Head-to-head comparison
University of Minnesota-Duluth vs Lake Superior College: which has better ROI?
Option A Duluth, MN
University of Minnesota-Duluth
- Net price / year
- $18,743
- Earnings, 10 years
- $62,616
- Payback
- 5.3 yrs
Option B Duluth, MN
Lake Superior College
- Net price / year
- $15,492
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,449
- Payback
- No payback
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.
The short answer
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.
The short answer
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.
The short answer
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.
The short answer
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.