Do Students Succeed at Lake Superior College?
Success rates, completion statistics, and student outcome metrics for Lake Superior College in Duluth, MN.
Student Success at Lake Superior College at a Glance
Lake Superior College is a public institution offering at least 2 but less than 4 years programs located in Duluth, MN. Current enrollment is 4,074 students.
- 41.8% overall graduation rate (IPEDS)
- 39.3% of all entering students earn their award within 8 years
- 68% of exiters from its largest program (Communication Studies Transfer Pathway) were employed within 6 months — verified by the U.S. Department of Labor
- DOL-verified median earnings of $5,228 per quarter after exiting Communication Studies Transfer Pathway
- 881 graduates across 109 programs in 2025
- VA-approved for GI Bill benefits — 197 students used them here
Program-Level Results · Verified by the U.S. Department of Labor
Verified Program Outcomes
Completion and employment results reported to the U.S. Department of Labor for Lake Superior College programs on the state Eligible Training Provider List. Missing values ("—") mean the state suppressed or did not report that metric — they never mean zero.
| Program | Completion rate | Employed 6 mo after exit | Employed 1 yr after exit | Median quarterly earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Communication Studies Transfer Pathway | 40% | 68% | 69% | $5,228 |
| Economics Transfer Pathway | 40% | 68% | 69% | $5,228 |
| English Transfer Pathway | 40% | 68% | 69% | $5,228 |
| History Transfer Pathway | 40% | 68% | 69% | $5,228 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | 40% | 68% | 69% | $5,228 |
| Mathematics Transfer Pathway | 40% | 68% | 69% | $5,228 |
| Psychology Transfer Pathway | 40% | 68% | 69% | $5,228 |
| Sociology Transfer Pathway | 40% | 68% | 69% | $5,228 |
| Nursing | 40% | 81% | 80% | $9,130 |
| Radiologic Technology | 28% | 81% | 77% | $7,128 |
| Nursing Assistant | 100% | 78% | 83% | $3,778 |
| Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide | 100% | 78% | 83% | $3,778 |
| Dental Hygiene | 30% | 68% | 65% | $7,278 |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | 41% | 51% | 50% | $6,192 |
| Network Administration and Cyber Security | 30% | 65% | 65% | $8,683 |
| Commercial and Residential Wiring | 30% | 76% | 74% | $8,075 |
| Practical Nursing | 45% | 83% | 81% | $8,193 |
| Accountant | 36% | 75% | 67% | $6,243 |
| Surgical Technology | 20% | 81% | 76% | $6,728 |
| Carpentry | 72% | 25% | 27% | $5,858 |
| Business Transfer Pathway | 10% | 65% | 67% | $6,311 |
| Gas Tungsten Arc Welding Production Welder | 54% | 63% | 64% | $8,407 |
| Integrated Manufacturing Technology - Welding | 54% | 63% | 64% | $8,407 |
| Integrated Manufacturing Technology-Welding | 54% | 63% | 64% | $8,407 |
| Welding Technologist | 54% | 63% | 64% | $8,407 |
| Welding Technology | 54% | 63% | 64% | $8,407 |
| Professional Pilot | 18% | 58% | 54% | $6,048 |
| Respiratory Therapy | 56% | 81% | 79% | $11,157 |
| Medical Assisting | 54% | 82% | 82% | $7,289 |
| Fire Technology | 44% | 75% | 73% | $7,002 |
| Aviation Maintenance Technology | 33% | 75% | 69% | $9,207 |
| Phlebotomy | 63% | 72% | 72% | $6,874 |
| Computer and Web Programming | 15% | 75% | 75% | $6,681 |
| Paralegal Studies | 34% | 72% | 66% | $6,977 |
| Business and Technology | 6% | 69% | 62% | $6,388 |
| Electronic Technology - Industrial Controls | 54% | 76% | 69% | $9,397 |
| Medical Laboratory Technician | 39% | 77% | 77% | $10,059 |
| Cyber Defense | 54% | 61% | 57% | $7,561 |
| Cyber Security | 54% | 61% | 57% | $7,561 |
| Microsoft Server Administrator | 54% | 61% | 57% | $7,561 |
| Network Administration and Security | 54% | 61% | 57% | $7,561 |
| Massage Therapist | 82% | 59% | 59% | $5,502 |
| Civil Engineering Technology | 43% | 89% | 83% | $9,969 |
| Computer Technology | 19% | 58% | 58% | $5,907 |
| Biology Transfer Pathway | — | 73% | 69% | $3,640 |
| Welding | 24% | 69% | 75% | $7,007 |
| Media Studies and Production | 49% | 77% | 73% | $3,612 |
| Health Sciences Broad Field | 9% | 61% | 63% | $4,256 |
| Truck Driving | 96% | 56% | 50% | $9,735 |
| Truck Driving-Advanced | 96% | 56% | 50% | $9,735 |
| Auto Body Technology | 70% | 59% | 56% | $5,961 |
| Fire Fighter | 47% | 70% | 69% | $5,493 |
| Integrated Manufacturing - Engineering CAD Tech | 50% | 71% | 77% | $8,384 |
| Basic Electronics | 43% | 76% | 71% | $8,201 |
| Electronic Technology | 43% | 76% | 71% | $8,201 |
| Integrated Manufacturing Technology - CNC Machine | 48% | 56% | 65% | $8,903 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | 71% | 64% | 58% | $6,581 |
| Fire Medic | 71% | 64% | 58% | $6,581 |
| Wildland Firefighting | 71% | 64% | 58% | $6,581 |
| Bookkeeper | 49% | 84% | 75% | $7,692 |
| Web Developer | 57% | 67% | 74% | $6,917 |
| Auto Maintenance and Light Repair | 60% | 69% | 68% | $8,231 |
| Auto Service Technology | 60% | 69% | 68% | $8,231 |
| Brake and Suspension Technician | 60% | 69% | 68% | $8,231 |
| Personal Training | 26% | 71% | 72% | $6,531 |
| Integrated Manufacturing Technology - Automated Ma | 47% | 50% | 61% | $6,113 |
| Rapid Prototyping and Design | 47% | 50% | 61% | $6,113 |
| Art Transfer Pathway | 18% | 41% | 57% | $4,845 |
| Fire Science and Administration | 60% | 77% | 75% | $19,890 |
| Chemistry Transfer Pathway | — | 58% | 64% | $4,434 |
| Engineering CAD Technician | 38% | 81% | 68% | $7,765 |
| Integrated Manufacturing - Engineering CAD Technol | 38% | 81% | 68% | $7,765 |
| Solidworks (CAD) | 38% | 81% | 68% | $7,765 |
| Administrative Office Specialist | 38% | 81% | 67% | $6,770 |
| Exercise Science Transfer Pathway | — | 71% | 64% | $4,031 |
| PC Support Technician | 62% | 43% | 40% | $3,761 |
| Administrative Office | 50% | 94% | 81% | $6,992 |
| Administrative Support-Legal Secretary | 77% | 62% | 54% | $4,374 |
| Legal Secretary | 77% | 62% | 54% | $4,374 |
| Medical Receptionist | 45% | 55% | 45% | $5,833 |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, WIOA participant outcomes (trainingproviderresults.gov), PY 2023.
College-Wide Statistics · IPEDS Federal Survey
What Are the Student Outcomes at Lake Superior College?
Unlike the program-level results above, the figures below cover all students at Lake Superior College, tracked over eight years by the federal IPEDS survey.
Overall Completion Rate
39.3%
Working Student Success
41%
Transfer Out Rate
24.3%
Still Enrolled Rate
0.9%
How Lake Superior College Compares
A 39% completion rate at Lake Superior College is consistent with how most trade colleges perform. With 1% still enrolled, the picture is one of steady but incomplete progression — common in programs that mix full-time students with part-time learners working alongside their studies.
What Happens After Students Enroll at Lake Superior College?
Eight-Year Student Outcomes
Eight-year outcomes for students who entered Lake Superior College. This shows what happened to students in their cohort by the end of the tracking period.
Understanding These Outcomes
Completed: Students who earned a certificate, diploma, or degree from this institution.
Still Enrolled: Students who remain enrolled at this institution after the tracking period.
Transferred Out: Students who transferred to another institution and may have completed there.
No Award: Students who left without earning a credential and are not enrolled elsewhere.
Combined completion and transfer rate of 51.8% indicates strong student success pathways.
These outcomes track what happened to students eight years after they first enrolled. Completion rates include certificates, diplomas, and degrees earned at this institution. Transfer rates show students who continued their education at other colleges. Understanding these pathways helps prospective students set realistic expectations and plan their educational journey.
What Are the Transfer and Continuation Patterns at Lake Superior College?
Success Rates by Student Entry Pathway
Comparing completion rates across different student entry pathways helps understand which groups succeed and how transfer experience impacts outcomes.
Key Insights
First-time and transfer students achieve similar completion rates, indicating equitable support regardless of entry pathway.
Combined 25.5% transfer-out rate suggests this institution may serve as a stepping stone for students continuing their education elsewhere.
Cohort Composition
Understanding Student Pathways
First-Time Students: Beginning postsecondary education for the first time at this institution.
Transfer-In Students: Previously attended another postsecondary institution before enrolling here.
Continuing Students: Returned to this institution after a break in enrollment.
Completion rates tracked over 8 years from initial entry.
Different student entry pathways lead to varying success rates. First-time students enter directly from high school or are starting college for the first time. Transfer students bring prior college experience and credits. Understanding these patterns helps you identify which pathway aligns best with your situation and predict your likelihood of success.
What Are the Completion Rates by Student Type at Lake Superior College?
What does this mean for you? These completion rates show how different types of students succeed at this institution. Notably, part-time students have a higher success rate here (41% vs 37.4% for full-time), which is great news if you plan to work while studying. This pattern is common at trade colleges where programs are designed to accommodate working adults. First-time students are those new to college, while transfer students have attended another institution before.
What Are the Cohort Outcomes Over Time at Lake Superior College?
Tracking outcomes for the 2015-16 cohort of 1,517 students
After 4 Years
After 6 Years
After 8 Years (Final)
Final Student Status
Completion Breakdown by Cohort
Part-time First-time Transfer Students
All First-time Transfer Students
Full-time First-time Transfer Students
Part-time First-time Students
All First-time Students
All Part-time Students
Full-time First-time Students
Part-time Non-first-time Transfer Students
Time to Completion
About This Data
Outcome measures data tracks student cohorts over 4, 6, and 8-year periods. Data is sourced from IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) and reflects the most recent available reporting year.