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CMU GVSU Oakland WSU Michigan State ISU Eastern Michigan University Northern Illinois Michigan Tech Michigan UM-Dearborn Ferris State University| Western Michigan University | Lake Erie College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
WMU | LEC | ||
| Location | Kalamazoo, MI | Painesville, OH | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 17,000 | 906 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #634 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wmich.edu | lec.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WMU | LEC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $14,523 | $33,588 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $18,154 | $33,588 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,102 | $10,842 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $20,030 | $22,678 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $6,813 | $25,417 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 93% | 100% |
Admission |
WMU | LEC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 20,501 | 1,085 | ||
| Admitted | 17,334 | 587 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 84.6% | 54.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 15.1% | 38.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.5 | 3.19 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 19/27 | 20/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 990/1220 | 1000/1170 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
WMU | LEC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
WMU | LEC | ||
| Graduation Rate | 56% | 53% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $48,900 | $36,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 54% | 62% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,633 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $275 | $279 |
Diversity |
WMU | LEC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 47% | 55% | ||
| % Women | 53% | 45% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 72% | 77% | ||
| % Black | 12% | 10% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 2% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 4% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 3% |
Students |
WMU | LEC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 79% | 54% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 19% | 40% | ||
Campus |
WMU | LEC | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Western Michigan University is larger than than LEC based on total student enrollment (17,000 students vs. 906 students)
WMU vs. LEC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WMU or LEC?
- Lake Erie College is 131.3% more expensive to attend than WMU for in-state tuition ($33,588.00 vs. $14,523.00)
- Out of state tuition is 85% higher at LEC than Western Michigan University ($33,588.00 vs. $18,154.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Michigan University than LEC ($20,030 vs. $22,678)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lake Erie College are 2.4% lower than costs at Western Michigan University ($10,842 vs. $11,102)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Lake Erie College than Western Michigan University (100% vs. 93%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Lake Erie College students is 273.1% larger than aid received Western Michigan University ($25,417 vs. $6,813)
WMU vs. LEC Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, WMU or LEC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between LEC or WMU .
- The average SAT score at Western Michigan University (1030) is 41 points higher than at LEC (989)
- Incoming WMU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at LEC (21)
- Accepted freshman WMU students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at LEC (3.19)
- WMU has a higher acceptance rate (84.6%) than LEC (54.1%)
WMU vs. LEC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, WMU or LEC? 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 LEC and WMU.
- The graduation rate at WMU is higher than Lake Erie College (56% vs. 53%)
- Graduates from Western Michigan University earn on average $12,300 more per year than LEC graduates after ten years. ($48,900 vs. $36,600)
- Western Michigan University students graduate with a $367 lower median federal student loan debt than LEC graduates. ($26,633 vs. $27,000)
- WMU graduates are paying $4 less per month on federal student loans than LEC graduates. ($275 vs. $279)
- More LEC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WMU students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 54%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/