The rising cost of college tuition is a significant concern for both students and their families.
Community colleges like LRSC offer a compelling solution by providing lower tuition rates and fees compared to traditional universities. This affordability enables more students to pursue higher education without being overwhelmed by financial burdens.
Supporting this value, a recent Wallet Hub report ranked North Dakota's community colleges as number 4 nationally. This recognition highlights the state's commitment to accessible and high-quality education through its community college system.
Students and graduates of LRSC agree.
"When I first began searching for a college, the tuition cost was overwhelming," says recent graduate Bridgette Harkness. “Then, I was told about LRSC and their lower tuition cost and numerous scholarship opportunities. This allowed me to live at home while working on my degree. It let me focus on my education and enjoy college rather than worrying about the cost."
Scholarship opportunities along with lower tuition make Lake Region State College an especially attractive option for families and students. Many students can choose to live at home and commute to classes. Students can become active on campus and join groups that may offer leadership and networking opportunities. These experiences can lead to additional scholarships if the student transfers to a university for a bachelor’s degree.
To determine the best and worst community-college systems in the U.S., Wallet Hub analyzed 2025’s Best & Worst Community Colleges. The study was conducted at the individual-school level across 653 institutions and 18 key metrics.
Lake Region State College also can prepare students for the workforce in numerous fields. A student can complete the first half of a bachelor’s degree at LRSC. They can also become workforce ready in two years or less through career and technical education programs.
“When I was choosing between a four-year university and a two-year college, my top priorities were cost and program availability. I compared tuition across the state. It became clear that Lake Region State College offered the best value,” said current LRSC student Jaelyn Buckman. “I could receive a high-quality education while paying only a fraction of what I would at a larger university. This made Lake Region the right choice for me.”
For its state-by-state analysis, Wallet Hub calculated a weighted average of the scores earned by community colleges in each state. The calculation also considered the number of students enrolled in each school. The state with the highest average corresponds with a rank of No. 1, or the best community-college system. Wallet Hub only included states with at least two community colleges in our Best & Worst Community Colleges sample. This was done to ensure comparability of results.
For more information about Lake Region State College and its programs go to www.LRSC.edu or call (701) 662-1600.
This story is supplemented with direct information from Wallet Hub. The data used to create this ranking were collected as of July 15, 2025. Sources include the National Center for Education Statistics and the Campaign for Free College Tuition. Other sources are the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Community and Economic Research.