Grand Rapids Community College vs. LMC

Comparable Facts

Compare Grand Rapids Community College in Grand Rapids, MI with Lake Michigan College in Benton Harbor, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Grand Rapids Community College is larger than LMC based on total student enrollment (12,468 students vs. 2,937 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Grand Rapids Community College is located in Grand Rapids, MI (Midsize City setting); Lake Michigan College is in Benton Harbor, MI (Rural Fringe setting).
• Grand Rapids Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Lake Michigan College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Grand Rapids Community College 19:1; Lake Michigan College 17:1.

Grand Rapids Community College vs. LMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Grand Rapids Community College or LMC? 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 Lake Michigan College than Grand Rapids Community College ($7,557 vs. $9,720).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grand Rapids Community College are 18% lower than at Lake Michigan College ($9,227 vs. $11,256).
• Grand Rapids Community College is 6.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than LMC (about $534 more per year; $8,289.00 vs. $7,755.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 57.6% higher at Grand Rapids Community College than at Lake Michigan College (about $4,464 more per year; $12,219.00 vs. $7,755.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lake Michigan College than at Grand Rapids Community College (92% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lake Michigan College students is 24.1% larger than aid received by Grand Rapids Community College students ($7,803 vs. $6,288).

Grand Rapids Community College vs. LMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Grand Rapids Community College or LMC? 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 LMC and Grand Rapids Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Grand Rapids Community College - Open admission; LMC - Open admission.
• Accepted freshman Grand Rapids Community College students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.0) than students at LMC (2.8).

Grand Rapids Community College vs. LMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Grand Rapids Community College and LMC? 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 Grand Rapids Community College earn a median of about $6,700 more per year than LMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,700 vs. $27,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Grand Rapids Community College graduates have a $1,656 lower median loan debt than LMC graduates ($9,208 vs. $10,864).
• Among borrowers, Grand Rapids Community College graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than LMC graduates ($95 vs. $112).
• More Grand Rapids Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former LMC students, three years after graduation. (34% vs. 27%)

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.