Last Updated: Sunday July 26, 2026  ·  Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard Nov 2025
Lake Land College — Acceptance Rate and Admission Requirements
Public Accredited · Higher Learning Commission Mattoon, Illinois

Lake Land College Acceptance Rate, GPA, and Admission Requirements

📍 Mattoon, Illinois 61938 🏛️ Main Campus 🌐 www.lakelandcollege.edu/

Lake Land College — Admission Snapshot 2026

A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application

$10,023Annual Cost
$38,877Grad Salary
26.6%Pell Grant
Selectivity
Open Enrollment
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
-40–30
Avg Net Price
$3,271
Need-Based Aid
26.6% receive Pell

Lake Land College is a public community college in Illinois that serves its region with a comprehensive range of associate degrees, transfer pathways, and technical programs. Known for its commitment to affordability and student-centered support, the college provides a high-quality educational experience in a supportive, small-town atmosphere. Whether students are aiming for immediate workforce entry or a foundation for a bachelor's degree, the college offers a stable and effective academic path.

Lake Land College Acceptance Rate

Admission at Lake Land College is inclusive by design: 100% of applicants who meet basic eligibility are accepted.

What to Expect

  • Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
  • Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in — worth preparing for.

Selectivity at a Glance

Open Enrollment
Lake Land College Selectivity Meter
Selectivity scale: Open Enrollment — rate not reported
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)

A GPA a bit under the average isn't disqualifying at this tier — a solid test score or clear leadership record can offset it.

Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).

Lake Land College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026

Lake Land College follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.

Key Admission Dates

🔄
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime

Lake Land College reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.

March 1, 2026Scholarship Deadline
RollingAdmission Type

💡 The scholarship deadline (March 1, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.

Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.

Check Your Admission Chances at Lake Land College

Admission Chance Predictor

Built from Lake Land College's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below

--%
Calculating Profile...

Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.

Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00

⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.

Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.

Lake Land College Test Requirements

Scores aren't just a formality at Lake Land College — landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.

Can I Get Into Lake Land College Without SAT or ACT?

Lake Land College's test-score policy isn't published. As a default, submit your score only if it's at or above the state/national average — a below-average score can work against you.

Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Lake Land College

Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer

Getting into Lake Land College is the easy part — what matters next is using placement testing, advising, and available resources to set up a strong first year.

Confirm Which Entrance Exam Your Program Actually Uses

Lake Land's Practical Nursing program requires the HESI A2 Admissions Assessment exam with a minimum score of 70 - not the TEAS exam that many other community college nursing programs use. Confirm the exact exam name before studying; prepping for the wrong standardized test wastes irreplaceable weeks before the firm March 1st deadline.

Know Your In-District Status Before You Apply

Illinois state regulation requires Lake Land to admit qualified in-district residents to the Practical Nursing program before considering out-of-district applicants. A student living outside the Lake Land Community College District boundary should confirm their residency status early and treat every part of the application - GPA, HESI A2 score, prerequisite completion - as needing to be maximally competitive, since out-of-district applicants are ranked behind in-district ones regardless of qualifications.

Ask About PCCS Before Assuming You Have to Wait Until Graduation

The Partnership for Career and College Success (PCCS) track lets selected high school students enter the Nursing program in their second year at Lake Land, using a separate PCCS-specific application checklist. A high school junior or senior interested in nursing should ask their counselor specifically about PCCS eligibility rather than assuming the standard post-graduation application timeline is the only path in.

Sequence Intent to Enroll, Transcript Evaluation, and HESI A2 Registration in the Right Order

HESI A2 registration only opens after the Intent to Enroll and nursing application are on file, and the exam itself should be completed the fall semester before the March 1st deadline. This is a sequential, not parallel, process - start the Intent to Enroll and transcript evaluation at least two full semesters ahead so there's time to register for and complete the HESI A2 before the deadline crunch.

Expert Insight:

The real failure pattern is treating general admission to Lake Land College as equivalent to admission into the Nursing program. Getting accepted to the college doesn't reserve a program seat - Practical Nursing is a competitive, special-admission program that ranks applicants using an objective formula, prioritizes in-district residents by state regulation, and runs its own exam, its own March 1st deadline, and its own multi-step application entirely separate from general enrollment.

Lake Land College Profile

Full Name
Lake Land College
City
Mattoon
State
Illinois
ZIP Code
61938
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)

Is a Lake Land College Degree Worth It?

Whether Lake Land College is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals — here's the data to weigh it against.

Admitted students' families report a median household income around $50,100, and graduates see a 3.06% unemployment rate.

How much does a degree from Lake Land College Cost?

Listed tuition runs $10,023/year at Lake Land College; factor in Pell and federal grant aid and most students land closer to $3,271.

At Lake Land College, 26.6% receive a Pell Grant and 6.1% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming Lake Land College on it improves your shot at both.

How much does a Lake Land College Graduate earn?

Ten years out from enrollment, Lake Land College graduates report a median income of $38,877, somewhat below the U.S. median graduate income of $40,595.

$10,023Annual Cost
$3,271Net Price
26.6%Pell Grant
6.1%Federal Loan
$38,877Grad Salary (10yr)

Degree Programs at Lake Land College

Associate Degree Programs

Frequently Asked Questions About Lake Land College Admissions

Lake Land College graduates earn a lower median salary of $38,877/year, especially outside technical fields.

Tuition at Lake Land College is relatively affordable, around $10,023/year.

26.6% of Lake Land College students get a Pell Grant. Your odds depend mostly on household income — filing FAFSA early still helps maximize what you're offered.

Lake Land College follows Rolling Admissions — applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.

For priority financial aid consideration, get your FAFSA in before March 1, 2026 — that's Lake Land College's scholarship priority date.

Transferring in is a well-trodden path here. Line up your transcripts, recommendations, and a strong personal statement before applying.

The biggest levers are academic performance, a clear extracurricular focus, and essays that stand out — plus a solid test score where the school considers one.

SK

Sohaib Ahmad Khan

Sohaib Ahmad Khan is a leading career counselor and admission guidance expert who has guided over 50,000 students worldwide. He is the author of four books and developer of widely used career counseling and aptitude assessment systems. .

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