LEC vs. The University of Tennessee Southern

Comparable Facts

Compare Lake Erie College in Painesville, OH with The University of Tennessee Southern in Pulaski, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Lake Erie College is larger than The University of Tennessee Southern based on total student enrollment (1,108 students vs. 1,046 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lake Erie College is located in Painesville, OH (Large Suburban setting); The University of Tennessee Southern is in Pulaski, TN (Distant Town setting).
• Lake Erie College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Tennessee Southern is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lake Erie College 12:1; The University of Tennessee Southern 14:1.

LEC vs. The University of Tennessee Southern Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, LEC or The University of Tennessee Southern? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of Tennessee Southern than LEC ($14,546 vs. $22,892).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Tennessee Southern are 36.3% lower than at Lake Erie College ($8,300 vs. $13,036).
• Lake Erie College is 244.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than The University of Tennessee Southern (about $26,710 more per year; $37,634.00 vs. $10,924.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 244.5% higher at LEC than at The University of Tennessee Southern (about $26,710 more per year; $37,634.00 vs. $10,924.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lake Erie College than at The University of Tennessee Southern (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lake Erie College students is 169.2% larger than aid received by The University of Tennessee Southern students ($27,879 vs. $10,358).

LEC vs. The University of Tennessee Southern Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, LEC or The University of Tennessee Southern? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between The University of Tennessee Southern and LEC.

• The University of Tennessee Southern reports an open admissions policy.
• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lake Erie College (1030) is 20 points higher than at The University of Tennessee Southern (1010).
• Incoming LEC students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 21) as students at The University of Tennessee Southern (21).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lake Erie College 945/1115; The University of Tennessee Southern 905/1110.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lake Erie College 18/24; The University of Tennessee Southern 18/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: LEC - Test-free; The University of Tennessee Southern - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: LEC Aug 1, 2027; The University of Tennessee Southern Aug 26, 2027.
• Accepted freshman LEC students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.19) than students at The University of Tennessee Southern (3.17).
• The University of Tennessee Southern has a higher acceptance rate (86.7%) than LEC (70.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.7% at LEC vs. 26.1% at The University of Tennessee Southern.

LEC vs. The University of Tennessee Southern Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for LEC and The University of Tennessee Southern? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Lake Erie College's six-year graduation rate (53%) is higher than The University of Tennessee Southern's (49%).
• Graduates from Lake Erie College earn a median of about $1,700 more per year than The University of Tennessee Southern graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,600 vs. $34,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The University of Tennessee Southern graduates have a $4,685 lower median loan debt than LEC graduates ($22,315 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, The University of Tennessee Southern graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than LEC graduates ($230 vs. $279).
• More LEC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former The University of Tennessee Southern students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 43%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.