LMC vs. SMC

Deciding between Lake Michigan College and Southwestern Michigan 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.

Southwestern Michigan College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • LMC Benton Harbor, MI
  • SMC Dowagiac, MI
  • Setting
  • LMC Rural Fringe
  • SMC Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • LMC 2,937
  • SMC 2,000
  • Type
  • LMC Public 2 Year
  • SMC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • LMC
  • SMC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • LMC -
  • SMC -
  • Status
  • LMC Non-profit
  • SMC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • LMC
  • SMC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • LMC $5,445
  • SMC $6,417
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • LMC $7,755
  • SMC $8,394
  • Room & Board
  • LMC $11,256
  • SMC $10,825
  • Average Net Price
  • LMC $7,557
  • SMC $6,684
  • Average Grant Aid
  • LMC $7,803
  • SMC $8,166
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • LMC 92%
  • SMC 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • LMC -
  • SMC -
  • Admitted
  • LMC -
  • SMC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • LMC Open
  • SMC Open
  • Enrolled
  • LMC Open
  • SMC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • LMC
  • SMC
  • Typical ACT score
  • LMC
  • SMC
  • Average High School GPA
  • LMC 2.8
  • SMC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • LMC B-
  • SMC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • LMC Unavailable
  • SMC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • LMC
  • SMC
  • ACT Range
  • LMC
  • SMC
  • SAT Range
  • LMC
  • SMC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • LMC Open admission
  • SMC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • LMC
  • SMC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • LMC 17:1
  • SMC 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • LMC
    • Health Professions (30%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (21%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Engineering Technology (12%)
    • General Studies (7%)
  • SMC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (41%)
    • Health Professions (29%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (7%)
    • Communications Technology (3%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • LMC -
  • SMC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • LMC $27,000
  • SMC $29,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • LMC 27%
  • SMC 28%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • LMC $10,864
  • SMC $12,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • LMC $112
  • SMC $124

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • LMC 38%
  • SMC 39%
  • % Women
  • LMC 62%
  • SMC 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • LMC Medium
  • SMC Low
  • HBCU
  • LMC No
  • SMC No
  • % White
  • LMC 65%
  • SMC 72%
  • % Asian
  • LMC 1%
  • SMC 1%
  • % Black
  • LMC 16%
  • SMC 12%
  • % Hispanic
  • LMC 9%
  • SMC 6%
  • % Native American
  • LMC 1%
  • SMC 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • LMC 0%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • LMC 3%
  • SMC 5%
  • % International
  • LMC 0%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • LMC 5%
  • SMC 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • LMC 93%
  • SMC 85%
  • % Out-of-State
  • LMC 6%
  • SMC 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Lake Michigan College is larger than SMC based on total student enrollment (2,937 students vs. 2,000 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

LMC vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, LMC or SMC? 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 Southwestern Michigan College than LMC ($6,684 vs. $7,557).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwestern Michigan College are 3.8% lower than at Lake Michigan College ($10,825 vs. $11,256).
  • Southwestern Michigan College is 1.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than LMC (about $109 more per year; $7,864.00 vs. $7,755.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8.2% higher at SMC than at Lake Michigan College (about $639 more per year; $8,394.00 vs. $7,755.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern Michigan College than at Lake Michigan College (94% vs. 92%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Michigan College students is 4.7% larger than aid received by Lake Michigan College students ($8,166 vs. $7,803).

LMC vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, LMC or SMC? 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 SMC 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; SMC - Open admission.

LMC vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for LMC and SMC? 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 Southwestern Michigan College earn a median of about $2,600 more per year than LMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($29,600 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 SMC graduates ($10,864 vs. $12,000).
  • Among borrowers, LMC graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SMC graduates ($112 vs. $124).
  • More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former LMC students, three years after graduation. (28% 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.