Head-to-head comparison
Lake Superior State University vs Spring Arbor University: which has better ROI?
Option A Sault Ste Marie, MI
Lake Superior State University
- Net price / year
- $12,822
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,045
- Payback
- 74.9 yrs
Option B Spring Arbor, MI
Spring Arbor University
- Net price / year
- $19,353
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,732
- Payback
- 23 yrs
Spring Arbor University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $77,412 in 23 years versus 74.9 years at Lake Superior State University, on median earnings of $51,732 vs $49,045 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lake Superior State University | Spring Arbor University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,822 | $19,353 |
| Total net cost | $51,288 | $77,412 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,045 | $51,732 |
| Median debt | $23,250 | $26,375 |
| Payback | 74.9 yrs | 23 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$37,588 | -$9,972 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Lake Superior State University or Spring Arbor University?
Lake Superior State University, at $12,822 a year after aid versus $19,353 — a gap of $6,531 a year, or $26,124 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 Lake Superior State University or Spring Arbor University graduates earn more?
Spring Arbor University graduates report a median $51,732 ten years after entry, $2,687 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, Lake Superior State University or Spring Arbor University?
Lake Superior State University: its completers carry a median $23,250 in federal loans versus $26,375 at Spring Arbor University, a difference of $3,125. 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?
64% of students finish at Spring Arbor University, against 51% at Lake Superior State University. 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.