Lake Erie College is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Painesville, Ohio. It enrolls 852 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
53/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes13
Value38
Affordability54
Selectivity37
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 70.4%, Lake Erie College is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
70.4%
Moderate
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 Lake Erie College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
6.8 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Lake Erie 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 $20,961 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$20,961
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
37%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
55%
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
$37,634
Room & Board (on-campus)
$13,036
Room & Board (off-campus)
$17,520
Books & Supplies
$1,220
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,470
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,780
Total Cost of Attendance
$50,790
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
$20,195
$30,001 – $48,000
$19,575
$48,001 – $75,000
$18,548
$75,001 – $110,000
$23,205
Over $110,000
$22,370
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.
$3,75010%percentile
$7,50025%percentile
$26,000Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$36,50090%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 $15,000
↓ $11,000
No Pell $12,500
↓ $13,500
Dependent students $13,741
↓ $12,259
Independent students $14,417
↓ $11,583
Female students $19,500
↓ $6,500
Male students $9,500
↓ $16,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,500, less than completers ($26,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
44% of full-time students who enrolled at Lake Erie College graduate within six years, and 63% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
44%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
63%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Lake Erie College earn a median of $50,417 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$50,417
Earning > $25K
81%
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
$37,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$46,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$37,500
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$39,600
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$43,200
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $9,200, about 20% 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.
Stable ↑
5.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 76% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Lake Erie College is home to 852 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 33% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
852
Part-Time
1%
First-Generation
33%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 58.6%499
Black 21.5%183
Hispanic 4.0%34
Other 3.5%30
International 3.1%26
Asian 0.7%6
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Lake Erie College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbPainesville, Ohio
Housing
Mostly residential452 beds on campus
Adult Learners
8%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Lake Erie College offers
a varied set of programs:
29 distinct programs across
18 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 Erie College is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$36M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$49,699
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
57 instructional faculty across 5 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
10
18%
$63,016
Associate Professors
16
28%
$63,619
Assistant Professors
20
35%
$36,625
Instructors
10
18%
$40,025
No Rank
1
2%
$52,000
Pros & Cons of Lake Erie College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Lake Erie College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical
Best for:
Based on the data, Lake Erie College is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Lake Erie College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Lake Erie College.
Is Lake Erie College hard to get into?
Admissions at Lake Erie College are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 70.4%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Lake Erie College?
Lake Erie College has an acceptance rate of 70.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Lake Erie College cost?
The average net price after aid at Lake Erie College is $20,961 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Lake Erie College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $50,417 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $20,961 per year. That's roughly 2.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Lake Erie College known for?
Lake Erie College is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Allied Health Diagnostic, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Lake Erie College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Lake Erie College are $50,417, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Lake Erie College accredited?
Yes. Lake Erie College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Lake Erie College?
Lake Erie College enrolls 852 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Lake Erie College?
Lake Erie College graduates 44% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Lake Erie College a public or private college?
Lake Erie College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Lake Erie College located?
Lake Erie College is located in Painesville, Ohio.
What programs does Lake Erie College offer?
Lake Erie College offers 29 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Allied Health Diagnostic, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Lake Erie College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Lake Erie College is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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