Lansing Community College vs. SMC

Comparable Facts

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

Lansing Community College is larger than SMC based on total student enrollment (9,821 students vs. 2,000 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lansing Community College is located in Lansing, MI (Midsize City setting); Southwestern Michigan College is in Dowagiac, MI (Rural Fringe setting).
• Lansing Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwestern Michigan College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lansing Community College 16:1; Southwestern Michigan College 17:1.

Lansing Community College vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lansing Community College 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 Lansing Community College than SMC ($5,833 vs. $6,684).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwestern Michigan College are 35.6% lower than at Lansing Community College ($10,825 vs. $16,800).
• Southwestern Michigan College is 2.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lansing Community College (about $164 more per year; $7,864.00 vs. $7,700.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 34.6% higher at Lansing Community College than at Southwestern Michigan College (about $2,906 more per year; $11,300.00 vs. $8,394.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern Michigan College than at Lansing Community College (94% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Michigan College students is 17.4% larger than aid received by Lansing Community College students ($8,166 vs. $6,958).

Lansing Community College vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lansing Community College 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 Lansing Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lansing Community College - Open admission; SMC - Open admission.

Lansing Community College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lansing Community College 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 Lansing Community College earn a median of about $5,200 more per year than SMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,800 vs. $29,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwestern Michigan College graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than Lansing Community College graduates ($12,000 vs. $13,500).
• Among borrowers, SMC graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lansing Community College graduates ($124 vs. $139).
• More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lansing Community College students, three years after graduation. (28% vs. 28%)

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.