Northwestern Michigan College is a public institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Traverse City, Michigan. It enrolls 2,813 students (a mid-sized 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.
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 Open / Online). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
76/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes54
Value84
Affordability59
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
Admissions data is not yet reported for Northwestern Michigan College.
Acceptance Rate
—
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Northwestern Michigan College 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 $6,231 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$6,231
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
30%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
21%
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)
$5,860
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$13,476
Room & Board (on-campus)
$10,600
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,850
Books & Supplies
$300
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,620
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,020
Total Cost of Attendance
$13,753
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
$5,237
$30,001 – $48,000
$3,168
$48,001 – $75,000
$7,568
$75,001 – $110,000
$8,909
Over $110,000
$11,630
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.
$2,24110%percentile
$3,50025%percentile
$12,500Medianpercentile
$15,50075%percentile
$28,22990%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 $9,061
↓ $3,439
No Pell $6,500
↓ $6,000
Dependent students $6,500
↓ $6,000
Independent students $10,305
↓ $2,195
Female students $8,081
↓ $4,419
Male students $8,000
↓ $4,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,500, less than completers ($12,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
23% of full-time students who enrolled at Northwestern Michigan College graduate within six years, and 83% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
23%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
83%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Northwestern Michigan College earn a median of $38,167 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$38,167
Earning > $25K
65%
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
$28,100
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$42,200
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$30,000
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$34,400
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$45,200
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $14,100, about 33% 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 ↑
22.4 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 75% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Northwestern Michigan College is home to 2,813 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 38% are first-generation college students, 57% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
2,813
Part-Time
57%
First-Generation
38%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 76.8%2,160
Other 5.7%159
Hispanic 5.4%152
Black 1.6%46
Asian 1.4%38
International 0.2%6
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Northwestern Michigan College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityTraverse City, Michigan
Housing
Partly residential511 beds available
Adult Learners
28%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Northwestern Michigan College offers
a varied set of programs:
38 distinct programs across
17 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.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Northwestern Michigan College is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$8,671
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$19M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$88,276
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
79 instructional faculty across 1 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
No Rank
79
100%
$88,276
Pros & Cons of Northwestern Michigan College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Northwestern Michigan College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, Northwestern Michigan College is a fit for
families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Northwestern Michigan College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Northwestern Michigan College.
How much does Northwestern Michigan College cost?
The average net price after aid at Northwestern Michigan College is $6,231 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Northwestern Michigan College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $38,167 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $6,231 per year. That's roughly 6.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Northwestern Michigan College known for?
Northwestern Michigan College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Nursing, Marine Transportation. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Northwestern Michigan College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Northwestern Michigan College are $38,167, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Northwestern Michigan College accredited?
Yes. Northwestern Michigan College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Northwestern Michigan College?
Northwestern Michigan College enrolls 2,813 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Northwestern Michigan College?
Northwestern Michigan College graduates 23% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Northwestern Michigan College a public or private college?
Northwestern Michigan College is a Public institution.
Where is Northwestern Michigan College located?
Northwestern Michigan College is located in Traverse City, Michigan.
What programs does Northwestern Michigan College offer?
Northwestern Michigan College offers 38 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Nursing, Marine Transportation.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Northwestern Michigan College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Northwestern Michigan College is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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