Lake Superior College
- Graduation Rate
- 40% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $46,449 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $15,492 C+
- Close to the national average
- Enrollment
- 2,471
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 17.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $17.5 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $17.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,023,409.
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 40% — 30% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $17.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Lake Superior College Matters
Lake Superior College is a public community college in Duluth, MN and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
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
- 2,471
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Criminal Justice, Mechanic & Repair Tech
Why students choose Lake Superior 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 $15,492 a year after grants and scholarships — 10% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $46,449 ten years after enrolling — 14% above the typical college, against $12,775 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.23 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of around 2,471 students, Lake Superior College in Duluth, MN, is a great fit for those looking for a focused, community-oriented education. The college stands out for its practical programs, particularly in Health Professions, Humanities, Construction Trades, Mechanic & Repair Tech, and Criminal Justice. If you're interested in hands-on learning and preparing for a specific career, you’ll find plenty of options here.
Graduating from Lake Superior College can lead to solid earnings over time, with a 10-year median income of $46,449. This suggests that many graduates are finding rewarding jobs in their fields. The affordability of education here is also notable, as it allows students to invest in their future without overwhelming debt.
When it comes to the financial side, the net price after aid is approximately $15,492, which is manageable for most students. The median debt sits at $12,775, indicating that many graduates leave with a reasonable financial load. Those who tend to thrive here are often those who appreciate a close-knit learning environment and are motivated to pursue practical skills that lead directly to employment.
Rankings
- #11 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Minnesota
- #33 Most Affordable Colleges in Minnesota
- #33 Best Computer Science Colleges in Minnesota
- #33 Best Data Science Colleges in Minnesota
- #37 Best Nursing Colleges in Minnesota
- #42 Best Business Colleges in Minnesota
- #48 Best Online Colleges in Minnesota
- #50 Best Colleges in Minnesota
Can I Get In?
How selective Lake Superior 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 Superior College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Duluth, Minnesota, Lake Superior College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 40%.
- Retention Rate
- 61%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 41%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,141
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 19:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.34
- First-Gen Students
- 28%
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 Superior College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Lake Superior College is $5,785, 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 $15,492. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,326 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,775 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $5,785
- Out-of-State
- $5,785
- Avg Net Price
- $15,492
- Median Debt
- $12,775
- Pell Grant Rate
- 19%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 21%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $12,326
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $12,640
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $14,792
- Family Income $110K+
- $19,519
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 Superior 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 Superior College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Lake Superior College earn a median of $46,449, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $40,681
- 8 Years
- $43,647
- 10 Years
- $46,449
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.28x
- Earning > $25K
- 61%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (99)
- 22%
- 100% (99)
- 22%
- 100% (99)
- 22%
- 100% (99)
- 22%
How Lake Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Lake Superior College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Lake Superior College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $15,492/year ($61,968 total). Graduates earn $46,449 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,085,377 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,023,409 (17.5× your investment). The median debt is $12,775, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 40% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $61,968
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,085,377
- Net Return
- $1,023,409
- ROI Multiple
- 17.5×
- Cost Per Year
- $15,492
- Median Debt
- $12,775
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 40%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $820,395
- Investment Income
- $50,000
Top Programs
The fields Lake Superior 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 31% $60,832 early-career
- Criminal Justice 9%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 6% $36,264 early-career
- Construction Trades 6% $53,741 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 4% $50,714 early-career
- Business & Marketing 4% $39,121 early-career
- Transportation 2%
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 Superior 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
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Lake Superior College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Duluth, Minnesota, Lake Superior College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 40%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Lake Superior College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Lake Superior College is $5,785, 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 $15,492. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,326 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,775 in federal student loans.
Is Lake Superior College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Lake Superior College earn a median of $46,449, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is Lake Superior College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Lake Superior College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.23, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.07). Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Lake Superior College.
- Southeast Technical CollegeSioux Falls, SD · Close peer56% grad $46,709 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
- Iowa Western Community CollegeCouncil Bluffs, IA · Close peer40% grad $42,793 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Minnesota State Community and Technical CollegeFergus Falls, MN · Close peer47% grad $45,591 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Minnesota North CollegeHibbing, MN · Close peer42% grad $45,570 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Rochester Community and Technical CollegeRochester, MN · Close peer27% grad $45,287 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar net price · same state
- St Cloud Technical and Community CollegeSaint Cloud, MN · Close peer44% grad $46,874 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · same state
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Lake Superior College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Lake Superior College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.23, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.07). Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note