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Lake Michigan College

Public Benton Harbor, MI · Rural · Great Lakes · 87% data reported · Agent Insights · Claim Your School's Profile ➜
22%
Graduation Rate
$34,466
Earnings (10yr)
$6,680
Net Price
2,105
Enrollment
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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, Precision Production

Why students choose Lake Michigan College

Outstanding value
Low net price against strong graduate earnings
Strength in Humanities
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C
Top 47% overall
D+
Earnings
$34,466 median
B+
Value
5.2× net price
A-
Affordability
$6,680/yr net
F
Graduation
22% graduate
C-
Social Mobility
1.3% climb Q1→Q5
B-
Diversity
0.66 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

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

1

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.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

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 school reports a graduation rate of 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%
2

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

When weighing the true cost of attending Lake Michigan College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $7,755 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $6,680 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,580 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $9,000.

$5,445
In-State Tuition
$7,755
Out-of-State
$6,680
Avg Net Price
$9,000
Median Debt
26%
Pell Grant Rate
13%
Federal Loan Rate

What Families Actually Pay

$5,580
Family Income $0–$30K
$5,013
Family Income $30K–$48K
$7,602
Family Income $48K–$75K
$12,465
Family Income $110K+
3

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

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; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.

$30,846
6 Years After Entry
$32,717
8 Years
$34,466
10 Years
0.26x
Debt-to-Earnings
41%
Earning > $25K

Earnings Trajectory

$30,846 6yr $32,717 8yr $34,466 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

14%
100% (49)
14%
100% (49)
14%
100% (49)
14%
100% (49)

How Lake Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation22%Earnings 10yr$34KNet Price$7KRetention84%Median Debt$9KPell Grant Rate26%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$6K$0-30K$5K$30-48K$8K$48-75K$12K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%14.0%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%9.5%MOBILITY1.33%
4

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 genuine 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 useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.

1.33%
Mobility Rate
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
9.5%
Success Rate
If bottom 20% get in
14.0%
From Bottom 20%
Share of students
$69,800
Parent Median Income

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, with an economic connectedness score of 0.84 (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.

0.84
Economic Connectedness
Cross-class friendships
0.12
Friending Bias
Lower = more inclusive
7.9%
Volunteering Rate
0.99
Support Ratio
Community support

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Endowment
Total Expenses
$2,040,049
Federal Grants
$-2,198,233
Investment Income

Top Programs

The fields Lake Michigan College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.

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 school reports a graduation rate of roughly 22%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Lake Michigan College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +

When weighing the true cost of attending Lake Michigan College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $7,755 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $6,680 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,580 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $9,000.

Is Lake Michigan College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +

Ten years out, alumni of Lake Michigan College report median earnings of $34,466; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.

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 genuine 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 useful read on 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, with an economic connectedness score of 0.84 (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.

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