Lake Michigan College
#5 Best Psychology Colleges in Michigan- Graduation Rate
- 22% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $34,466 D+
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $6,680 A-
- 61% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 2,105
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 29.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $29.3 over 20 years. Ranked #5 in Best Psychology Colleges in Michigan.
Every $1 spent returns $29.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $756,205.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 22% — 62% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $29.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Lake Michigan College
Lake Michigan College is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 2,105
- Setting
- Rural
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Criminal Justice
Why students choose Lake Michigan College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $6,680 a year after grants and scholarships — 61% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $34,466 ten years after enrolling — 15% below the typical college, against $9,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.3% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 58% nationally for mobility. High social capital (0.84 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Lake Michigan College is an inviting option for students looking for a close-knit community and practical programs. With around 2,100 students, it offers a personalized learning environment. Those interested in fields like Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Precision Production, and Visual & Performing Arts will find relevant courses designed to prepare them for the workforce or further education.
After graduation, students can expect to earn around $34,466 within ten years. This figure reflects a pathway to stable employment, especially for those who engage deeply with their studies. The college’s affordability stands out, with a net price of just $6,680 after financial aid. This makes it accessible for many, particularly given that 26% of students are receiving Pell Grants, which can help lower the costs even further.
When considering the financial aspects, the median debt for graduates is $9,000, which is manageable compared to many other institutions. Students who thrive here typically take advantage of the supportive environment and hands-on learning opportunities. This is a place for those ready to commit to their education while keeping an eye on future career prospects and financial stability.
Rankings
- #5 Best Psychology Colleges in Michigan
- #10 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Michigan
- #20 Most Affordable Colleges in Michigan
- #21 Best Nursing Colleges in Michigan
- #23 Best Computer Science Colleges in Michigan
- #23 Best Data Science Colleges in Michigan
- #29 Best Online Colleges in Michigan
- #32 Best Colleges in Michigan
Can I Get In?
How selective Lake Michigan College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Lake Michigan College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Benton Harbor, Michigan, Lake Michigan College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 22%.
- Retention Rate
- 84%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,026
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 13:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.66
- First-Gen Students
- 44%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Lake Michigan College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Lake Michigan College is $7,755, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $6,680. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,580 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $5,445
- Out-of-State
- $7,755
- Avg Net Price
- $6,680
- Median Debt
- $9,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 26%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 13%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $5,580
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $5,013
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $7,602
- Family Income $110K+
- $12,465
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Lake Michigan College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Lake Michigan College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Lake Michigan College report median earnings of $34,466, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $30,846
- 8 Years
- $32,717
- 10 Years
- $34,466
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.26x
- Earning > $25K
- 41%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (49)
- 14%
- 100% (49)
- 14%
- 100% (49)
- 14%
- 100% (49)
- 14%
How Lake Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Lake Michigan College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Lake Michigan College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $6,680/year ($26,720 total). Graduates earn $34,466 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $782,925 in total earnings — a net gain of $756,205 (29.3× your investment). The median debt is $9,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 22% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $26,720
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $782,925
- Net Return
- $756,205
- ROI Multiple
- 29.3×
- Cost Per Year
- $6,680
- Median Debt
- $9,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 22%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Lake Michigan College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Lake Michigan College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.33%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 14% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 9.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $69,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.33%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 9.5%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 14.0%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $94,834
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $2,040,049
- Investment Income
- $-2,198,233
Top Programs
The fields Lake Michigan College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Humanities 32%
- Health Professions 21% $66,496 early-career
- Business & Marketing 15%
- Criminal Justice 5%
- Computer Science & IT 3%
- Psychology 3%
- Precision Production 3%
- Visual & Performing Arts 1%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Lake Michigan College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Software Developer$132,270 · 25% growthVulnerable 40
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Lake Michigan College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Benton Harbor, Michigan, Lake Michigan College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 22%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Lake Michigan College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Lake Michigan College is $7,755, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $6,680. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,580 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,000 in federal student loans.
Is Lake Michigan College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Lake Michigan College report median earnings of $34,466, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Lake Michigan College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Lake Michigan College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.33%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 14% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 9.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $69,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Lake Michigan College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at Lake Michigan College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.84, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.12). Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Lake Michigan College.
- Jackson State Community CollegeJackson, TN · Close peer23% grad $35,224 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Mid Michigan CollegeHarrison, MI · Close peer23% grad $37,319 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Mitchell Community CollegeStatesville, NC · Close peer23% grad $33,298 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Cleveland State Community CollegeCleveland, TN · Close peer33% grad $36,671 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- John A Logan CollegeCarterville, IL · Close peer43% grad $34,096 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
- South Piedmont Community CollegePolkton, NC · Close peer37% grad $37,308 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Lake Michigan College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at Lake Michigan College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.84, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.12). Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note