Lawson State Community College vs. Northwest Shoals Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Lawson State Community College in Birmingham, AL with Northwest Shoals Community College in Muscle Shoals, AL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Northwest Shoals Community College is larger than Lawson State Community College based on total student enrollment (4,665 students vs. 3,453 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lawson State Community College is located in Birmingham, AL (Midsize City setting); Northwest Shoals Community College is in Muscle Shoals, AL (Small City setting).
• Lawson State Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Northwest Shoals Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lawson State Community College 19:1; Northwest Shoals Community College 18:1.

Lawson State Community College vs. Northwest Shoals Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lawson State Community College or Northwest Shoals Community College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northwest Shoals Community College than Lawson State Community College ($3,054 vs. $6,578).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lawson State Community College are 52.4% lower than at Northwest Shoals Community College ($4,760 vs. $10,000).
• Northwest Shoals Community College is 1.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lawson State Community College (about $91 more per year; $5,131.00 vs. $5,040.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1% higher at Northwest Shoals Community College than at Lawson State Community College (about $91 more per year; $9,001.00 vs. $8,910.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lawson State Community College than at Northwest Shoals Community College (95% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lawson State Community College students is 1.8% larger than aid received by Northwest Shoals Community College students ($8,236 vs. $8,090).

Lawson State Community College vs. Northwest Shoals Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lawson State Community College or Northwest Shoals Community College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Northwest Shoals Community College and Lawson State Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lawson State Community College - Open admission; Northwest Shoals Community College - Open admission.

Lawson State Community College vs. Northwest Shoals Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lawson State Community College and Northwest Shoals Community College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Northwest Shoals Community College earn a median of about $3,000 more per year than Lawson State Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($29,900 vs. $26,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.