Lake Superior State University is a public institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan. It enrolls 1,325 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 Open / Online). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
73/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes73
Value61
Affordability37
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
Admissions data is not yet reported for Lake Superior State University.
Acceptance Rate
—
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Lake Superior State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
10.8 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Lake Superior State 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 $12,822 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$12,822
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
27%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
37%
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
$14,890
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,459
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,130
Books & Supplies
$2,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,670
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,220
Total Cost of Attendance
$27,154
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
$3,516
$30,001 – $48,000
$9,226
$48,001 – $75,000
$10,422
$75,001 – $110,000
$14,541
Over $110,000
$20,321
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.
$3,00010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$23,250Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$35,25090%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 $15,250
↓ $8,000
No Pell $13,353
↓ $9,897
Dependent students $15,000
↓ $8,250
Independent students $12,500
↓ $10,750
Female students $15,272
↓ $7,978
Male students $13,724
↓ $9,526
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,500, less than completers ($23,250), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
38% of full-time students who enrolled at Lake Superior State University graduate within six years, and 74% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
38%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
74%
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 State University earn a median of $49,045 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$49,045
Earning > $25K
77%
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
$35,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$48,500
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$33,000
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$45,700
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$46,700
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $12,900, about 27% 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 ↑
12.4 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 81% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Lake Superior State University is home to 1,325 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 33% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,325
Part-Time
13%
First-Generation
33%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 70.0%927
Other 12.0%159
International 8.2%108
Black 3.0%40
Hispanic 1.9%25
Asian 0.8%10
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Lake Superior State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteSault Ste Marie, Michigan
Housing
Strongly residential1,108 beds for 1,325 students
Adult Learners
12%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Lake Superior State University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
56 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 Lake Superior State University is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$11,688
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$35M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$68,753
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
83 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
22
27%
$80,426
Associate Professors
17
20%
$69,723
Assistant Professors
40
48%
$63,393
Instructors
4
5%
$54,023
Pros & Cons of Lake Superior State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Lake Superior State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Modest first-year retention
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Best for:
Based on the data, Lake Superior State University is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Lake Superior State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Lake Superior State University.
How much does Lake Superior State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Lake Superior State University is $12,822 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Lake Superior State University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $49,045 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $12,822 per year. That's roughly 3.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Lake Superior State University known for?
Lake Superior State University is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Nursing, Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Lake Superior State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Lake Superior State University are $49,045, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Lake Superior State University accredited?
Yes. Lake Superior State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Lake Superior State University?
Lake Superior State University enrolls 1,325 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Lake Superior State University?
Lake Superior State University graduates 38% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Lake Superior State University a public or private college?
Lake Superior State University is a Public institution.
Where is Lake Superior State University located?
Lake Superior State University is located in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan.
What programs does Lake Superior State University offer?
Lake Superior State University offers 56 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Nursing, Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Lake Superior State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Lake Superior State University is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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Rankings That Feature Lake Superior State University
Lake Superior State University appears in these rankings, built from the same federal data and the UCD Score.
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$84,648 Top Earn
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83 UCD Score
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$4,904 Lowest Net
$15,222 Avg Net
88 UCD Score
$60,327 Top Earn
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