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Students studying at South Haven campus

Placement Testing

Most students who are new to Lake Michigan College will be asked to demonstrate basic skills in writing, math and reading before registering for classes. This is done by submitting transcripts showing a GPA of 2.5, or qualifying ACT/SAT test scores (see chart below for qualifying scores). Otherwise, you can take a placement test at LMC.

Placement testing and transcripts have no effect on your admission to the college, but it is important to test so our advisors can help determine the right classes for you.

Please contact admissions at admissions@lakemichigancollege.edu if you have any doubt about whether you should test, or what testing you should take, if needed.

You do not have to take a placement test if one of the following applies to you:

  • Have a high school GPA of 2.5 or higher (this meets English and Reading minimum scores; you may still need to take math placement)
  • You submit ACT or SAT scores at or above current qualifying levels for E, M, and R prerequisites (see table). Documentation of current qualifying levels will be maintained in the Testing Center.
  • You have an associate degree or higher, based on documentation.
  • You have a minimum grade of “C” in the equivalent of a college-level freshman composition course and a college-level algebra course, based on documentation.
  • You have documented transfer credit in a college-level composition class will be exempt from the reading and writing portions of the test. Those students with documented transfer credit in intermediate algebra will be exempt from the math portion of placement testing.
  • You are enrolling ONLY in courses with no prerequisites as printed in the current LMC College Catalog.
  • You are taking non-credit courses and courses for continuing education units (CEUs).
  E (English/Writing) R (Reading) M+ (100-level Math)
ACT English 18 Reading 17 Math 20
SAT Writing/Language 27 OR 5s on all three Essay Subscores (Reading, Analysis & Writing) Reading 26 Math 25.5 OR Math Composite 510
Cumulative High School GPA
(calculated AFTER junior year)

2.5 Cumulative GPA
(weighted or unweighted; high school GPA is valid for ten years)

2.5 Cumulative GPA
(weighted or unweighted; high school GPA is valid for ten years)
N/A
Previous College Coursework Transfer credit equivalent to ENGL 101 or higher Transfer credit equivalent to ENGL 101 or higher Transfer credit equivalent to MATH 122 or higher

If you don't have test scores or transcripts, please connect with an advisor or admissions specialist to verify whether you need to take a placement test.

Submit Your Transcripts

Send us your high school and/or college transcripts. Contact your high school, college or university you have previously attended to order your official transcripts. Your transcripts should be sent directly from your high school or college to LMC, not to you.

Send your high school transcripts to Admissions

Send your college transcripts to Records

  • Email to records@lakemichigancollege.edu.
  • Mail your transcript to:

    Lake Michigan College 
    Records Office 
    2755 E. Napier Ave. 
    Benton Harbor, MI 49022

Submit Your ACT or SAT scores

  • if you have ACT or SAT test scores from a test completed in the past 5 years, you may not need to take placement testing. See below to learn about placement testing exemptions. 
    • Send us your ACT or SAT scores - order your scores from ACT or SAT and have them sent to Lake Michigan College using the school codes below.
      • SAT school code
        1137
      • ACT school code
        1976

If you have taken Accuplacer at another school, contact that school to have your scores sent to testingservices@lakemichigancollege.edu.

On-campus testing appointments

Benton Harbor Campus

(269) 927-6173
Main Building Room L-193/194

Testing is offered at the Benton Harbor Campus by appointment only.

Students may start placement tests by appointment on the Benton Harbor Campus during the following times:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Wednesday 10:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Accuplacer testing is available without an appointment at the Niles and South Haven campuses during regular business hours (allow yourself 2-4 hours to complete testing). Call in advance to confirm that a certified Accuplacer proctor is available.

Niles Campus

Call or text (269) 695-1391 
Room 108

South Haven Campus

Call or text (269) 637-7500 
Room 123

Remote testing appointments

Remote placement testing is very limited and must be scheduled by emailing testingservices@lakemichigancollege.edu or call (269) 927-6173.  

  • Each placement testing session that includes WritePlacer for E (English) and R (Reading) and Quantitative (for M) requires approximately 2 to 3 hours.
  • A photo ID must be presented to take a placement test. There is no charge for the placement test. 
  • Upon request, students with disabilities, with documentation on file in the Disability Support Services, will be provided special testing accommodations; DSS can be contacted at (269) 927-8866.
  • Before testing, students are strongly encouraged to use prepare using review and practice handouts found at ACCUPLACER.

Additional Accuplacer review resources:

Contact Admissions at admissions@lakemichigancollege.edu after your testing is complete.

English, mathematics, and reading basic skills prerequisites for college classes are listed in the course description section of the college catalog as E-English, M-Mathematics or R-Reading.

The initial placement test is completed as a unit; however, students may retake each portion once.

If you need to send your LMC placement scores to another school, submit a Placement Score Request Form.

Other Types of Testing

Other testing is available for certain types of students. This information does not apply to most students.

Nursing applicants are required to complete the HESI A2 test.  

HESI A2 and TOEFL Information for Nursing Students

Other Health Science program applicant placement tests may be required; students should check with their respective program departments for the most up-to-date information. 

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