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Lake Superior College
Duluth, MN 2,471 Undergrads 41.2% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$19,723
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$15,492
After Aid
Median Earnings
$57,665
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$15,492
Peer Midpoint: $9,847
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$57,665
Peer Midpoint: $50,127.5
Graduation Rate41.2%
Peer Midpoint: 34.6%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients30.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time47.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS69.0%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
100.0%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$607k
+$91k
+$122k
Median Cost$15k/yr
+$578k
+$63k
+$94k
Full Cost$20k/yr
+$570k
+$55k
+$86k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
25
∞
Median Cost$15k/yr
29
330%
Full Cost$20k/yr
30
238%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return553%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return84%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Certificates
Accounting and Related Services
CertCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,589
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
CertCIP: 5108
Median Debt
$13,500
Earnings (4yr)
$36,081
Natl Median: $34,272
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
CertCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,584
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 1002
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $33,223
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services
CertCIP: 5204
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $32,681
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Carpenters
CertCIP: 4602
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,835
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 1502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,028
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
CertCIP: 5110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$35,093
Natl Median: $38,675
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Computer Software and Media Applications
CertCIP: 1108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,400
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
CertCIP: 1110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,615
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 1513
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,359
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers
CertCIP: 4603
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,078
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,492
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Fire Protection
CertCIP: 4302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,436
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Ground Transportation
CertCIP: 4902
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,118
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health and Medical Administrative Services
CertCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $35,447
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Legal Support Services
CertCIP: 2203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,747
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
CertCIP: 5139
Median Debt
$11,288
Earnings (4yr)
$65,039
Natl Median: $56,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$233k
Precision Metal Working
CertCIP: 4805
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (4yr)
$53,775
Natl Median: $48,702
Lifetime Value Added
+$118k
Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services
CertCIP: 5135
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$33,438
Natl Median: $29,652
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (4yr)
$64,385
Natl Median: $51,586
Lifetime Value Added
+$226k
Associate's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
AssocCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,861
Natl Median: $47,660
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Air Transportation
AssocCIP: 4901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,495
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,190
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
+$21k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$15,684
Earnings (4yr)
$62,773
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$142k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,674
Natl Median: $48,733
Lifetime Value Added
+$84k
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services
AssocCIP: 5204
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,587
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Carpenters
AssocCIP: 4602
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,519
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,997
Natl Median: $57,472
Lifetime Value Added
+$214
Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1512
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,195
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Software and Media Applications
AssocCIP: 1108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,737
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
AssocCIP: 1110
Median Debt
$13,500
Earnings (4yr)
$57,948
Natl Median: $54,726
Lifetime Value Added
+$96k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5106
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (4yr)
$62,034
Natl Median: $61,982
Lifetime Value Added
+$135k
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1513
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,565
Natl Median: $55,895
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers
AssocCIP: 4603
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,808
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$80,317
Natl Median: $67,792
Lifetime Value Added
+$286k
Fine and Studio Arts
AssocCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $31,650
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Fire Protection
AssocCIP: 4302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,854
Natl Median: $73,589
Lifetime Value Added
+$179k
Legal Support Services
AssocCIP: 2203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Natl Median: $44,669
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$10,500
Earnings (4yr)
$50,382
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
+$23k
Management Information Systems and Services
AssocCIP: 5212
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,556
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Precision Metal Working
AssocCIP: 4805
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,451
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$20,125
Earnings (4yr)
$76,770
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$268k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$72,699
Natl Median: $58,424
Lifetime Value Added
+$232k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.