Admit rate has ranged 54%–64% over the last 5 years — notably volatile, though the latest figure above (70%) falls outside that window. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Lake Erie College operates as a small, accessible liberal arts school in Painesville, Ohio, where a 12:1 student-faculty ratio promises close attention but where graduation outcomes are a serious concern. Its identity is split between a conventional undergraduate program—where business and equine studies are popular—and a pipeline to the affiliated Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, creating a campus culture that is both welcoming and pragmatic. The college is defined by its high acceptance rate, significant merit scholarships, and a focus on career preparation, but families must weigh its affordability against its low completion rates.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Letters of recommendation
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
College-prep program
Demonstrated competencies
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
852
In-state tuition
$37,634
Out-of-state tuition
$37,634
Graduation Rate
38%
Gender Distribution
56.9% Male, 43.1% Female
First-Year Retention
65%
Student-Faculty Ratio
12:1
Median Earnings (10yr)
$50,417
Early Decision Deadline
December 1
Merit Scholarship (Presidential)
$23,000 (3.75+ GPA)
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$50,417
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.4×
Median debt at graduation
$26,000
Graduation rate
38%
First-year retention
59%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
64%
Pell (lower-income) share
37%
First-gen share (among federal-aid recipients)
33%
Financial health
0.6 / 3.0Below the federal standard — financial stress
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Business Administration, Management and Operations$37,808
Criminal Justice and Corrections$35,600
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$35,060
Psychology, General$31,133
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$29,685
Agricultural Business and Management
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
0
Per 1,000 students
0.00
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
95
Summer high
77°F
Winter low
27°F
Annual rain
47.5"
Annual snow
42.7"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Low
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
31
Scholarly works
310
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
0.1%
Bottom → top quintile
1%
From bottom quintile
9%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Lake Erie College?
Lake Erie College's acceptance rate is approximately 70% (Painesville, OH), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
How much does Lake Erie College cost?
At Lake Erie College, the average net price (after aid) is about $20,961 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Lake Erie College?
Lake Erie College enrolls approximately 852 undergraduate students.
Where is Lake Erie College located?
Lake Erie College is located in Painesville, OH.
Admissions
Lake Erie College is an accessible institution, with an admissions process that is straightforward and non-competitive. The college admits about 70% of its applicants, a rate confirmed across multiple sources. The process is , requiring only an application (via the Common App, a proprietary Fast App, or directly) and an official high school transcript. While the college notes that ACT or SAT scores are optional, admitted students typically present scores in the range of 970-1180 on the SAT or 18-24 on the ACT. There is an Early Decision plan with a December 1st deadline, though the for this pool is not detailed in the provided sources. The admissions office does not appear to prioritize demonstrated interest as a major factor, based on the general discussion of the factor grid, though LEC's specific rating is not provided in these snippets. The overall vibe is one of openness, with the school described as "neither extremely selective nor open to everyone."
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
$21,781
Biology, General$21,508
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Academics at Lake Erie College are built around a low student-faculty ratio of 12:1, which facilitates a personalized, close-knit classroom experience. The college offers 37 undergraduate majors, with business being the most popular field of study. Other notable programs include early childhood education, accounting, biology, and criminal justice. The curriculum emphasizes "real world engagement" and preparing students for meaningful careers, with science graduates specifically cited as being prepared for veterinary medicine, equine facility management, and therapeutic roles. However, student satisfaction, as measured by freshman retention, is a modest 65%. The graduation rate is a central challenge; sources cite figures ranging from 38% to 45%, with one analysis noting a significant gender gap: male students graduate at a rate of 27%, while female students fare somewhat better. This suggests academic support structures may be inconsistent.
With a total undergraduate enrollment of just 744 students, Lake Erie College fosters a small, intimate campus environment repeatedly described as "welcoming and close-knit." The culture emphasizes relationships among faculty and students. The student body has a slight male majority, at 56.9% male to 43.1% female. The college promotes involvement through "amazing clubs, sports, and organizations" designed to help students "have fun, stay fit, and find your tribe." The campus also serves as a "vibrant cultural hub," with dedicated arts programming. Located in Painesville, Ohio, the setting is suburban. The overall impression is of a community where it's easy to get involved and be known, which can be a major draw for students seeking to avoid the anonymity of a large university.
Outcomes for Lake Erie College graduates present a mixed picture. The most critical statistic is the graduation rate, which the canonical figure sets at 38%—among the lowest nationally and a red flag for prospective students regarding the institution's ability to support them to degree completion. For those who do graduate, earnings data shows progression: one year after graduation, alumni earn an average of $39,461, which grows to $53,562 after five years. The canonical figure for median earnings ten years after entry is $50,417. This suggests that graduates who persist find stable, middle-class employment, particularly in the business, education, and equine fields for which the college prepares them. The significant earnings bump from year one to year five indicates growing career traction, but the low graduation rate means a majority of entering students never reach that point.
The sticker price at Lake Erie College is high, with a total listed at $51,500 ($38,700 for tuition and fees, $12,800 for room and board). However, the college is aggressive with to bring down the . The canonical average net price after aid is $20,961, and other sources cite an average aid package of $31,258. Crucially, 100% of full-time beginning undergraduates receive grant or scholarship aid. The college offers a tiered merit scholarship system based on GPA: the Presidential scholarship ($23,000) for a 3.75 GPA and above, a $21,000 award for a 3.0-3.74 GPA, and a Leadership scholarship ($15,000) for a 2.74 GPA and below. There is no indication in the provided sources that Lake Erie College meets full demonstrated financial need or has a no-loan policy for low-income students; the aid strategy appears heavily focused on merit discounts.
Lake Erie College stands out for its stark contrasts. It is at once incredibly accessible—with a 70% and generous, automatic merit scholarships—and a place where only about a third of students graduate. Its small size (744 undergraduates) and 12:1 faculty ratio create an environment of close attention, which makes its low retention and graduation rates particularly puzzling and points to challenges beyond the classroom. The college has a distinct niche in equine and veterinary science preparation, and its affiliation with the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) provides a rare, direct early-acceptance pathway to medical school for high-achieving high school students (requiring a 3.5 GPA and a 1240 SAT/26 ACT). This creates two parallel student experiences: one for the pre-professional track aiming for graduate health programs, and another for the traditional liberal arts and business majors. It's a college that bets on potential through open admissions, but students and families must carefully bet on its ability to deliver them to a degree.
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