Head-to-head comparison
Alabama State University vs Lawson State Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Montgomery, AL
Alabama State University
- Net price / year
- $20,435
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,502
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Birmingham, AL
Lawson State Community College
- Net price / year
- $6,275
- Earnings, 10 years
- $31,701
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Lawson State Community College comes closer — median earnings $31,701 against a $12,550 total, vs $34,502 at Alabama State University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Alabama State University | Lawson State Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $20,435 | $6,275 |
| Total net cost | $81,740 | $12,550 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,502 | $31,701 |
| Median debt | $31,000 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$358,900 | -$345,730 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Alabama State University or Lawson State Community College?
Lawson State Community College, at $6,275 a year after aid versus $20,435 — a gap of $14,160 a year, or $69,190 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Alabama State University or Lawson State Community College graduates earn more?
Alabama State University graduates report a median $34,502 ten years after entry, $2,801 more than the $31,701 at Lawson State Community College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
30% of students finish at Alabama State University, against 27% at Lawson State Community College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.