University of Minnesota-Duluth vs Lake Superior College: which has better ROI?
University of Minnesota-Duluth has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $74,972 in 5.3 years versus not at all at Lake Superior College, on median earnings of $62,616 vs $46,449 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Minnesota-Duluth | Lake Superior College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,743 | $15,492 |
| Total net cost | $74,972 | $30,984 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $62,616 | $46,449 |
| Median debt | $22,024 | $12,775 |
| Payback | 5.3 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $210,148 | -$69,204 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, University of Minnesota-Duluth or Lake Superior College?
Lake Superior College, at $15,492 a year after aid versus $18,743 — a gap of $3,251 a year, or $43,988 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do University of Minnesota-Duluth or Lake Superior College graduates earn more?
University of Minnesota-Duluth graduates report a median $62,616 ten years after entry, $16,167 more than the $46,449 at Lake Superior 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, University of Minnesota-Duluth or Lake Superior College?
Lake Superior College: its completers carry a median $12,775 in federal loans versus $22,024 at University of Minnesota-Duluth, a difference of $9,249. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
65% of students finish at University of Minnesota-Duluth, 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.