C+
Above Average
Score: 58/100
Overall (traditional)
C
Outcome Rating
47/100 · earnings-weighted

Northwestern Michigan College

4-Year Public
📍 Traverse City, Michigan 49686
Outcomes
C+
57/100
Affordability
B
72/100
Resources
B
68/100
Experience
B
73/100
Prestige
F
23/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

3,146
Total Enrollment
25%
Graduation Rate
81%
Retention Rate
12.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
N/A
Acceptance Rate
$5,831
Avg Net Price
🏠 Housing Market Near Northwestern Michigan College ▼

17% of first-year students live off campus and not with family (U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS). Upper-year students at most universities move off campus at much higher rates, so near-campus rental demand is typically larger than this figure suggests.

Avg Home Value
$406,395
Avg Monthly Rent
$2,020
1-Year Change
+3.9%

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at Northwestern Michigan College, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$38,167
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$34,918
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$12,500
Median debt at graduation
24.8%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
30%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 33% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 48th percentile among associate-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (MI wage index 0.90). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at Northwestern Michigan College

Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Marine Transportation$87,281$136,748+17%#1 of 7#1$24,000

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The Northwestern Michigan College Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $406,395
  • Avg rent near campus: $2,020/mo — vs ~$639/mo campus room rate
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 49686 (3.9% cap, Traverse City)

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🏆 Where Northwestern Michigan College Ranks

Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.

#7
Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer
of 7 schools
#16
Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew
of 30 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $8,874 $11,560
Room $5,750
Board $3,600
Total Cost (On-Campus) $22,731 $25,417

Financial Aid

79%
Receive Any Aid
38%
Receive Pell Grants
27%
Take Out Loans
$5,831
Avg Net Price

Net Price by Family Income

Family Income Average Net Price
$0 - $30,000$4,569
$30,001 - $48,000$3,620
$48,001 - $75,000$6,964
$75,001 - $110,000$9,422
$110,001+$11,821

Programs & Career Paths

Top Degree Programs

Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.

Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 201 grads/yr Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 62 grads/yr Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer 41 grads/yr Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew 32 grads/yr Dental Assisting/Assistant 21 grads/yr General Studies 21 grads/yr Business Administration and Management, General 18 grads/yr Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration 15 grads/yr Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training 14 grads/yr Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General 13 grads/yr Child Development 11 grads/yr Culinary Arts/Chef Training 11 grads/yr Recording Arts Technology/Technician 10 grads/yr Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping 9 grads/yr Ocean Engineering 7 grads/yr Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science and Technology, General 6 grads/yr Welding Technology/Welder 6 grads/yr Surgical Technology/Technologist 6 grads/yr Carpentry/Carpenter 6 grads/yr Computer Graphics 6 grads/yr

Related Career Paths

Careers that graduates from Northwestern Michigan College's top programs commonly pursue.

Postsecondary teachers, all other
$78k/yr 183,400 jobs
Registered nurses
$94k/yr 3,391,000 jobs
Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
$80k/yr 91,600 jobs
Ship engineers
$101k/yr 8,800 jobs
Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels
$86k/yr 40,700 jobs
Motorboat operators
$52k/yr 2,700 jobs
Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
$227k/yr 100,000 jobs
Commercial pilots
$123k/yr 55,400 jobs

Student Demographics

3,146
Total Students
53%
Women
58%
Traditional Age (18-24)
17%
Off-Campus Renters

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 77%
Hispanic 5%
Black 1%
Asian 1%
Two or More 4%

🏠 Living Arrangements

On Campus 11%
Off-Campus (Renters) 17%
With Family 72%
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~541 students need off-campus housing

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 40%
Hybrid (Some Online) 33%
Fully Online 26%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 58%
25-64 (Adult) 27%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Northwestern Michigan College?
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution. Many schools with open enrollment or specialized programs do not report traditional acceptance rates.
How much does it cost to attend Northwestern Michigan College?
Tuition at Northwestern Michigan College is $8,874 for in-state students and $11,560 for out-of-state students . However, the average net price after financial aid is $5,831.
What is the graduation rate at Northwestern Michigan College?
The graduation rate at Northwestern Michigan College is 25%. This graduation rate is low, which may reflect the institution's student population, program types, or other factors worth investigating.
Is Northwestern Michigan College a good school?
Northwestern Michigan College has a Repit College Score of 58/100 (Grade: C+). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (C+): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (B): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (B): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (B): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (F): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Northwestern Michigan College?
Northwestern Michigan College has a total enrollment of 3,146 students.
Is there rental demand near Northwestern Michigan College?
Yes! Approximately 17% of students at Northwestern Michigan College live off-campus (not with family). That's roughly 541 students who need rental housing near campus.

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Northwestern Michigan College — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

🎓 Similar Colleges to Northwestern Michigan College

Compare with other 4-Year public institutions of similar size.

C+
Lake Superior State University
Sault Ste Marie, MI · 1,669 students
C+
Northern Michigan University
Marquette, MI · 7,197 students
C+
Saginaw Valley State University
University Center, MI · 6,889 students
C+
University of Michigan-Flint
Flint, MI · 6,130 students
C+
University of Michigan-Dearborn
Dearborn, MI · 8,035 students
B
Alpena Community College
Alpena, MI · 1,530 students

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology