Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Plymouth, Wisconsin
91.1% Acceptance Rate
Lakeland University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
91.1%Acceptance Rate
3Avg GPA
$45,751Annual Cost
$55,961Grad Salary
29%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
91.1%
Avg GPA
3
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
-40–30
Need-Based Aid
29% receive Pell
Lakeland University (WI) emphasizes work-study and cooperative education programs. Admissions favor students who show a strong work ethic and the desire to balance academics with career-integrated learning. Demonstrating potential for professional growth and time management is a key asset for prospective students.
Lakeland University Acceptance Rate
Lakeland University runs an open-access admission policy — with a 91.1% acceptance rate, the focus is on getting qualified students in, not filtering them out.
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
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 91.1% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.00 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.80 – 2.99
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.55
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Lakeland University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Lakeland University 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
Lakeland University 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.
💡 The scholarship deadline (February 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.
Lakeland University GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Lakeland University is 3. That makes admissions here moderately selective. Most admitted students carry a blend of A's, B's, and the occasional C.
A stronger SAT or ACT score can comfortably offset a GPA on the lower end of this range.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently — for an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.20–3.40.Lakeland University GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Holistic review is critical for admission.
Recommended Strategy: Requires Contextual Factors (Leadership, hardship, or talent).
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.00 – 4.00
Strategic Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.80 – 2.99
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
2.60 – 2.79
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.59
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Lakeland University is one of only two American universities with a campus in Tokyo, Japan, offering a two-year associate degree pathway completable entirely there.
- The Cooperative Education (Co-Op) model builds 12-18 months of paid work experience into the degree, explicitly marketed as a path to graduate with little to no tuition debt.
- Lakeland operates six regional Wisconsin centers (Milwaukee, Madison, Wisconsin Rapids, Chippewa Falls, Fox Cities, Green Bay) beyond its main Plymouth campus, plus online options.
- Lakeland was the first school in Wisconsin (and among the first in the U.S.) to fully offer a degree online, and holds long-standing discounted-tuition partnerships with many Wisconsin technical colleges.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Lakeland University
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Lakeland University's verified institutional data
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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.
Lakeland University Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Lakeland University is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Lakeland University Without SAT or ACT?
Lakeland University neither requires nor recommends test scores. Submit yours only if it's above the state or national average — otherwise, leaving it off works in your favor.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Lakeland University
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
Lakeland University provides an open gateway to higher education. Success here is about using available resources well and planning your longer-term academic or career path.
Consider Lakeland University Japan if you want a genuinely rare study-abroad-from-day-one option
Lakeland is one of only two American universities with a campus in Tokyo, Japan, offering a two-year associate degree pathway completable entirely there, with an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) track for students needing additional language preparation before transferring 12 college credits to the Wisconsin main campus. If international experience matters to you but a full study-abroad semester feels risky, this associate-degree-in-Tokyo option is a structurally different, lower-stakes way to start your degree internationally from day one.
Use the Co-Op model to graduate with minimal debt - but plan your major around it
Lakeland's Cooperative Education model builds 12-18 months of paid, career-aligned work experience directly into your degree, with the university explicitly marketing this as a path to graduate with little to no tuition debt. Ask specifically which Co-Op employer partnerships exist for your intended major before enrolling, since the debt-reduction benefit depends on securing a genuine paid placement, not just theoretical eligibility for the program.
Choose a regional Wisconsin center if the traditional Plymouth campus doesn't fit your schedule
Beyond the main Plymouth campus, Lakeland operates evening/weekend/online centers in Milwaukee, Madison, Wisconsin Rapids, Chippewa Falls, Fox Cities, and Green Bay, each offering a genuinely different schedule structure (BlendEd Live: online, remote, or in-person) rather than a scaled-down version of the main campus. If you're a working adult or need flexible scheduling, evaluate these specific regional centers directly rather than assuming Lakeland only offers a traditional residential experience.
Leverage Lakeland's technical college partnerships for discounted transfer if you started elsewhere
Lakeland has decades-long partnerships with many of Wisconsin's technical colleges, offering discounted tuition and accepting maximum transfer credits for students coming from those institutions. If you started at a Wisconsin technical college, confirm whether your specific institution has one of these named partnerships before assuming a standard transfer credit evaluation applies, since the discounted rate is a real, named benefit tied to specific partner schools.
Expert Insight:
A specific and easy-to-miss detail for international or exchange-minded students is that Lakeland University Japan's admission requires a TOEFL score of at least 500 (iBT 61) or IELTS 6, unless the applicant has already transferred 30 semester hours with a 2.0+ GPA from a U.S. institution or another English-speaking country's college - a student assuming this exemption applies broadly (e.g., based on high school English proficiency alone) may be surprised to still need standardized English testing.
Lakeland University Profile
Full Name
Lakeland University
City
Plymouth
State
Wisconsin
ZIP Code
53073
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a Lakeland University Degree Worth It?
At $45,751/year against a $55,961 median graduate salary, Lakeland University is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation — the numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
The average household income among admitted students is $62,800, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3.03%.
How much does a degree from Lakeland University Cost?
The sticker price is $45,751/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is typically much lower.
29% of students receive a Pell Grant and 55% take federal loans at Lakeland University — file your FAFSA early and list Lakeland University as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Lakeland University Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $55,961 — about 38% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Degree Programs at Lakeland University
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Lakeland University Admissions
Median graduate earnings at Lakeland University run about $55,961 a year.
Lakeland University costs roughly $45,751 a year — most students combine this with scholarships or aid.
About 29.0% receive a Pell Grant at Lakeland University — moderate odds, largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
At 91.1%, Lakeland University's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Lakeland University average a 3 GPA.
Lakeland University doesn't publish a hard GPA floor — but landing at or above 2.7 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 2.6, Lakeland University becomes a harder reach — though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
Lakeland University follows Rolling Admissions — applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is February 1, 2026. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes — transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most — along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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