At $14,368/yr net price, Lake Superior State University graduates earn $49,045/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $15,045/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $14,368 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $57,472 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $49,045/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$15,045/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 3.8 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 56.9% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $23,250 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $9,949/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $8,477/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $12,862/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,261/yr |
| $110,001+ | $20,766/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $58,601 | $25,000 |
| Fire Protection. | Bachelor | $47,260 | |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | Bachelor | $39,639 | $22,500 |
| Marketing. | Bachelor | $36,312 | |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Bachelor | $35,988 | $19,500 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | Bachelor | $35,060 | |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor | $33,993 | |
| Business/Commerce, General. | Bachelor | $32,925 | |
| Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management. | Bachelor | $25,194 | $22,500 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Bachelor | $21,508 |
The Risk Factor
56.9% of students at Lake Superior State University graduate within 6 years. More than half of students finish, but the dropout rate is a real factor in whether this investment pays off.
Analysis
Lake Superior State University gives you a middling return. You pay $14,368 a year and come out earning around $49,045 a decade later, with debt near a manageable $23,250. That's a fair trade, but it hinges heavily on which program you pick, because the spread between majors here is wide.
Nursing is the clear winner. At $58,601, it pays nearly $23,000 more than accounting, and the extra $5,500 in debt is easy to justify against that gap. Fire Protection at $47,260 and Criminal Justice at $39,639 both fit LSSU's location and feed into public-safety jobs across Michigan's Upper Peninsula. If you're aiming for nursing or a public-safety field, this school pays off.
The business side is where the math gets shaky. Marketing at $36,312 and accounting at $35,988 leave you earning barely above debt-repayment territory. Accounting carries the lowest debt of any listed program at $19,500, which softens the blow, but neither degree here builds much of an earnings cushion.
The real risk is finishing at all. A 68.83% retention rate means nearly a third of first-years don't return, and only 57% graduate. Debt without a degree is the worst outcome, and those odds are meaningful here.
The net price tiers reward lower-income families. If your family earns under $48k, you pay under $9,000 a year , cheaper than the sticker net price. Above $75k, your cost jumps past $18,000, closer to $20,766 over $110k, which erodes the return on the lower-paying majors.
Go here if you want nursing or public safety and can commit to finishing. If you're chasing a business degree or you're a higher-income family paying full freight, the numbers don't clear the bar, and you should compare other options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lake Superior State University worth the cost?
Lake Superior State University offers reasonable value with a net price of $14,368 per year and graduates earning $49,045 annually after 10 years. The nursing and fire protection programs provide the strongest returns, while other majors like marketing and accounting show weaker earning potential relative to debt.
What is the return on investment for Lake Superior State University graduates?
LSSU graduates earn about $49,000 annually 10 years after graduation with median debt of $23,250. Nursing graduates earn $58,601, making it the most financially viable program, while criminal justice and business majors earn significantly less.
How much debt do Lake Superior State University students typically have?
LSSU students graduate with a median debt of $23,250. This is manageable for nursing and fire protection majors who earn higher salaries, but creates financial strain for graduates in lower-paying fields like criminal justice and marketing.
Which Lake Superior State University programs have the best job prospects?
Nursing programs at LSSU provide the strongest career outcomes with graduates earning $58,601 annually. Fire protection also offers solid returns at $47,260, while business-related majors like marketing and accounting show weaker earning potential.