Howie: The smartest college decision in the Northland? Lake Superior College, hands down

DULUTH — If you’re a high school senior in northeastern Minnesota or northwestern Wisconsin and you’re not seriously considering Lake Superior College, you might want to take a second look.

Because let’s be honest: four-year universities are expensive, private colleges even more so, and not everyone needs a bachelor’s degree in medieval poetry to find a meaningful, good-paying job. Meanwhile, Lake Superior College is quietly — and smartly — setting the gold standard for what modern higher education should look like: practical, affordable, hands-on, and built for the real world.

This isn’t a backup school. This is the first choice for anyone who wants to get to work — or transfer to a four-year school later — without drowning in debt or spending their freshman year stuck in a 300-seat lecture hall learning theories they’ll never use.

Let’s talk brass tacks. The college’s aviation program is nationally respected. Not just respected — envied. Future pilots and aviation mechanics train right at the Duluth International Airport, working with the same aircraft systems used in commercial fleets. Try getting that kind of hands-on experience as a freshman at a big state school.

Their nursing and allied health programs? Elite. Clinicals happen right here in Duluth, where Essentia and St. Luke’s are constantly hiring. Same goes for dental hygiene, radiologic technology, paramedic, and physical therapy assistant tracks — programs that routinely place graduates in high-demand, high-wage careers immediately after certification. If you want job security, this is where you start.

Welding, machining, manufacturing, and automotive tech are booming at LSC. The school’s state-of-the-art labs turn out some of the most job-ready tradespeople in the region — and employers know it. Local industry leaders often hire LSC grads before they’ve even walked across the stage. And with union jobs on the rebound and infrastructure spending on the rise, these are careers with serious upside.

And then there’s cybersecurity and network administration, programs built for the digital age. In a world where even your refrigerator is online, the folks who protect data are worth their weight in bitcoin. LSC saw this coming and built top-tier tech labs to meet the need. These students don’t just learn from books — they break into simulated networks, track cyber threats, and earn industry certifications that employers trust.

The business and marketing programs, meanwhile, give students the modern toolkit needed to either climb the corporate ladder or start a business of their own. You’ll study under professors who’ve run actual companies — not just read about them — and learn skills you can use immediately.

And don’t forget firefighting and law enforcement training, offered through the Emergency Response Training Center in Gary-New Duluth. These are real boots-on-the-ground programs that prepare students for real emergencies. They don’t simulate pressure — they live it.

All this, and we haven’t even mentioned the transfer pathways. Want to head to UMD or St. Scholastica after knocking out your generals for half the price? LSC has well-oiled articulation agreements in place. You’ll transfer as a junior and save thousands — maybe tens of thousands — in the process. No shame in being smart with your money.

Lake Superior College’s student support services are top-tier, too. From free tutoring and mental health counseling to job placement assistance and career fairs that actually matter, LSC backs its students the way big institutions say they do — but often don’t.

And here’s the kicker — the place is beautiful. Seriously. The main campus sits on a wooded bluff overlooking the harbor, with walking trails, modern buildings, and a vibe that feels more like a retreat center than a commuter college. It’s quiet. It’s focused. It’s personal.

President Patricia Rogers and her leadership team don’t waste time on fluff. They know their students — many first-generation, many working jobs on the side — want results. So that’s what they deliver. Relevant programs. Affordable tuition. A direct path to employment.

This isn’t some hidden gem anymore. It’s the obvious answer. If you’re 18, smart, and serious about your future — or even 38 and looking for a reboot — Lake Superior College should be circled, starred, and underlined in your planner.

So yes, this is an endorsement. A full-throated, hometown, tell-your-neighbor, write-it-in-the-sky endorsement.

Because when it comes to smart choices in post-secondary education, Lake Superior College isn’t just a good bet — it’s the best bet in the Northland.

And it’s not even close.