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Jefferson County Courthouse in Bessemer, AlabamaPhoto: Rudi Weikard · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near Bessemer

Lawson State Community College is 7.3 miles from Bessemer

No college sits inside Bessemer’s boundary, but Lawson State Community College’s campus in Birmingham, with 2,621 students on campus, is 7.3 miles from the center of town. About 5% of Bessemer’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Alabama (6%).

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Bessemer. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
6
25,373 students on campus
Nearest college
7.3 mi
Lawson State
Residents in college
5%
About the same as AL (6%)
Nearest community college
7.3 mi
Lawson State · $5,040 tuition
Nearest public university
13.6 mi
University of Alabama at Birmingham · $9,098 in-state
Median household income
$40K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Bessemer

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A community college 7.3 miles awayLawson State Community College has 2,621 students on campus in Birmingham, 27% of whom graduate within three years.In-state price at University of Alabama at BirminghamLiving in Alabama, the University of Alabama at Birmingham charges $9,098 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $22,562. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 5% of residentsAbout the same as Alabama (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Bessemer

Four private colleges within 12.2 miles, one public college within 13.6 miles, and Lawson State Community College 7.3 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamSamford UniversityLawson StateBessemer
University or collegeCommunity college
Lawson State Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,621 on campus · 7.3 mi · Birmingham$6knet price27%graduate$32kearningsTuition and fees: $5,040 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Fortis Institute-BirminghamUniversity or college · For-profit · 339 on campus · 8 mi · Birmingham$26knet price34%graduate$33kearningsEarnings are reported for all 4 campuses that file with it.Miles CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,053 on campus · 8.5 mi · Fairfield$14knet price16%graduate$33kearningsHerzing University-BirminghamUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 282 on campus · 10.5 mi · Birmingham93%admitted$20knet price12%graduate$37kearningsEarnings are reported for all 11 campuses that file with it.Samford UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 5,725 on campus · 12.2 mi · Birmingham82%admitted$33knet price77%graduate$58kearningsUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamUniversity or college · Public · 15,353 on campus · 13.6 mi · Birmingham88%admitted$19knet price64%graduate$55kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $30–48k, where Bessemer’s median household income ($39,613) falls.

Lawson State Community College7.3 mi · Birmingham · sticker $14,895 · tuition $5,040$5,464a year
Miles College8.5 mi · Fairfield · sticker $21,154$13,677a year
University of Alabama at Birmingham13.6 mi · Birmingham · sticker $28,145$15,500a year
Herzing University-Birmingham10.5 mi · Birmingham · sticker $27,750$17,909a year
Samford University12.2 mi · Birmingham · sticker $57,456$24,812a year
Fortis Institute-Birmingham8 mi · Birmingham · sticker $32,927$26,309a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Bessemer: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Lawson StateFortis Institute-BirminghamMiles CollegeHerzing University-BirminghamSamford UniversityUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Alabama at Birmingham64% graduate$55k earnings$22k typical debt
Samford University77% graduate$58k earnings$20k typical debt
Lawson State Community College27% graduate$32k earnings
Miles College16% graduate$33k earnings$31k typical debt
Fortis Institute-Birmingham34% graduate$33k earnings*$12k typical debt
Herzing University-Birmingham12% graduate$37k earnings*$22k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Fortis Institute-Birmingham (4); Herzing University-Birmingham (11).

Questions about college near Bessemer

Is Bessemer a college town?

No. About 5 of every 100 Bessemer residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Alabama (6). The nearest campus, Lawson State Community College, is 7.3 miles away in Birmingham.

What colleges are near Bessemer?

Within 15 miles: Lawson State Community College (7.3 miles, 2,621 students on campus), Fortis Institute-Birmingham (8 miles, 339), Miles College (8.5 miles, 1,053), Herzing University-Birmingham (10.5 miles, 282), Samford University (12.2 miles, 5,725) and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (13.6 miles, 15,353).

What is the closest community college to Bessemer, and what does it cost?

Lawson State Community College in Birmingham, 7.3 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,040 a year for Alabama residents; the federal net price, $6,275, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does the University of Alabama at Birmingham cost if we live in Alabama?

Tuition and fees are $9,098 a year in-state and $22,562 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $16,172 (under $30,000 income) to $22,597 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Bessemer. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →