Lake Region State College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Lake Region State College charges a net price of $13,577/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $27,154. Graduates earn a median $49,502 ten years after entry, $1,142/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 23.8 years — a 20-year net return of -$4,314, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Lake Region State College's 23.8-year payback ranks #1,097 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 14% of them, and #9 of 17 in North Dakota.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $13,577/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (2 yrs) | $27,154 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $49,502 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $1,142/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $10,293 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 23.8 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$4,314 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Lake Region State College's own numbers. Net price $13,577 × 2 years = $27,154 total. Median earnings $49,502 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $1,142 a year of premium. $27,154 ÷ $1,142 = 23.8 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves -$4,314. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Lake Region State College students graduate with?
A median $10,293 in federal loans among completers, or 21% of the $49,502 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Lake Region State College students graduate?
52% finish their degree — 48% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $27,154 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $52,219 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Lake Region State College expensive compared with other North Dakota colleges?
Its $13,577 net price runs $2,121 above the $11,456 median across the 17 North Dakota colleges we profile, or $4,242 more across the full degree.