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Northern Michigan University

Public Graduate Good 67/100

Northern Michigan University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Marquette, Michigan

About Northern Michigan University

Northern Michigan University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Marquette, Michigan. It enrolls 6,556 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: nmu.edu

Acceptance: 84%
Graduation: 49.2%
Net Price: $14,085
Median Earnings (10yr): $47,107
Enrollment: 6,556
Student : Faculty: 18:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Good

67/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 45

Value 70

Affordability 57

Selectivity 35

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 84%, Northern Michigan University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.

Acceptance Rate

84%

Easy

SAT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

ACT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

Test Policy Test Optional Applicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Northern Michigan University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Stable ↑ 4.4 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Northern Michigan University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $14,085 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$14,085

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

28%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

46%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state): $14,277
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state): $19,773
Room & Board (on-campus): $13,274
Room & Board (off-campus): $11,292
Books & Supplies: $720
Other Expenses (on-campus): $2,178
Other Expenses (off-campus): $2,520
Total Cost of Attendance: $27,841

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$7,697
$30,001 – $48,000

$7,185
$48,001 – $75,000

$11,051
$75,001 – $110,000

$16,324
Over $110,000

$22,268

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$3,250

10% percentile

$6,000

25% percentile

$21,474

Median percentile

$25,880

75% percentile

$33,000

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $15,250 ↓ $6,224

No Pell $12,000 ↓ $9,474

Dependent students $13,198 ↓ $8,276

Independent students $15,750 ↓ $5,724

Female students $15,000 ↓ $6,474

Male students $12,000 ↓ $9,474

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,327, less than completers ($21,474), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

49% of full-time students who enrolled at Northern Michigan University graduate within six years, and 77% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

49%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

77%

Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Northern Michigan University earn a median of $47,107 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$47,107

Earning > $25K

74%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$34,400

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$45,300

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$34,500

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$38,900

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$44,500

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $10,900, about 24% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 16.7 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Strong. 80% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Northern Michigan University is home to 6,556 students, a large student community.

Total Enrolled

6,556

Part-Time

12%

First-Generation

28%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

White 83.6% 5,480

Other 5.9% 384

Hispanic 4.4% 289

Black 2.0% 130

International 1.0% 63

Asian 0.5% 32

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Northern Michigan University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Town: Remote Marquette, Michigan

Housing

Mostly residential 3,155 beds on campus

Adult Learners

14% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Northern Michigan University offers an extensive catalog of programs: 104 distinct programs across 30 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

10 Programs

Health

Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Pharmacy $117K ($79K–$140K)
Clinical/Medical Laboratory $76K ($61K–$92K)

12 Programs

Business

Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Construction Management $95K ($77K–$115K)
Marketing $69K ($50K–$93K)

4 Programs

Biology

Biology $57K ($39K–$79K)
Neurobiology $62K ($41K–$89K)
Biology $57K ($39K–$79K)

2 Programs

Liberal Arts

Liberal Arts $53K ($36K–$73K)
Liberal Arts $53K ($36K–$73K)

6 Programs

Visual & Performing Arts

Fine Arts $41K ($26K–$57K)
Film & Video Production $44K ($26K–$63K)
Fine Arts $41K ($26K–$57K)

2 Programs

Natural Resources

Natural Resources Conservation and Research $55K ($39K–$73K)
Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management $47K ($35K–$61K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Northern Michigan University is 18:1, on the higher side.

Student : Faculty

18:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Instruction / Student

$8,987

Annual instructional spending per enrolled student

Endowment

$18M

Modest endowment

Avg Faculty Salary

$79,265

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

318 instructional faculty across 5 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	103	32%	$96,888
Associate Professors	60	19%	$84,660
Assistant Professors	91	29%	$70,542
Instructors	42	13%	$59,041
No Rank	22	7%	$56,740

Pros & Cons of Northern Michigan University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Northern Michigan University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants

CONS

Class sizes are on the higher side
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention

Best for: Based on the data, Northern Michigan University is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.

Frequently Asked Questions about Northern Michigan University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Northern Michigan University.

Is Northern Michigan University hard to get into?

Northern Michigan University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 84%.

What is the acceptance rate at Northern Michigan University?

Northern Michigan University has an acceptance rate of 84%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

How much does Northern Michigan University cost?

The average net price after aid at Northern Michigan University is $14,085 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Northern Michigan University worth it?

Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $47,107 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $14,085 per year. That's roughly 3.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Northern Michigan University known for?

Northern Michigan University is best known for its programs in Biology, Liberal Arts, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Northern Michigan University graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Northern Michigan University are $47,107, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Northern Michigan University accredited?

Yes. Northern Michigan University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

How many students attend Northern Michigan University?

Northern Michigan University enrolls 6,556 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Northern Michigan University?

Northern Michigan University graduates 49% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Northern Michigan University a public or private college?

Northern Michigan University is a Public institution.

Where is Northern Michigan University located?

Northern Michigan University is located in Marquette, Michigan.

What programs does Northern Michigan University offer?

Northern Michigan University offers 104 distinct programs. The most popular include Biology, Liberal Arts, Nursing.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Northern Michigan University?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Northern Michigan University is 18:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.