Northern Michigan University vs. Purdue Northwest

Deciding between Northern Michigan University and Purdue University Northwest? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Northern Michigan University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Northern Michigan University Marquette, MI
  • Purdue Northwest Hammond, Indiana
  • Setting
  • Northern Michigan University Remote Town
  • Purdue Northwest Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Northern Michigan University 7,409
  • Purdue Northwest 9,051
  • Type
  • Northern Michigan University Public 4 Year
  • Purdue Northwest Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Northern Michigan University
  • Purdue Northwest
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Northern Michigan University -
  • Purdue Northwest -
  • Status
  • Northern Michigan University Non-profit
  • Purdue Northwest Non-profit
  • Website
  • Northern Michigan University nmu.edu
  • Purdue Northwest pnw.edu
  • Team Colors
  • Northern Michigan University
  • Purdue Northwest
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Northern Michigan University $14,277
  • Purdue Northwest $8,675
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Northern Michigan University $19,773
  • Purdue Northwest $16,094
  • Room & Board
  • Northern Michigan University $13,274
  • Purdue Northwest $8,907
  • Average Net Price
  • Northern Michigan University $15,707
  • Purdue Northwest $7,916
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Northern Michigan University $12,012
  • Purdue Northwest $6,992
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Northern Michigan University 94%
  • Purdue Northwest 89%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Northern Michigan University 12,204
  • Purdue Northwest 8,617
  • Admitted
  • Northern Michigan University 10,254
  • Purdue Northwest 6,235
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Northern Michigan University 84%
  • Purdue Northwest 72.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Northern Michigan University 15.3%
  • Purdue Northwest 18.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Northern Michigan University
  • Purdue Northwest 1020
  • Typical ACT score
  • Northern Michigan University
  • Purdue Northwest 20
  • Average High School GPA
  • Northern Michigan University 3.33
  • Purdue Northwest 3.19
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Northern Michigan University B+
  • Purdue Northwest B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Northern Michigan University Unavailable
  • Purdue Northwest Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Northern Michigan University
  • Purdue Northwest Low
  • ACT Range
  • Northern Michigan University
  • Purdue Northwest 16/24
  • SAT Range
  • Northern Michigan University
  • Purdue Northwest 890/1140
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Northern Michigan University Test-free
  • Purdue Northwest Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Northern Michigan University
  • Purdue Northwest Aug 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Northern Michigan University 18:1
  • Purdue Northwest 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Northern Michigan University
    • Health Professions (17%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
    • Engineering Technology (6%)
  • Purdue Northwest
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Northern Michigan University 48%
  • Purdue Northwest -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Northern Michigan University $38,400
  • Purdue Northwest N/A
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Northern Michigan University 56%
  • Purdue Northwest -
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Northern Michigan University $22,292
  • Purdue Northwest N/A
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Northern Michigan University $230
  • Purdue Northwest N/A
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Northern Michigan University 38%
  • Purdue Northwest 45%
  • % Women
  • Northern Michigan University 62%
  • Purdue Northwest 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Northern Michigan University Very Low
  • Purdue Northwest -
  • HBCU
  • Northern Michigan University No
  • Purdue Northwest No
  • % White
  • Northern Michigan University 85%
  • Purdue Northwest 0%
  • % Asian
  • Northern Michigan University 0%
  • Purdue Northwest 0%
  • % Black
  • Northern Michigan University 2%
  • Purdue Northwest 0%
  • % Hispanic
  • Northern Michigan University 3%
  • Purdue Northwest 0%
  • % Native American
  • Northern Michigan University 2%
  • Purdue Northwest 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Northern Michigan University 0%
  • Purdue Northwest 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Northern Michigan University 3%
  • Purdue Northwest 0%
  • % International
  • Northern Michigan University 1%
  • Purdue Northwest 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Northern Michigan University 2%
  • Purdue Northwest 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Northern Michigan University 73%
  • Purdue Northwest 81%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Northern Michigan University 26%
  • Purdue Northwest 12%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Northern Michigan University Yes
  • Purdue Northwest Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Northern Michigan University No
  • Purdue Northwest
  • Meal Plan
  • Northern Michigan University Yes
  • Purdue Northwest No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Northern Michigan University Yes
  • Purdue Northwest Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Northern Michigan University No
  • Purdue Northwest
  • Learn More
  • Northern Michigan University Details
  • Purdue Northwest Details

Comparable Facts

Compare Northern Michigan University in Marquette, MI with Purdue University Northwest in Hammond, Indiana on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Purdue University Northwest is larger than Northern Michigan University based on total student enrollment (9,051 students vs. 7,409 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Northern Michigan University is located in Marquette, MI (Remote Town setting); Purdue University Northwest is in Hammond, Indiana (Large Suburban setting).
  • Northern Michigan University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Purdue University Northwest is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Northern Michigan University 18:1; Purdue University Northwest 17:1.

Northern Michigan University vs. Purdue Northwest Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northern Michigan University or Purdue Northwest? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Purdue University Northwest than Northern Michigan University ($7,916 vs. $15,707).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Northwest are 32.9% lower than at Northern Michigan University ($8,907 vs. $13,274).
  • Northern Michigan University is 64.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue Northwest (about $5,602 more per year; $14,277.00 vs. $8,675.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 22.9% higher at Northern Michigan University than at Purdue University Northwest (about $3,679 more per year; $19,773.00 vs. $16,094.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northern Michigan University than at Purdue University Northwest (94% vs. 89%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Michigan University students is 71.8% larger than aid received by Purdue University Northwest students ($12,012 vs. $6,992).

Northern Michigan University vs. Purdue Northwest Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Northern Michigan University or Purdue Northwest? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Purdue Northwest and Northern Michigan University.

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsPurdue University Northwest 890/1140.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsPurdue University Northwest 16/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Northern Michigan University - Test-free; Purdue Northwest - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Purdue Northwest Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Northern Michigan University students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.33) than students at Purdue Northwest (3.19).
  • Northern Michigan University has a higher acceptance rate (84%) than Purdue Northwest (72.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.3% at Northern Michigan University vs. 18.3% at Purdue Northwest.

Northern Michigan University vs. Purdue Northwest Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Northern Michigan University and Purdue Northwest? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.