Lawson State Community College vs. Shelton State Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Shelton State Community College is larger than Lawson State Community College based on total student enrollment (4,601 students vs. 3,453 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Lawson State Community College vs. Shelton State Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lawson State Community College or Shelton State 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 Lawson State Community College than Shelton State Community College ($6,578 vs. $14,539).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lawson State Community College are 60.3% lower than at Shelton State Community College ($4,760 vs. $12,000).
• Shelton State Community College is 1.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lawson State Community College (about $87 more per year; $5,127.00 vs. $5,040.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1% higher at Shelton State Community College than at Lawson State Community College (about $87 more per year; $8,997.00 vs. $8,910.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lawson State Community College than at Shelton State Community College (95% vs. 58%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lawson State Community College students is 16.2% larger than aid received by Shelton State Community College students ($8,236 vs. $7,087).

Lawson State Community College vs. Shelton State Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lawson State Community College or Shelton State 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 Shelton State 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; Shelton State Community College - Open admission.

Lawson State Community College vs. Shelton State Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lawson State Community College and Shelton State 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 Shelton State Community College earn a median of about $2,100 more per year than Lawson State Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($29,000 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.