Southwestern Michigan College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Dowagiac, Michigan. It enrolls 1,431 students (a small, tight-knit 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 (2-Year). 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 · 2-Year
Outcomes29
Value78
Affordability66
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Southwestern Michigan College generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Southwestern 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 $5,978 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$5,978
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
38%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
16%
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)
$6,417
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$8,394
Room & Board (on-campus)
$10,825
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,972
Books & Supplies
$1,659
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,919
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,464
Total Cost of Attendance
$15,589
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
$5,134
$30,001 – $48,000
$4,151
$48,001 – $75,000
$7,414
$75,001 – $110,000
$10,514
Over $110,000
$11,413
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.
$2,01210%percentile
$3,56425%percentile
$10,959Medianpercentile
$12,59975%percentile
$19,35290%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 $5,500
↓ $5,459
No Pell $5,500
↓ $5,459
Dependent students $5,500
↓ $5,459
Independent students $9,500
↓ $1,459
Female students $5,758
↓ $5,201
Male students $5,500
↓ $5,459
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($10,959), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
25% of full-time students who enrolled at Southwestern Michigan College graduate within six years, and 58% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
25%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
58%
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 Southwestern Michigan College earn a median of $37,303 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$37,303
Earning > $25K
63%
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
$27,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$41,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $14,400, about 34% 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 ↑
13.2 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 58% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Southwestern Michigan College is home to 1,431 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 41% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,431
Part-Time
33%
First-Generation
41%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 68.6%981
Black 15.3%219
Other 8.8%126
Hispanic 1.2%17
Asian 0.8%11
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Southwestern Michigan College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: FringeDowagiac, Michigan
Housing
Partly residential365 beds available
Adult Learners
21%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Southwestern Michigan College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
41 distinct programs across
21 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 Southwestern Michigan College is 17:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
17:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$6,705
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$14M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$68,180
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
45 instructional faculty across 3 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
31
69%
$71,136
Associate Professors
12
27%
$63,505
Assistant Professors
2
4%
$50,400
Pros & Cons of Southwestern Michigan College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Southwestern 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
Open admissions
Tight-knit, close community feel
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Best for:
Based on the data, Southwestern Michigan College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Southwestern Michigan College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Southwestern Michigan College.
Is Southwestern Michigan College hard to get into?
Southwestern Michigan College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Southwestern Michigan College?
Southwestern Michigan College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Southwestern Michigan College cost?
The average net price after aid at Southwestern Michigan College is $5,978 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Southwestern Michigan College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $37,303 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $5,978 per year. That's roughly 6.2x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Southwestern Michigan College known for?
Southwestern Michigan College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Nursing, Precision Metal Working. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Southwestern Michigan College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Southwestern Michigan College are $37,303, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Southwestern Michigan College accredited?
Yes. Southwestern Michigan College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Southwestern Michigan College?
Southwestern Michigan College enrolls 1,431 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Southwestern Michigan College?
Southwestern Michigan College graduates 25% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Southwestern Michigan College a public or private college?
Southwestern Michigan College is a Public institution.
Where is Southwestern Michigan College located?
Southwestern Michigan College is located in Dowagiac, Michigan.
What programs does Southwestern Michigan College offer?
Southwestern Michigan College offers 41 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Nursing, Precision Metal Working.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Southwestern Michigan College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Southwestern Michigan College is 17:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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