Lake Superior State University vs. WSU

Should I go to Lake Superior State University or Wayne State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Lake Superior State University or WSU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Lake Superior State University vs. Wayne State University comparison
Lake Superior State University Wayne State University College 3 College 4
Lake Superior State University Wayne State University
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Overview

Lake Superior State University WSU
Location Sault Ste Marie, MI Detroit, MI
Setting Remote Town Large City
Enrollment 1,655 23,630
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #745 #582
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website lssu.edu wayne.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Lake Superior State University WSU
Tuition (In State) $13,440 $12,933
Tuition (Out of State) $13,440 $29,622
Room & Board $11,016 $11,321
Avg Net Price $14,336 $15,347
Avg Grant Aid $10,816 $10,605
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 96%

Admission

Lake Superior State University WSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,408 14,002
Admitted 1,852 10,547
Acceptance Rate 76.9% 75.3%
Enrolled % 15.1% 24.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.2 3.42
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/26 21/28
SAT Range 1000/1225 1040/1260
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Lake Superior State University WSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (21%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

Lake Superior State University WSU
Graduation Rate 35% 26%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,300 $51,000
Making Student Loan Payments 57% 38%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,250 $22,258
Median Loan Payment $240 $230

Diversity

Lake Superior State University WSU
% Men 45% 40%
% Women 55% 60%
Racial Diversity Very Low High
HBCU No No
% White 80% 57%
% Black 1% 19%
% Hispanic 2% 5%
% Native American 8% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 3%
% International 7% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 5%

Students

Lake Superior State University WSU
% In-State 83% 93%
% Out-of-State 8% 3%

Campus

Lake Superior State University WSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Wayne State University is larger than than Lake Superior State University based on total student enrollment (23,630 students vs. 1,655 students)

Lake Superior State University vs. WSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lake Superior State University or WSU?

  • Lake Superior State University is 3.9% more expensive to attend than WSU for in-state tuition ($13,440.00 vs. $12,933.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 120.4% higher at WSU than Lake Superior State University ($29,622.00 vs. $13,440.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Lake Superior State University than WSU ($14,336 vs. $15,347)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lake Superior State University are 2.8% lower than costs at Wayne State University ($11,016 vs. $11,321)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Wayne State University than Lake Superior State University (96% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lake Superior State University students is 2% larger than aid received Wayne State University ($10,816 vs. $10,605)

Lake Superior State University vs. WSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lake Superior State University or WSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WSU or Lake Superior State University .

  • The average SAT score at Wayne State University (1070) is 43 points higher than at Lake Superior State University (1027)
  • Incoming WSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Lake Superior State University (22)
  • Accepted freshman WSU students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Lake Superior State University (3.2)
  • Lake Superior State University has a higher acceptance rate (76.9%) than WSU (75.3%)

Lake Superior State University vs. WSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Lake Superior State University or WSU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between WSU and Lake Superior State University.

  • The graduation rate at Lake Superior State University is higher than Wayne State University (35% vs. 26%)
  • Graduates from Wayne State University earn on average $10,700 more per year than Lake Superior State University graduates after ten years. ($51,000 vs. $40,300)
  • Wayne State University students graduate with a $992 lower median federal student loan debt than Lake Superior State University graduates. ($22,258 vs. $23,250)
  • WSU graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than Lake Superior State University graduates. ($230 vs. $240)
  • More Lake Superior State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSU students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 38%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/