Head-to-head comparison
Adrian College vs Lake Superior State University: which has better ROI?
Option A Adrian, MI
Adrian College
- Net price / year
- $25,368
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,504
- Payback
- 14.2 yrs
Option B Sault Ste Marie, MI
Lake Superior State University
- Net price / year
- $12,822
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,045
- Payback
- 74.9 yrs
Adrian College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $101,472 in 14.2 years versus 74.9 years at Lake Superior State University, on median earnings of $55,504 vs $49,045 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Adrian College | Lake Superior State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $25,368 | $12,822 |
| Total net cost | $101,472 | $51,288 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $55,504 | $49,045 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $23,250 |
| Payback | 14.2 yrs | 74.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $41,408 | -$37,588 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Adrian College or Lake Superior State University?
Lake Superior State University, at $12,822 a year after aid versus $25,368 — a gap of $12,546 a year, or $50,184 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Adrian College or Lake Superior State University graduates earn more?
Adrian College graduates report a median $55,504 ten years after entry, $6,459 more than the $49,045 at Lake Superior State University. 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Adrian College or Lake Superior State University?
Lake Superior State University: its completers carry a median $23,250 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Adrian College, a difference of $3,750. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
51% of students finish at Lake Superior State University, against 48% at Adrian 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.