Lake Superior State University
Lake Superior State University is a public four-year university in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan, enrolling about 1,325 students. Admission is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of about 68.01% in federal reporting data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $49,045 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $14,890
- 2024 Average Net Price: $12,822 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 68.01% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 1,325 87.2% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 50.98%
- Average ACT Score: 23
Lake Superior State University: what the data shows
Common questions about Lake Superior State University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Lake Superior State University?
Lake Superior State University is located in Sault Ste Marie, MI (ZIP 49783).
NCES locale classification: Town remote.
Is Lake Superior State University public or private?
Lake Superior State University is a Public institution.
How much does Lake Superior State University cost?
Published tuition: $14,890.
Average net price after aid: $12,822.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $3,516 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $9,226 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $10,422 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $14,541 |
| $110,001+ | $20,321 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $59,560.
How hard is it to get into Lake Superior State University?
Admission rate: 68.01%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: midpoint ACT 23.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Lake Superior State University?
Total enrollment: 1,325 students.
About 87% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Lake Superior State University?
150%-time completion rate: 50.98%.
First-year retention: 78.8%.
What do graduates of Lake Superior State University earn?
Median earnings: $42,767 six years after entry; $49,045 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $23,250.
26.54% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Lake Superior State University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Other/Unknown Programs (475 completions)
- CIP 240102 (59 completions)
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, & Nursing Research (41 completions)
- Criminal Justice & Corrections (38 completions)
- General Biological Sciences (25 completions)
- CIP 430203 (21 completions)
- Biopsychology (16 completions)
- CIP 400599 (16 completions)
- General Psychology (13 completions)
- CIP 520201 (13 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Lake Superior State University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 68.01%; completion rate 50.98%; median earnings $49,045 at 10 years; net price $12,822. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Costs
Tuition Costs
$14,890
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Lake Superior State University was $14,890.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$12,822
2024 Value
In 2024 Lake Superior State University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $12,822.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$51,288 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$12,822 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$59,560 4-Year Tuition
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional.
4-year total cost breakdown for Lake Superior State University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
26.54% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
37.03% Undergraduates Receiving Financial 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 Lake Superior State University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
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 Lake Superior State University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $9,960 | $14,880 | $11,522 |
| 2014 | $10,253 | $15,317 | $11,558 |
| 2015 | $10,580 | $15,788 | $10,381 |
| 2016 | $11,019 | $11,019 | $11,583 |
| 2017 | $11,427 | $11,427 | $12,509 |
| 2018 | $11,895 | $11,895 | $11,043 |
| 2019 | $12,255 | $12,255 | $12,398 |
| 2020 | $12,744 | $12,744 | $13,668 |
| 2021 | $13,200 | $13,200 | $14,035 |
| 2022 | $13,728 | $13,728 | $14,724 |
| 2023 | $14,266 | $14,266 | $13,825 |
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.
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
68.01% Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
ACT Average: 23
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
87.2% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Lake Superior State University in 2024 is 1,325 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
78.8%
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.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
31.45% 100% Completion Time
50.98% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 31.45% of students graduating from Lake Superior State University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Lake Superior State University.
Return on Investment
$23,250 Median Student Debt
$49,045 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
47.41% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
856.27% Return on Investment
4.7 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Lake Superior State University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 Programs Reporting Data
CIP 24.0102: 59 completions
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, & Nursing Research: 41 completions
Criminal Justice & Corrections: 38 completions
General Biological Sciences: 25 completions
CIP 43.0203: 21 completions
Biopsychology: 16 completions
CIP 40.0599: 16 completions
General Psychology: 13 completions
CIP 52.0201: 13 completions
Other/Unknown Programs: 475 completions
Most popular programs at Lake Superior State University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Lake Superior State University graduates.
About
Lake Superior State University is a public institution located in Sault Ste Marie, MI, offering 58 distinct degree programs across various academic disciplines. The institution enrolls approximately 1,325 students. The admission rate is 68.01%. Average ACT scores for admitted students are 23. The institution maintains a 50.98% graduation rate. Approximately 26.54% of students receive Pell Grants.
Institution Type
Public
Location
Sault Ste Marie, MI 49783
Region: Great Lakes
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 58 distinct degree programs, Lake Superior State University provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
FAQ
How much does Lake Superior State University cost?
Reported in-state tuition is $14,890 and average net price is $12,822 in the latest College Scorecard data.
How hard is it to get into Lake Superior State University?
The admission rate is 68.0% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data.
What test scores do students need for Lake Superior State University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Lake Superior State University reports midpoint ACT about 23.
What do graduates of Lake Superior State University earn?
Median earnings are $42,767 six years after entry and $49,045 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Lake Superior State University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 51.0% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Lake Superior State University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $23,250.
How big is Lake Superior State University?
Total enrollment is about 1,325 students in the latest reporting year.
Is Lake Superior State University public or private?
Lake Superior State University is a public institution located in Sault Ste Marie, MI.
Is Lake Superior State University an HBCU?
No. Lake Superior State University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Lake Superior State University a tribal college?
No. Lake Superior State University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Lake Superior State University a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Lake Superior State University does not meet that proxy (reported share 1.9%).
Is Lake Superior State University religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Lake Superior State University in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
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 for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.