Lake Superior College vs Bethany Lutheran College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Lake Superior College comes closer — median earnings $46,449 against a $30,984 total, vs $46,110 at Bethany Lutheran College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lake Superior College | Bethany Lutheran College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,492 | $20,148 |
| Total net cost | $30,984 | $80,592 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,449 | $46,110 |
| Median debt | $12,775 | $23,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$69,204 | -$125,592 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Lake Superior College or Bethany Lutheran College?
Lake Superior College, at $15,492 a year after aid versus $20,148 — a gap of $4,656 a year, or $49,608 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Lake Superior College or Bethany Lutheran College graduates earn more?
Lake Superior College graduates report a median $46,449 ten years after entry, $339 more than the $46,110 at Bethany Lutheran College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Lake Superior College or Bethany Lutheran College?
Lake Superior College: its completers carry a median $12,775 in federal loans versus $23,000 at Bethany Lutheran College, a difference of $10,225. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
55% of students finish at Bethany Lutheran College, against 42% at Lake Superior College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.