Active Report Report ID: EDU-170091-2026

Great Lakes Christian College

Lansing, MI 48917-1299

Tuition$19,520Published sticker
Avg. net price$15,524After aid
Graduation rate36.00%150% time
Median salary$31,05310yr post-entry
ROI400%10yr vs net cost

About Great Lakes Christian College

Great Lakes Christian College is a private university in Lansing, Michigan, enrolling about 197 students. Great Lakes Christian College awards degrees and certificates tracked in federal College Scorecard and IPEDS reporting. Published tuition for full-time study is about $19,520 per year before aid; net price varies by family income. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $31,053 among students who received federal aid.

Key findings

  • Great Lakes Christian College charges 33% below the national private non-profit median tuition ($19,520).
  • Versus the Michigan median, sticker tuition is 28% above.
  • Completion within 150% of normal time is 36.00%.
  • Median earnings 10 years after entry are $31,053.

Research findings

01

Finding

Modeled return on investment at Great Lakes Christian College is strong.

Estimated ROI reaches about 400% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.

— Evidence from EDsmart Data analysis

Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.

Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.

Cost benchmarks

Benchmark Median Tuition Median Net Price Count
Great Lakes Christian College$19,520$15,5241
Private Non-profit (national median)$29,3251,444
Michigan (state median)$15,221$7,36896
Rural (locale median)$14,160$18,7001,649
United States (national median)$11,900$17,156

Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.

Cost

Average net price is 20% below published tuition at Great Lakes Christian College

Source College Scorecard + EDsmart aggregatesMethod Sticker vs net; peer mediansUpdated 2026 extractCoverage Undergraduate (Title IV net price)Confidence Federal extract

Key findings

  • Great Lakes Christian College's average net price ($15,524) is 20% below published tuition ($19,520).
  • Great Lakes Christian College charges 33% below the national private non-profit median tuition ($19,520).
  • Versus the Michigan median, sticker tuition is 28% above.
Published sticker

Great Lakes Christian College tuition

Published undergraduate tuition $19,520

Finding Great Lakes Christian College charges 33% below the national private non-profit median tuition.

Evidence Published tuition is $19,520. That is 33% below the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the Michigan median ($15,221), sticker tuition is 28% above. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is 64% above.

Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.

Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private non-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.

Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.

Evidence: published tuition at Great Lakes Christian College versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.

Evidence: average net price at Great Lakes Christian College versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.

Average net price

What undergraduates typically pay

Finding Average net price at Great Lakes Christian College is $15,524.

Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $15,524 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $8,156 above the Michigan median net price. Versus rural campuses, net price runs $3,176 below the locale median.

Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.

Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.

Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.

Key takeaway Great Lakes Christian College’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 20% lower after grants and scholarships.

School guide

Great Lakes Christian College: research record

Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Great Lakes Christian College—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.

Research findings

Interpretation

The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.

Financial profile

Annual tuition

$19,520

Avg. net price

$15,524

Net price by family income

Income bracketAvg. annual net price
$0–$30,000$12,510
$30,001–$48,000$16,854
$48,001–$75,000$14,394
$75,001–$110,000$18,309
$110,001+$21,553

Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $78,080. See cost investigation.

Student outcomes

First-year retention48.9%

Share of first-year students returning the following fall.

$28,240Median earnings (6 years after entry)

Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.

Is Great Lakes Christian College a good school?

Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.

Great Lakes Christian College is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.

EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.

Earnings outcomes
Campus snapshot

More from the data

Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Great Lakes Christian College.

Campus

Location

Lansing, MI

City / state

ZIP
48917-1299
NCES locale
Rural fringe

Compared with Rural campuses nationally, net price is 17% below the median for Rural campuses ($18,700 median).

Control

Institution type

Private Non-profit

Control

Region
Great Lakes
Carnegie
Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions

Size

Enrollment

197

Total enrollment

Undergraduate
226
Full-time share
91%

Student aid

Debt & aid

$18,779

Median federal loan debt

Pell grant share
53.14%
Cost detail

Total Cost, Aid & Default

Total Cost of Attendance

$62,096Estimated 4-year total cost
$15,524Average annual net price (after aid)
$78,0804-year tuition
$9,931Room & board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,100Books & supplies (annual estimate)
$30,551Estimated annual sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$122,204Estimated 4-year sticker (before aid)

Tuition vs average net price after aid for Great Lakes Christian College.

Financial Aid by Income Level

53.14% Undergraduates receiving aid through grants
50.86% Undergraduates receiving aid through loans

Financial aid distribution by income level.

Student Loan Default Rate

0.00% 3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)

The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Great Lakes Christian College was 0.00%.

Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.

Multi-year tracker

Tuition tracker

Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Great Lakes Christian College in that year.

Reporting years in the table below: 20132023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).

Year In-state tuition & fees Out-of-state tuition & fees Average net price
2013$14,500$14,500$18,391
2014$14,890$14,890$18,515
2015$14,540$14,540$16,882
2016$14,770$14,770$15,388
2017$15,550$15,550$14,440
2018$17,220$17,220$14,521
2019$17,220$17,220$14,571
2020$17,220$17,220$16,072
2021$17,220$17,220$17,328
2022$17,220$17,220$15,591
2023$19,990$19,990$18,700

Sticker tuition and net price over time

Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.

College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).

Net price by family income

Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).

Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.

Access

How difficult is it to get in?

Acceptance Rate

Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.

Admissions funnel data is not available for this institution.

Test Scores

Test score data is not available for this institution.

Score distribution is not available for this institution.

Academic Requirements

GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.

Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.

Student body

Enrollment & Student Demographics

Great Lakes Christian College reported total enrollment of about 197 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 61% male and 39% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (53.3%), Black or African American (31.5%), and Two or More Races (7.1%). About 53.14% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 29.0% of students are first-generation college students.

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

90.9% Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Great Lakes Christian College in 2024 is 197 students.

Undergraduate enrollment is about 226 students.

Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.

Retention Rate over Time

48.9%
2024 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.

Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

53.3%White or Caucasian
9Reported race/ethnicity groups

Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.

  • White or Caucasian53.3%
  • Black or African American31.5%
  • Two or More Races7.1%
  • Hispanic or Latino4.1%
  • Asian2.0%
  • Non-Resident Alien1.5%
  • American Indian or Alaska Native0.5%
  • Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander0.0%
  • Race/ethnicity unknown0.0%

College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).

Outcomes

Do students complete their programs?

Time to Complete

32.00% 100% Completion Time

36.00% 150% Completion Time

In 2024, 32.00% of students graduating from Great Lakes Christian College completed their program within 100% "normal time".

Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.

Completions by Sex (Top Programs)

  • General Studies: 23% male / 77% female
  • Psychology, General: 18% male / 82% female
  • Business Administration and Management, General: 89% male / 11% female

IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).

Completions by Race & Ethnicity

34White or Caucasian
7Reported groups

Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.

  • White or Caucasian34
  • Black or African American7
  • Hispanic or Latino3
  • Asian2
  • Two or More Races2
  • American Indian or Alaska Native0
  • Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander0

Summed across program completion records in our extract.

Outcomes & academic profile

Great Lakes Christian College graduates earn a median of $31,053 ten years after entry

Source College ScorecardMethod Earnings + debt + net price modelsUpdated 2026 extractCoverage Institution-wideConfidence Federal extract

Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Great Lakes Christian College.

Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $31,053. Median federal loan debt: $18,779. Average net price used in cost models: $15,524.

Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.

Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.

Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.

Key takeaway Great Lakes Christian College graduates report median earnings of $31,053 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.

Return on Investment

400%Modeled return on investment
$18,779Median student debt
$31,053Median annual earnings (10 years)
60.47%Debt-to-earnings ratio
6.0 yearsEstimated payback period

Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Great Lakes Christian College.

Top Programs by Completions

Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (11 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).

  1. Theological and Ministerial Studies, Other 3
  2. Bible/Biblical Studies 2
  3. Religious/Sacred Music 2
  4. Early Childhood Education & Teaching 1

IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Great Lakes Christian College.

Employment Outcomes

$31,053Median earnings (10 years after entry)
$28,240Median earnings (6 years after entry)
$31,348Median earnings (8 years after entry)
83.59%Working & not enrolled (8-year cohort share)

Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Great Lakes Christian College graduates.

How financially powerful is this institution?

Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Great Lakes Christian College—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.

Institutional endowment

$1M

End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023

Start of year: $1.1M

Year change: -$88,619

  • Michigan median 0.03× the median ($30.9M)
  • Great Lakes median 0.03× the median ($31.8M)
  • U.S. median 0.04× the median ($26.4M)

Per FTE: $7,909

  • Michigan median 0.59× the median ($13,320)
  • Great Lakes median 0.47× the median ($16,690)
  • U.S. median 0.65× the median ($12,100)

Instructional Resources

  • Full-time faculty share: 27.3%
    • Michigan median 36.8 pp below median (64.1%)
    • Great Lakes median 30.8 pp below median (58.1%)
    • U.S. median 30.7 pp below median (58.0%)
  • Average faculty salary (monthly): $4,828
    • Michigan median 0.54× the median ($8,917)
    • Great Lakes median 0.60× the median ($8,046)
    • U.S. median 0.63× the median ($7,615)
  • Instructional expenditure per FTE: $5,162
    • Michigan median 0.71× the median ($7,240)
    • Great Lakes median 0.67× the median ($7,690)
    • U.S. median 0.71× the median ($7,288)

Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.

Great Lakes Christian College at a glance

Institution snapshot

Great Lakes Christian College

Lansing, MI 48917-1299 · Private Non-profit · Great Lakes

Great Lakes Christian College is a private non-profit institution in Lansing, MI, classified as Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions.

Tuition$19,520
Avg. net price$15,524
Enrollment197
Completion (150%)36.00%
Pell Grant share53.14%
First-generation29.0%
Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
General StudiesPsychology, GeneralBusiness Administration and Management, General
Largest enrollment groups
White or Caucasian53.3%
Black or African American31.5%
Two or More Races7.1%
Nearby

Schools near Great Lakes Christian College

Other campuses in Lansing, MI when available, plus nearby institutions in Michigan.

Peers

Similar schools

Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade F) within Michigan, then by similar ownership and admissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Great Lakes Christian College located?

Great Lakes Christian College is located in Lansing, MI.

What is Great Lakes Christian College's tuition?

Great Lakes Christian College tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $19,520 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $15,524 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.

How much does Great Lakes Christian College cost?

Reported tuition is $19,520 and average net price is $15,524 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $9,931 annually.

Why is Great Lakes Christian College's net price so much lower than tuition?

At Great Lakes Christian College, published tuition is $19,520 while average net price is $15,524—about 20% lower. Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid (College Scorecard). Institutional aid therefore compresses sticker price into a lower typical undergraduate cost signal. The campus average still masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average. EDsmart Data treats the sticker–net gap as an analytical finding, not advice about individual aid offers.

What explains Great Lakes Christian College's return on investment in EDsmart Data?

EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($15,524), completion (36.0% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($31,053). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.

What is the student body demographics at Great Lakes Christian College?

Great Lakes Christian College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 226 students, White (53.3%), Black or African American (31.5%) in federal College Scorecard data.

How many first-generation students attend Great Lakes Christian College?

About 29.0% of students at Great Lakes Christian College are first-generation college students.

What do graduates of Great Lakes Christian College earn?

Median earnings are $28,240 six years after entry and $31,053 ten years after entry.

What is the graduation rate at Great Lakes Christian College?

The 150%-time completion rate is 36.0% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.

How much debt do Great Lakes Christian College students have?

Median federal loan debt among completers is $18,779.

Is Great Lakes Christian College public or private?

Great Lakes Christian College is a private nonprofit institution located in Lansing, MI.

Is Great Lakes Christian College an HBCU?

No. Great Lakes Christian College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.

Data Sources

This page uses data from the following sources:

Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.

Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.

Methodology & Data Scope

This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.

Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.