DCTC vs. LSC

Deciding between Dakota County Technical College and Lake Superior College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • DCTC Rosemount, MN
  • LSC Duluth, MN
  • Setting
  • DCTC Rural Fringe
  • LSC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • DCTC 2,894
  • LSC 4,074
  • Type
  • DCTC Public 2 Year
  • LSC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • DCTC
  • LSC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • DCTC -
  • LSC -
  • Status
  • DCTC Non-profit
  • LSC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • DCTC
  • LSC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • DCTC $6,679
  • LSC $5,785
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • DCTC $6,679
  • LSC $5,785
  • Room & Board
  • DCTC $10,800
  • LSC $9,839
  • Average Net Price
  • DCTC $12,935
  • LSC $14,131
  • Average Grant Aid
  • DCTC $5,655
  • LSC $5,552
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • DCTC 54%
  • LSC 49%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • DCTC -
  • LSC -
  • Admitted
  • DCTC -
  • LSC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • DCTC Open
  • LSC Open
  • Enrolled
  • DCTC Open
  • LSC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • DCTC
  • LSC
  • Typical ACT score
  • DCTC
  • LSC
  • Average High School GPA
  • DCTC -
  • LSC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • DCTC -
  • LSC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • DCTC Unavailable
  • LSC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • DCTC
  • LSC
  • ACT Range
  • DCTC
  • LSC
  • SAT Range
  • DCTC
  • LSC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • DCTC Open admission
  • LSC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • DCTC
  • LSC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • DCTC 23:1
  • LSC 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • DCTC
    • Health Professions (34%)
    • Business (20%)
    • Construction Trades (8%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • LSC
    • Health Professions (50%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
    • Construction Trades (6%)
    • Business (5%)
    • Engineering Technology (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • DCTC -
  • LSC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • DCTC $40,000
  • LSC $38,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • DCTC 54%
  • LSC 48%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • DCTC $10,770
  • LSC $14,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • DCTC $111
  • LSC $144

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • DCTC 57%
  • LSC 43%
  • % Women
  • DCTC 43%
  • LSC 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • DCTC Low
  • LSC Very Low
  • HBCU
  • DCTC No
  • LSC No
  • % White
  • DCTC 74%
  • LSC 84%
  • % Asian
  • DCTC 4%
  • LSC 1%
  • % Black
  • DCTC 9%
  • LSC 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • DCTC 7%
  • LSC 3%
  • % Native American
  • DCTC 0%
  • LSC 2%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • DCTC 0%
  • LSC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • DCTC 3%
  • LSC 4%
  • % International
  • DCTC 1%
  • LSC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • DCTC 2%
  • LSC 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • DCTC 94%
  • LSC 83%
  • % Out-of-State
  • DCTC 5%
  • LSC 16%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • DCTC No
  • LSC No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • DCTC No
  • LSC No
  • Meal Plan
  • DCTC No
  • LSC No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • DCTC Yes
  • LSC No
  • Daycare Facility
  • DCTC No
  • LSC Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Dakota County Technical College in Rosemount, MN with Lake Superior College in Duluth, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Lake Superior College is larger than DCTC based on total student enrollment (4,074 students vs. 2,894 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Dakota County Technical College is located in Rosemount, MN (Rural Fringe setting); Lake Superior College is in Duluth, MN (Small City setting).
  • Dakota County Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Lake Superior College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Dakota County Technical College 23:1; Lake Superior College 19:1.

DCTC vs. LSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DCTC or LSC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Dakota County Technical College than LSC ($12,935 vs. $14,131).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lake Superior College are 8.9% lower than at Dakota County Technical College ($9,839 vs. $10,800).
  • Dakota County Technical College is 15.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than LSC (about $894 more per year; $6,679.00 vs. $5,785.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 15.5% higher at DCTC than at Lake Superior College (about $894 more per year; $6,679.00 vs. $5,785.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dakota County Technical College than at Lake Superior College (54% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Dakota County Technical College students is 1.9% larger than aid received by Lake Superior College students ($5,655 vs. $5,552).

DCTC vs. LSC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DCTC or LSC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between LSC and DCTC.

  • Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: DCTC - Open admission; LSC - Open admission.

DCTC vs. LSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DCTC and LSC? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Graduates from Dakota County Technical College earn a median of about $1,300 more per year than LSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,000 vs. $38,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Dakota County Technical College graduates have a $3,230 lower median loan debt than LSC graduates ($10,770 vs. $14,000).
  • Among borrowers, DCTC graduates have an estimated $33 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than LSC graduates ($111 vs. $144).
  • More DCTC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former LSC students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 48%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.