Lakeland University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Plymouth, Wisconsin. It enrolls 1,212 students (a small, tight-knit 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 (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
49/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes18
Value33
Affordability31
Selectivity30
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 86.3%, Lakeland University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
86.3%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Lakeland University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
13.0 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Lakeland University 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 $24,212 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$24,212
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
25%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
45%
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
$33,396
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,140
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,452
Books & Supplies
$1,100
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,482
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$7,232
Total Cost of Attendance
$48,840
Application fee: $35 (one-time, due at submission)
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
$22,453
$30,001 – $48,000
$22,030
$48,001 – $75,000
$20,124
$75,001 – $110,000
$24,332
Over $110,000
$28,054
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.
$3,66710%percentile
$6,33325%percentile
$25,000Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$37,88090%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 $19,625
↓ $5,375
No Pell $19,000
↓ $6,000
Dependent students $15,834
↓ $9,166
Independent students $21,145
↓ $3,855
Female students $19,662
↓ $5,338
Male students $18,794
↓ $6,206
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,505, less than completers ($25,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
48% of full-time students who enrolled at Lakeland University graduate within six years, and 65% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
48%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
65%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Lakeland University earn a median of $55,961 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$55,961
Earning > $25K
84%
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
$42,300
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$49,200
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$36,700
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$47,900
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$50,100
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $6,900, about 14% 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 ↑
13.9 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 80% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Lakeland University is home to 1,212 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 44% are first-generation college students, 42% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
1,212
Part-Time
42%
First-Generation
44%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 63.2%766
Black 10.8%131
Hispanic 9.3%113
Asian 4.1%50
Other 3.4%41
International 1.0%12
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Lakeland University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: FringePlymouth, Wisconsin
Housing
Mostly residential672 beds on campus
Adult Learners
22%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Lakeland University offers
a varied set of programs:
29 distinct programs across
17 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 Lakeland University is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$45M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$68,830
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
32 instructional faculty across 4 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
Full Professors
8
25%
$72,036
Associate Professors
10
31%
$63,216
Assistant Professors
11
34%
$66,983
Instructors
3
9%
$85,767
Pros & Cons of Lakeland University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Lakeland University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
Solid post-graduation earnings
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical
Best for:
Based on the data, Lakeland University 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; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Lakeland University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Lakeland University.
Is Lakeland University hard to get into?
Lakeland University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 86.3%.
What is the acceptance rate at Lakeland University?
Lakeland University has an acceptance rate of 86.3%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Lakeland University cost?
The average net price after aid at Lakeland University is $24,212 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Lakeland University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $55,961 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $24,212 per year. That's roughly 2.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Lakeland University known for?
Lakeland University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Business Administration, Accounting. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Lakeland University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Lakeland University are $55,961, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Lakeland University accredited?
Yes. Lakeland University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Lakeland University?
Lakeland University enrolls 1,212 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Lakeland University?
Lakeland University graduates 48% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Lakeland University a public or private college?
Lakeland University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Lakeland University located?
Lakeland University is located in Plymouth, Wisconsin.
What programs does Lakeland University offer?
Lakeland University offers 29 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Business Administration, Accounting.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Lakeland University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Lakeland University is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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