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Grand Rapids, MI · Sault Ste Marie, MI
| Cornerstone University | Lake Superior State University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $20,301/yr | $12,822/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $20,177/yr | $3,516/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $25,000 | $23,250 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $17,674/yr | $9,226/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $17,872/yr | $10,422/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $18,489/yr | $14,541/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $23,135/yr | $20,321/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $265/mo | $246/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $12,700/yr | $11,459/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $9,600/yr | $9,130/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $560/yr | $2,000/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $2,700/yr | $1,670/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $42,043/yr | $27,154/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $23,000/yr | $14,890/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $23,000/yr | $14,890/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 33% | 27% |
| Students taking federal loans | 52% | 37% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 78% | No data reported |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 2,011 | 2,473 |
| Students accepted | 1,472 | 1,682 |
| Students who enrolled | 305 | 255 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 21% | 15% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Essay | Required | Not considered |
| Recommendation letters | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Class rank | Not considered | Required |
| College-prep program | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Not considered | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Not considered | Open admission (everyone qualified gets in) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 62% | 51% |
| Freshmen who come back | 78% | 79% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $47,314/yr | $49,045/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $28,589–$66,987 | $31,520–$68,652 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 66% | 56% |
| White students graduating | 62% | 50% |
| Black students graduating | 42% | 30% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 60% | 88% |
| Asian students graduating | 60% | 100% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $42,598/yr | $42,767/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 62% | 66% |
| Graduate on time | 56% | 31% |
| Pell students who graduate | 57% | 41% |
| First-gen students who finish | 39% | 37% |
| Low-income students who finish | 30% | 32% |
| Students who transfer out | No data reported | 27% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $45,964/yr | $48,815/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 28% · Education 12% · Psychology 10% | Homeland Security & Protective Services 17% · Business, Management & Marketing 15% · Liberal Arts & General Studies 13% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 28% of degrees | Homeland Security & Protective Services — 17% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Education — 12% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 15% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Psychology — 10% of degrees | Liberal Arts & General Studies — 13% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Health Professions — 9% of degrees | Natural Resources & Conservation — 9% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Parks, Recreation & Fitness — 8% of degrees | Engineering — 8% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Business Administration, Management and Operations — $66,737/yr | Mechanical Engineering — $77,229/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 6.4% | 21% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 1,298 | 1,325 |
| Students per professor | 15 : 1 | 13 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 341 | 16 |
| Average professor pay | $7,119/mo | $8,000/mo |
| Full-time professors | 100% | 92% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
| Median family income | $49,808 | $49,053 |
| Setting | City (midsize) | Town (remote) |
| Location | Grand Rapids, MI | Sault Ste Marie, MI |
| Region | Great Lakes | Great Lakes |
| Founded | 1941 | 1946 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Public |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 4.9% | 8.2% |
| Men | 41% | 46% |
| Women | 59% | 54% |
| White students | 70% | 70% |
| Black students | 6.6% | 3% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 6.2% | 1.9% |
| Asian students | 1.6% | 0.8% |
| Two or more races | 2.2% | 4.7% |
| Other / not reported | 8% | 12% |
| Special type | Religiously affiliated | None |
| First-generation students | 35% | 33% |
| Part-time students | 21% | 13% |
| Students age 25+ | 14% | 12% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $4,718/yr | $11,551/yr |
| Endowment | $17.0M | $39.3M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 780 | 1,108 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | 18 meals/week | 19 meals/week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Religious affiliation | Interdenominational | No data reported |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | No |
| ROTC | No | No |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | Yes | Yes |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | No |
| Weekend & evening classes | Yes | No |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | Yes |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | No | No |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NAIA Division I | NCAA Division II without football |
| Football team | No | No |
| Varsity teams | 19 | 12 |
| Student athletes | 448 | 164 |
| Athletic scholarships | $1.7M | $2.1M |
| Athletics budget | $4.3M | $6.4M |
| Athletics revenue | $4.3M | $6.4M |
| Recruiting spend | $9,250 | $58,124 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.