Lake Superior College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Duluth, Minnesota. It enrolls 2,471 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
55/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes40
Value41
Affordability22
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Lake Superior College generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Lake Superior College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $15,492 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$15,492
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
19%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
21%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$5,785
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,839
Books & Supplies
$1,500
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,683
Total Cost of Attendance
$19,723
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$12,326
$30,001 – $48,000
$12,640
$48,001 – $75,000
$14,792
$75,001 – $110,000
$17,372
Over $110,000
$19,519
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,25010%percentile
$4,07325%percentile
$12,775Medianpercentile
$16,50075%percentile
$26,06990%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $9,649
↓ $3,126
No Pell $7,475
↓ $5,300
Dependent students $6,500
↓ $6,275
Independent students $11,762
↓ $1,013
Female students $9,500
↓ $3,275
Male students $7,948
↓ $4,827
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,149, less than completers ($12,775), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
31% of full-time students who enrolled at Lake Superior College graduate within six years, and 63% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
31%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
63%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Lake Superior College earn a median of $46,449 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$46,449
Earning > $25K
72%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$36,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$47,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$34,900
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$45,000
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$46,500
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,400, about 24% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
19.2 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 82% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Lake Superior College is home to 2,471 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 53% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
2,471
Part-Time
53%
First-Generation
28%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 80.9%2,000
Other 7.3%179
Hispanic 5.3%130
Black 3.1%77
Asian 1.1%27
International 1.1%27
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Lake Superior College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityDuluth, Minnesota
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
21%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Lake Superior College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
42 distinct programs across
13 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Lake Superior College is 19:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
19:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$9,736
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$1.8M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$74,003
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
75 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Instructors
75
100%
$74,003
Pros & Cons of Lake Superior College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Lake Superior College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Open admissions
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, Lake Superior College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Lake Superior College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Lake Superior College.
Is Lake Superior College hard to get into?
Lake Superior College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Lake Superior College?
Lake Superior College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Lake Superior College cost?
The average net price after aid at Lake Superior College is $15,492 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Lake Superior College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $46,449 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $15,492 per year. That's roughly 3.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Lake Superior College known for?
Lake Superior College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Nursing, Allied Health Diagnostic. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Lake Superior College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Lake Superior College are $46,449, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Lake Superior College accredited?
Yes. Lake Superior College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Lake Superior College?
Lake Superior College enrolls 2,471 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Lake Superior College?
Lake Superior College graduates 31% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Lake Superior College a public or private college?
Lake Superior College is a Public institution.
Where is Lake Superior College located?
Lake Superior College is located in Duluth, Minnesota.
What programs does Lake Superior College offer?
Lake Superior College offers 42 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Nursing, Allied Health Diagnostic.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Lake Superior College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Lake Superior College is 19:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Minnesota
Other colleges in Minnesota share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
Nursing
Liberal Arts
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