NMC vs. SMC

Should I go to Northwestern Michigan College or Southwestern Michigan College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if NMC or SMC is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Northwestern Michigan College vs. Southwestern Michigan College comparison
Northwestern Michigan College Southwestern Michigan College College 3 College 4
Northwestern Michigan College Southwestern Michigan College
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Overview

 NMC SMC
Location Traverse City, MI Dowagiac, MI
Setting Remote Town Rural Fringe
Enrollment 3,098 1,807
Type Public 2 Year Public 2 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nmc.edu swmich.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 NMC SMC
Tuition (In State) $4,012 $4,043
Tuition (Out of State) $10,880 $5,776
Room & Board $8,275 $9,500
Avg Net Price $6,951 $9,094
Avg Grant Aid $5,228 $5,768
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 94%

Admission

 NMC SMC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - -
Admitted - -
Acceptance Rate Open Open
Enrolled % Open Open
Avg High School GPA - -
Typical High School Grades - -
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores
Application Deadline

Academics

 NMC SMC
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (50%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Personal and Culinary Services (6%)
  • Transportation and Materials Moving (6%)
  • Business (5%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (41%)
  • Health Professions (29%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (7%)
  • Communications Technology (3%)

Outcomes

 NMC SMC
Graduation Rate - -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $33,500 $29,600
Making Student Loan Payments 41% 28%
Median Student Loan Debt $14,006 $12,000
Median Loan Payment $144 $124

Diversity

 NMC SMC
% Men 46% 42%
% Women 54% 58%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 84% 72%
% Black 1% 12%
% Hispanic 4% 6%
% Native American 2% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 4% 3%

Students

 NMC SMC
% In-State 96% 87%
% Out-of-State 3% 13%

Campus

 NMC SMC
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Northwestern Michigan College is larger than than SMC based on total student enrollment (3,098 students vs. 1,807 students)

NMC vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NMC or SMC?

  • Northwestern Michigan College is 57.7% more expensive to attend than SMC for in-state tuition ($8,364.00 vs. $5,305.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 88.4% higher at NMC than Southwestern Michigan College ($10,880.00 vs. $5,776.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northwestern Michigan College than SMC ($6,951 vs. $9,094)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern Michigan College are 14.8% lower than costs at Southwestern Michigan College ($8,275 vs. $9,500)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northwestern Michigan College than Southwestern Michigan College (98% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Michigan College students is 10.3% larger than aid received Northwestern Michigan College ($5,768 vs. $5,228)

Which college is harder to get into, NMC or SMC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SMC or NMC .

NMC vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, NMC or SMC? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between SMC and NMC.

  • Graduates from Northwestern Michigan College earn on average $3,900 more per year than SMC graduates after ten years. ($33,500 vs. $29,600)
  • Southwestern Michigan College students graduate with a $2,006 lower median federal student loan debt than NMC graduates. ($12,000 vs. $14,006)
  • SMC graduates are paying $20 less per month on federal student loans than NMC graduates. ($124 vs. $144)
  • More NMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SMC students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 28%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/