NMC vs. SMC

Northwestern Michigan College and Southwestern Michigan College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Northwestern Michigan College
Southwestern Michigan College

At a glance

  • Cheaper after aid: SMC. Average net price is $6,684 vs $7,427 at NMC.
  • Earnings 10 years out: NMC $33,500 vs SMC $29,600 (median).
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Key differences

Northwestern Michigan College Southwestern Michigan College
Acceptance rate
NMC-
SMC-
SAT range (middle 50%)
NMC-
SMC-
Average net price
SMC $743 less
NMC$7,427
SMC$6,684
In-state tuition
SMC $2,858 less
NMC$10,722
SMC$7,864
Out-of-state tuition
SMC $5,082 less
NMC$13,476
SMC$8,394
Graduation rate
NMC-
SMC-
Median earnings (10 years)
NMC +$3,900
NMC$33,500
SMC$29,600

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • NMC -
  • SMC -
  • Admitted
  • NMC -
  • SMC -
  • Acceptance rate
  • NMC Open
  • SMC Open
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • NMC Open
  • SMC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • NMC
  • SMC
  • Typical ACT score
  • NMC
  • SMC
  • Average high school GPA
  • NMC -
  • SMC -
  • Typical high school grades
  • NMC -
  • SMC -
  • Admissions standards
  • NMC Unavailable
  • SMC Unavailable
  • Applicant competition
  • NMC
  • SMC
  • SAT range
  • NMC
  • SMC
  • ACT range
  • NMC
  • SMC
  • Submit test scores
  • NMC Open admission
  • SMC Open admission
  • Application deadline
  • NMC
  • SMC
  • Tuition (in state)
  • NMC $5,860
  • SMC $6,417
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • NMC $13,476
  • SMC $8,394
  • Room & board
  • NMC $10,600
  • SMC $10,825
  • Average net price
  • NMC $7,427
  • SMC $6,684
  • Average grant aid
  • NMC $7,926
  • SMC $8,166
  • % receiving grant aid
  • NMC 84%
  • SMC 94%
  • Graduation rate
  • NMC -
  • SMC -
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • NMC $33,500
  • SMC $29,600
  • Making student loan payments
  • NMC 41%
  • SMC 28%
  • Median student loan debt
  • NMC $14,006
  • SMC $12,000
  • Median loan payment
  • NMC $144
  • SMC $124
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • NMC 13:1
  • SMC 17:1
  • Popular majors
  • NMC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (50%)
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Personal and Culinary Services (6%)
    • Transportation and Materials Moving (6%)
    • Business (5%)
  • SMC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (41%)
    • Health Professions (29%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (7%)
    • Communications Technology (3%)
  • Location
  • NMC Traverse City, MI
  • SMC Dowagiac, MI
  • Setting
  • NMC Remote Town
  • SMC Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • NMC 3,253
  • SMC 2,000
  • Type
  • NMC Public 2 Year
  • SMC Public 2 Year
  • National ranking
  • NMC
  • SMC

Comparable Facts

Compare Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City, MI with Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Northwestern Michigan College is larger than SMC based on total student enrollment (3,253 students vs. 2,000 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Northwestern Michigan College is located in Traverse City, MI (Remote Town setting); Southwestern Michigan College is in Dowagiac, MI (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Northwestern Michigan College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwestern Michigan College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Northwestern Michigan College 13:1; Southwestern Michigan College 17:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern Michigan College are 2.1% lower than at Southwestern Michigan College ($10,600 vs. $10,825).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 60.5% higher at NMC than at Southwestern Michigan College (about $5,082 more per year; $13,476 vs. $8,394).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern Michigan College than at Northwestern Michigan College (94% vs. 84%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Michigan College students is 3% larger than aid received by Northwestern Michigan College students ($8,166 vs. $7,926).

Admissions details

  • SAT or ACT scores are open admission at both NMC and SMC.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwestern Michigan College graduates have a $2,006 lower median loan debt than NMC graduates ($12,000 vs. $14,006).
  • Among borrowers, SMC graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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