Lakeland vs. Southern State Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Lakeland Community College in Kirtland, OH with Southern State Community College in Hillsboro, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Lakeland Community College is larger than Southern State Community College based on total student enrollment (4,358 students vs. 2,227 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lakeland Community College is located in Kirtland, OH (Rural Fringe setting); Southern State Community College is in Hillsboro, OH (Rural Fringe setting).
• Lakeland Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southern State Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lakeland Community College 13:1; Southern State Community College 20:1.

Lakeland vs. Southern State Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lakeland or Southern State 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 Lakeland Community College than Southern State Community College ($7,234 vs. $9,431).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern State Community College are 14.5% lower than at Lakeland Community College ($6,928 vs. $8,100).
• Southern State Community College is 28.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lakeland (about $1,305 more per year; $5,912.00 vs. $4,607.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 17.1% higher at Southern State Community College than at Lakeland Community College (about $1,583 more per year; $10,818.00 vs. $9,235.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southern State Community College than at Lakeland Community College (77% vs. 57%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southern State Community College students is 21.8% larger than aid received by Lakeland Community College students ($5,513 vs. $4,527).

Lakeland vs. Southern State Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lakeland or Southern State 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 Southern State Community College and Lakeland.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lakeland - Open admission; Southern State Community College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Lakeland Sep 1, 2026.

Lakeland vs. Southern State Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lakeland and Southern State 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 Lakeland Community College earn a median of about $4,600 more per year than Southern State Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,700 vs. $31,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southern State Community College graduates have a $1,924 lower median loan debt than Lakeland graduates ($12,370 vs. $14,294).
• Among borrowers, Southern State Community College graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lakeland graduates ($127 vs. $147).
• More Southern State Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lakeland students, three years after graduation. (29% 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.