Admit rate has ranged 54%–64% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. 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, a small liberal arts school in Painesville, Ohio, punches above its weight with equestrian programs and hands-on learning—though its 42% graduation rate signals challenges. With a 70% acceptance rate and generous merit aid, it attracts students drawn to its tight-knit community and niche majors like Equine Business Administration.
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
Acceptance Rate
70%
Graduation Rate
42%
Most Popular Major
Business Administration
Student-Faculty Ratio
12:1
Merit Scholarship Range
$19,000-$23,000/year
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
57%
First-generation share
33%
Endowment / student
$37,025
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 moderately selective, admitting about 70% of applicants—translating to roughly 964 students from 1,370 applications annually. The middle 50% of admitted students score between 18-24 on the ACT or 970-1,180 on the SAT. Notably, the college doesn't charge an application fee, lowering barriers to apply. While some sources peg the Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. slightly lower (64%), all agree it's far less competitive than national averages.
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.
With a 12:1 student-faculty ratio, Lake Erie offers 33 majors and 29 minors—most notably its equine programs (Equine Business Administration, Equine Facility Management) and sciences (Biology, Environmental Science). Business Administration is the most popular major, awarding about 25 degrees annually. The curriculum emphasizes 'real-world engagement,' with hands-on learning woven into programs like Chemistry and Human Services. Small class sizes dominate, though the college struggles with a 42% four-year graduation rate.
Enrolling just 744 undergraduates (56.9% male, 43.1% female), Lake Erie fosters a close-knit campus vibe. Student life revolves around equestrian activities (thanks to its 60-acre George M. Humphrey Equestrian Center), DIII athletics, and clubs. Orientation events—like those teased in Instagram reels—highlight traditions and campus resources. The rural Painesville location means off-campus excitement requires a drive, but TikTok student takeovers show lively dorm gatherings and campus events filling the gap.
The college's 42% graduation rate (within six years) lands it in the bottom 25% nationally—a stark gap between Pell Grant recipients (34% graduate) and non-recipients (49%). While outcomes data is sparse, the rate suggests retention challenges. However, the emphasis on career-ready skills (like its Equine Facility Management program’s hands-on training) may benefit job seekers in niche fields.
Tuition runs $22,322 after aid (average package: $31,258), with 100% of students receiving grants or scholarships. Merit awards are substantial: - $23,000/year for 3.75+ GPAs (Presidential Scholarship)
$21,000 for 3.5-3.74 GPAs (Tiberius Scholarship)
$19,000 for 3.0-3.49 GPAs (Founders Scholarship)
Even with aid, the Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. averages $14,077—a figure that may give pause given the graduation rate.
Lake Erie’s equestrian programs are its crown jewel—rare at small colleges—and its Merit aidScholarship money awarded for achievements like grades, talents, or test scores — not based on your family's financial need. makes private education accessible. The vibe is 'work hard, ride harder,' blending liberal arts with vocational training (like its Equine Business major’s stable-management focus). But the low graduation rate underscores a mismatch: students who thrive here are self-starters drawn to its niche offerings, not those needing hand-holding. For the right student—especially an equestrian or business major—it’s a bargain with character.
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