LSC vs. M State

Deciding between Lake Superior College and Minnesota State Community and Technical 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
  • LSC Duluth, MN
  • M State Fergus Falls, MN
  • Setting
  • LSC Small City
  • M State Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • LSC 4,074
  • M State 5,645
  • Type
  • LSC Public 2 Year
  • M State Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • LSC
  • M State
  • Religious Affiliation
  • LSC -
  • M State -
  • Status
  • LSC Non-profit
  • M State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • LSC
  • M State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • LSC $5,785
  • M State $5,908
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • LSC $5,785
  • M State $5,908
  • Room & Board
  • LSC $9,839
  • M State $8,820
  • Average Net Price
  • LSC $14,131
  • M State $11,802
  • Average Grant Aid
  • LSC $5,552
  • M State $5,456
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • LSC 49%
  • M State 55%

  • Admissions

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

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • LSC 19:1
  • M State 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • LSC
    • Health Professions (50%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
    • Construction Trades (6%)
    • Business (5%)
    • Engineering Technology (4%)
  • M State
    • Health Professions (32%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (21%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Construction Trades (12%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • LSC -
  • M State -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • LSC $38,700
  • M State $37,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • LSC 48%
  • M State 52%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • LSC $14,000
  • M State $12,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • LSC $144
  • M State $124

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • LSC 43%
  • M State 37%
  • % Women
  • LSC 57%
  • M State 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • LSC Very Low
  • M State Low
  • HBCU
  • LSC No
  • M State No
  • % White
  • LSC 84%
  • M State 79%
  • % Asian
  • LSC 1%
  • M State 2%
  • % Black
  • LSC 4%
  • M State 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • LSC 3%
  • M State 5%
  • % Native American
  • LSC 2%
  • M State 2%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • LSC 0%
  • M State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • LSC 4%
  • M State 3%
  • % International
  • LSC 0%
  • M State 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • LSC 2%
  • M State 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • LSC 83%
  • M State 74%
  • % Out-of-State
  • LSC 16%
  • M State 26%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Lake Superior College in Duluth, MN with Minnesota State Community and Technical College in Fergus Falls, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Minnesota State Community and Technical College is larger than LSC based on total student enrollment (5,645 students vs. 4,074 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Lake Superior College is located in Duluth, MN (Small City setting); Minnesota State Community and Technical College is in Fergus Falls, MN (Remote Town setting).
  • Lake Superior College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Minnesota State Community and Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Lake Superior College 19:1; Minnesota State Community and Technical College 18:1.

LSC vs. M State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, LSC or M State? 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 Minnesota State Community and Technical College than LSC ($11,802 vs. $14,131).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Minnesota State Community and Technical College are 10.4% lower than at Lake Superior College ($8,820 vs. $9,839).
  • Minnesota State Community and Technical College is 2.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than LSC (about $123 more per year; $5,908.00 vs. $5,785.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.1% higher at M State than at Lake Superior College (about $123 more per year; $5,908.00 vs. $5,785.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Minnesota State Community and Technical College than at Lake Superior College (55% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lake Superior College students is 1.8% larger than aid received by Minnesota State Community and Technical College students ($5,552 vs. $5,456).

LSC vs. M State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, LSC or M State? 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 M State and LSC.

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

LSC vs. M State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for LSC and M State? 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 Lake Superior College earn a median of about $1,400 more per year than M State graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,700 vs. $37,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Minnesota State Community and Technical College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than LSC graduates ($12,000 vs. $14,000).
  • Among borrowers, M State graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than LSC graduates ($124 vs. $144).
  • More M State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former LSC students, three years after graduation. (52% 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.