WMU vs. LEC

Should I go to Western Michigan University or Lake Erie College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if WMU or LEC 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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Western Michigan University vs. Lake Erie College comparison
Western Michigan University Lake Erie College College 3 College 4
Western Michigan University
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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
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Engineering (6%)
  • Business (36%)
  • Agriculture (12%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Psychology (6%)

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/