LMC vs. West Shore Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Lake Michigan College is larger than West Shore Community College based on total student enrollment (2,937 students vs. 1,120 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lake Michigan College is located in Benton Harbor, MI (Rural Fringe setting); West Shore Community College is in Scottville, MI (Distant Rural setting).
• Lake Michigan College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. West Shore Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lake Michigan College 17:1; West Shore Community College 12:1.

LMC vs. West Shore Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, LMC or West Shore 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 West Shore Community College than LMC ($3,927 vs. $7,557).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at West Shore Community College are 16.8% lower than at Lake Michigan College ($9,360 vs. $11,256).
• Lake Michigan College is 20.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than West Shore Community College (about $1,335 more per year; $7,755.00 vs. $6,420.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 13.7% higher at West Shore Community College than at Lake Michigan College (about $1,065 more per year; $8,820.00 vs. $7,755.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lake Michigan College than at West Shore Community College (92% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lake Michigan College students is 10.7% larger than aid received by West Shore Community College students ($7,803 vs. $7,048).

LMC vs. West Shore Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, LMC or West Shore 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 West Shore 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; West Shore Community College - Open admission.

LMC vs. West Shore Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for LMC and West Shore 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 West Shore Community College earn a median of about $3,000 more per year than LMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($30,000 vs. $27,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, West Shore Community College graduates have a $1,255 lower median loan debt than LMC graduates ($9,609 vs. $10,864).
• Among borrowers, West Shore Community College graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than LMC graduates ($99 vs. $112).
• More West Shore Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former LMC students, three years after graduation. (42% 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.