themselves are not reported here. Prospective students, including career changers, should verify accreditation status and outcome data directly through the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and by contacting the school, since not all figures relevant to a specific program are captured in this summary.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Lawson State offers 23 programs across families including welding, dental assisting, LPN/LVN, auto mechanics, culinary, cosmetology, plumbing, radiology tech, diesel mechanics, barbering, construction trades, CNA, and EMT training. The top programs by completions are welding schools, dental assistant schools, and LPN/LVN programs.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, Lawson State is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, with its nursing programs also 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 students may apply for FAFSA-based aid including Pell Grants and federal loans.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 26.6%, which is below the Alabama state average of 45.5%, according to federal data.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Median debt of graduates is not reported for this campus in federal data. Check the College Scorecard link or contact the school directly for more detail.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are reported at $31,701 per federal data.
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 for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Lawson State is a public institution, which typically means lower tuition for in-state residents and eligibility for state-level funding, in addition to federal aid.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program length is not reported in the available data; contact the school at (205) 925-2515 or visit lawsonstate.edu for specific program timelines.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation status and outcome data through the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?101569, or contact the school directly.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The campus offers a range of program families, including shorter career-focused options like welding and dental assisting alongside longer LPN training, but specific scheduling or adult-learner accommodations are not reported in this data; contact the school to ask.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Lawson State Community College at (205) 925-2515 or through its website, https://www.lawsonstate.edu/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
This data does not include comparisons with other nearby schools; consult the College Scorecard link to compare completion rates and earnings across institutions.
Other trade and career schools in Birmingham, AL
- Fortis Institute-BirminghamBirmingham, AL · 34% completion
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- Jefferson State Community CollegeBirmingham, AL · 26% completion
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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.