Do Students Succeed at Lawson State Community College?
Student success metrics for Lawson State Community College in Birmingham, AL: graduation, transfer, and retention data.
Student Success at Lawson State Community College at a Glance
Lawson State Community College is a public institution offering at least 2 but less than 4 years programs located in Birmingham, AL. Current enrollment is 3,453 students.
- 26.6% overall graduation rate (IPEDS)
- 23.9% of all entering students earn their award within 8 years
- 38% of exiters from its largest program (Registered Nursing Degree) were employed within 6 months — verified by the U.S. Department of Labor
- DOL-verified median earnings of $11,340 per quarter after exiting Registered Nursing Degree
- 574 graduates across 71 programs in 2024
- VA-approved for GI Bill benefits — 133 students used them here
Program-Level Results · Verified by the U.S. Department of Labor
Verified Program Outcomes
Completion and employment results reported to the U.S. Department of Labor for Lawson State Community College programs on the state Eligible Training Provider List. Missing values ("—") mean the state suppressed or did not report that metric — they never mean zero.
| Program | Completion rate | Employed 6 mo after exit | Employed 1 yr after exit | Median quarterly earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing Degree | 61% | 38% | 39% | $11,340 |
| Medication Aide | 99% | 14% | — | $8,241 |
| Automotive Service Specialties: Mercedes -Benz | 87% | — | — | — |
| Licensed Practical Nursing | 66% | 23% | 26% | $6,602 |
| Medication Aide Fast Track Program | 100% | 4% | — | $8,998 |
| Pharmacy Technician Assistant | 96% | 6% | — | $6,424 |
| Computer Science Degree | 60% | 20% | 20% | $7,800 |
| Welding Technology Long Certificate | 62% | — | — | — |
| Medical Office Administration/Medical Billing & Coding Concentration | 56% | 13% | 19% | $10,119 |
| Automotive Service Specialty: GM - ASEP | 88% | — | — | — |
| Culinary Arts & Hospitality Services Long Certificate Program | 96% | — | — | — |
| Dental Assisting Certificate | 84% | — | — | — |
| MSSC Certified Logistics Technician | 96% | — | — | — |
| Building Construction and Management Technology Degree | 50% | — | — | — |
| Plumbing Short Certificate Program | 83% | — | — | — |
| Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Long Certificate | 100% | — | — | — |
| Pre-Apprenticeship Lineworker Training Program | 96% | 19% | 21% | $12,294 |
| Electrical Technology Short Certificate Program | 62% | — | — | — |
| Welding Technology Degree | 74% | 16% | 16% | $8,762 |
| Welding Technology Short Certificate | 82% | — | — | — |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) | 83% | 17% | — | $12,931 |
| Industrial Electronics Degree Program | 81% | — | — | — |
| Culinary Arts & Hospitality Services Short Certificate Program | 93% | — | — | — |
| Diesel Mechanics - Medium-Heavy Truck Tech/Degree Program | 81% | — | — | — |
| Automotive Service Specialty: Ford Asset | 86% | — | — | — |
| Hospitality Services Management/AAS Degree | 57% | — | — | — |
| MSSC Certified Production Technician | 84% | — | — | — |
| Automotive Mechanic/Technician Degree | 100% | — | — | — |
| Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Degree | 78% | — | — | — |
| Building Construction and Management Technology Short Certificate | 76% | — | — | — |
| Automotive Manufacturing, Specialty: Logistic and Supply Chain Technology, Short Certificate Program | 100% | — | — | — |
| Emergency Medical Services Technician Program | 81% | 15% | 15% | $6,012 |
| Hospitality Services Management/Long Certificate | 100% | — | — | — |
| Hospitality Services Management/Short Certificate | 100% | — | — | — |
| Certified Nursing Assistant | 67% | — | — | — |
| Computer Science-Short Certificate | 100% | — | — | — |
| Automotive Manufacturing Technology Degree | 63% | — | — | — |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, WIOA participant outcomes (trainingproviderresults.gov), PY 2023.
College-Wide Statistics · IPEDS Federal Survey
What Are the Student Outcomes at Lawson State Community College?
Unlike the program-level results above, the figures below cover all students at Lawson State Community College, tracked over eight years by the federal IPEDS survey.
Overall Completion Rate
23.9%
Working Student Success
29%
Transfer Out Rate
28.9%
Still Enrolled Rate
1.6%
How Lawson State Community College Compares
Lawson State Community College's 24% completion rate is below the typical trade-college range (which usually falls in the 30–50% band). However, 29% transfer to continue elsewhere — for trade schools, transfer often reflects intentional pathway design. 2% are still enrolled. It's worth asking the school about retention support and program-length structure if completion matters to your decision.
What Happens After Students Enroll at Lawson State Community College?
Eight-Year Student Outcomes
Eight-year outcomes for students who entered Lawson State Community College. This shows what happened to students in their cohort by the end of the tracking period.
Understanding These Outcomes
Completed: Students who earned a certificate, diploma, or degree from this institution.
Still Enrolled: Students who remain enrolled at this institution after the tracking period.
Transferred Out: Students who transferred to another institution and may have completed there.
No Award: Students who left without earning a credential and are not enrolled elsewhere.
Combined completion and transfer rate of 41.0% indicates strong student success pathways.
These outcomes track what happened to students eight years after they first enrolled. Completion rates include certificates, diplomas, and degrees earned at this institution. Transfer rates show students who continued their education at other colleges. Understanding these pathways helps prospective students set realistic expectations and plan their educational journey.
What Are the Transfer and Continuation Patterns at Lawson State Community College?
Success Rates by Student Entry Pathway
Comparing completion rates across different student entry pathways helps understand which groups succeed and how transfer experience impacts outcomes.
Key Insights
Transfer students outperform first-time students by 6.0 percentage points, suggesting the institution provides strong support for transfer pathways and recognizes prior learning effectively.
Combined 30.0% transfer-out rate suggests this institution may serve as a stepping stone for students continuing their education elsewhere.
Cohort Composition
Understanding Student Pathways
First-Time Students: Beginning postsecondary education for the first time at this institution.
Transfer-In Students: Previously attended another postsecondary institution before enrolling here.
Continuing Students: Returned to this institution after a break in enrollment.
Completion rates tracked over 8 years from initial entry.
Different student entry pathways lead to varying success rates. First-time students enter directly from high school or are starting college for the first time. Transfer students bring prior college experience and credits. Understanding these patterns helps you identify which pathway aligns best with your situation and predict your likelihood of success.
What Are the Completion Rates by Student Type at Lawson State Community College?
What does this mean for you? These completion rates show how different types of students succeed at this institution. Notably, part-time students have a higher success rate here (29% vs 20% for full-time), which is great news if you plan to work while studying. This pattern is common at trade colleges where programs are designed to accommodate working adults. First-time students are those new to college, while transfer students have attended another institution before.
What Are the Cohort Outcomes Over Time at Lawson State Community College?
Tracking outcomes for the 2015-16 cohort of 1,659 students
After 4 Years
After 6 Years
After 8 Years (Final)
Final Student Status
Completion Breakdown by Cohort
Part-time First-time Students
Part-time First-time Transfer Students
All First-time Transfer Students
All Part-time Students
Full-time First-time Transfer Students
All First-time Students
Full-time First-time Students
Part-time Non-first-time Transfer Students
Time to Completion
About This Data
Outcome measures data tracks student cohorts over 4, 6, and 8-year periods. Data is sourced from IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) and reflects the most recent available reporting year.