Safety Score
2.40 /1K students
incidents per 1,000 enrolled
Sault Sainte Marie, MI · Clery Act 2023 · Public
Lake Superior State University
According to the U.S. Department of Education's Clery Act filings, this profile covers campus safety, crime statistics, fire-safety data, and peer comparison for this 1,669-student campus.
- 2.40
- Incidents / 1k students
- #2,116
- Rank of 3,050
- #53
- MI rank
- 1,669
- Enrolled students
Data updated June 2026
The verdict
Lake Superior State University reports 2.40 on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students, ranking #2,116 of 3,050 ranked U.S. campuses.
- 2.40
- incidents / 1,000 students
- #2,116
- of 3,050 ranked nationally
- 3
- on-campus incidents, 2023
Safety score = reported on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is safer).
Reporting-period change
What changed in 2023
Lake Superior State University increased from 2 to 3 reported on-campus incidents between the 2022 and 2023 reporting years in the U.S. Department of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey.
This is a change in reported incidents, not a measure of individual safety. Enrollment, reporting practice, and category coverage can affect the count.
See national reporting-year changesLake Superior State University is a Public institution located in Sault Sainte Marie, MI, enrolling approximately 1,669 students. Clery Act data spanning 2021–2023 records 9 total on-campus incidents across all reported crime categories. Within MI, it ranks #53 by safety score. Verify with the U.S. Department of Education Clery Act database →
With 1,669 enrolled students, this campus sits in the small college bracket, which shapes how raw incident counts should be interpreted.
The most frequently reported category at Lake Superior State University is "Rape" with 4 cumulative incidents across the reporting window. Compared to 5 peer institutions of similar enrollment size in MI averaging 5.87 incidents per 1,000 students, Lake Superior State University reports 59% fewer incidents per student.
Fire safety data covers 1 reporting year for on-campus residential facilities, logging 0 total fires. Arrests and disciplinary actions span 36 category-year records, covering liquor law violations, drug law violations, and weapons possession on-campus. Federal enforcement history shows 1 recorded Clery Act violation with associated fines, a material signal about institutional compliance.
National Rank
#2116
See peer comparison
State Rank (MI)
#53
within state peers
Incidents (2023)
3
across 11 crime categories
Safety percentile vs. peers
Lake Superior State University percentile rank 30.6%
National median
Higher percentile = safer than more peers. Rank #2116 out of 3,050 ranked institutions (enrollment >= 500) in the OPE Campus Safety Survey.
Reporting density vs peer median
Lake Superior State University reports 59% fewer incidents per student than the median of 5 peer institutions.
Academic & Financial Profile
Tuition & Costs
- In-State Tuition
- $14,890
- Out-of-State Tuition
- $14,890
- Avg Net Price
- $12,822
- Median Debt
- $23,250
- Pell Grant Recipients
- 27%
Outcomes
- 4-Year Graduation Rate
- 54%
- Retention Rate
- 79%
- Median Earnings (6yr)
- $42,767
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $49,045
- Loan Repayment (3yr)
- 75%
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard. Methodology.
Crime Statistics by Year
11 categories 3 reporting years on-campus onlyLake Superior State University: on-campus incidents by year
Declining 25% (4 → 3 incidents)
| Crime Type | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aggravated Assault | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Burglary | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fondling | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Incest | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Murder / Non-Negligent Manslaughter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Negligent Manslaughter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rape | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Robbery | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Statutory Rape | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: US Dept US Dept of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey. Figures show on-campus incidents
Fire Safety
| Year | Fires | Inj. | Deaths | Cat I | Cat II |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Arrests & Disciplinary Actions
36 category-year records| Category | Year | Arrests | Discipline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drugs | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2023 | 2 | 2 |
| Drugs | 2023 | 1 | 28 |
| Liquor | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Liquor | 2023 | 0 | 6 |
| Liquor | 2023 | 0 | 6 |
| Liquor | 2023 | 0 | 14 |
| Weapons | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Weapons | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Weapons | 2023 | 1 | 0 |
| Weapons | 2023 | 0 | 1 |
| Drugs | 2022 | 0 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2022 | 0 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2022 | 0 | 9 |
| Drugs | 2022 | 0 | 21 |
| Liquor | 2022 | 0 | 0 |
| Liquor | 2022 | 0 | 0 |
| Liquor | 2022 | 0 | 5 |
| Liquor | 2022 | 0 | 16 |
Lake Superior State University vs peer institutions
Side-by-side safety scores for 3 peers of similar enrollment
Scores are incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is fewer).
MI
Lake Superior State University
2.40 incidents / 1,000 students
ME
Thomas College
0.00 incidents / 1,000 students
NY
Hobart William Smith Colleges
24.57 incidents / 1,000 students
Similar Institutions
Thomas College
Waterville, ME · 1,669 enrolled
Safety Score 0.00
Hobart William Smith Colleges
Geneva, NY · 1,669 enrolled
Safety Score 24.57
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr, PA · 1,666 enrolled
Safety Score 4.80
Northwestern College
Orange City, IA · 1,665 enrolled
Safety Score 0.00
Community College of Beaver County
Monaca, PA · 1,673 enrolled
Safety Score 0.00
Closest by National Rank
Institutions ranked nearest Lake Superior State University nationally (rank #2116), regardless of size or state.
Montclair State University
Montclair, NJ
National Rank #2115
Howard Payne University
Brownwood, TX
National Rank #2117
North Seattle College
Seattle, WA
National Rank #2114
Georgetown University
Washington, DC
National Rank #2118
Central Connecticut State University
New Britain, CT
National Rank #2113
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lake Superior State University safe?
Lake Superior State University has a safety score of 2.40 (total on-campus incidents per 1,000 enrolled students) and ranks #2,116 nationally out of 3,050+ ranked institutions. Compare this with peer institutions for context.
What crimes are reported at Lake Superior State University?
Aggravated Assault, Arson, Burglary, Fondling, Incest, and other categories, for calendar year 2023.
How does Lake Superior State University compare to similar schools?
See the Similar Institutions section below for peers of similar enrollment in MI.
Does Lake Superior State University have fire safety data?
Yes. Lake Superior State University reports fire safety data for on-campus residential facilities, including total fires, injuries, deaths, and fire damage categories. No fires were reported in the most recent year.
Understanding Lake Superior State University's Safety Profile
Lake Superior State University in Sault Sainte Marie, MI enrolls 1,669 students and has a safety score of 2.40 incidents per 1,000 enrolled students , ranking #2116 nationally.
Reported incidents cover 2021 to 2023. On-campus incidents increased from 2 in 2022 to 3 in 2023.
Fire safety data covers on-campus residential facilities. No fires were reported in the most recent year, indicating effective fire prevention measures.
DOE Enforcement Actions
2008 Clery Act Violation $350,000
University covered up the 2006 murder of student Laura Dickinson, classifying her death as non-criminal to avoid negative publicity. DOE found systematic underreporting.
Fine paid. University president and other officials removed.
What this means for you
Lake Superior State University's 2.40 reported on-campus incidents per 1,000 students is a starting point for comparison, not a verdict on any student's safety.
- Weigh Lake Superior State University against similar-size campuses, scale changes what the raw count means. Compare campuses
- A higher count can mean stronger reporting, not more danger. How the data works
- Clery covers campus grounds only. Campus vs. city crime
Figures reflect the 2023 Clery Act reporting year as filed with the U.S. Department of Education.
Data sourced from the U.S. Department of Education, OPE Campus Safety & Security Survey (Clery Act). See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCampus Editorial
Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal Clery Act source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.