LMC vs. Montcalm Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Lake Michigan College is larger than Montcalm Community College based on total student enrollment (2,937 students vs. 1,751 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lake Michigan College is located in Benton Harbor, MI (Rural Fringe setting); Montcalm Community College is in Sidney, MI (Distant Rural setting).
• Lake Michigan College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Montcalm Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lake Michigan College 17:1; Montcalm Community College 13:1.

LMC vs. Montcalm Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, LMC or Montcalm Community College? 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 Montcalm Community College ($7,557 vs. $8,640).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lake Michigan College are 5.5% lower than at Montcalm Community College ($11,256 vs. $11,910).
• Lake Michigan College is 17.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Montcalm Community College (about $1,179 more per year; $7,755.00 vs. $6,576.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 33.6% higher at Montcalm Community College than at Lake Michigan College (about $2,607 more per year; $10,362.00 vs. $7,755.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Montcalm Community College than at Lake Michigan College (100% vs. 92%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lake Michigan College students is 54.7% larger than aid received by Montcalm Community College students ($7,803 vs. $5,043).

LMC vs. Montcalm Community College Admissions comparison

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

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

LMC vs. Montcalm Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for LMC and Montcalm Community College? 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 Montcalm Community College earn a median of about $3,100 more per year than LMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($30,100 vs. $27,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Lake Michigan College graduates have a $1,136 lower median loan debt than Montcalm Community College graduates ($10,864 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, LMC graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Montcalm Community College graduates ($112 vs. $124).
• More Montcalm Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former LMC students, three years after graduation. (41% 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.