Alpena Community College vs. NMC

Comparable Facts

Compare Alpena Community College in Alpena, MI with Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Northwestern Michigan College is larger than Alpena Community College based on total student enrollment (3,253 students vs. 1,581 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Alpena Community College is located in Alpena, MI (Rural Fringe setting); Northwestern Michigan College is in Traverse City, MI (Remote Town setting).
• Alpena Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Northwestern Michigan College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Alpena Community College 15:1; Northwestern Michigan College 13:1.

Alpena Community College vs. NMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Alpena Community College or NMC? 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 Alpena Community College than NMC ($3,946 vs. $7,427).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Alpena Community College are 16.8% lower than at Northwestern Michigan College ($8,815 vs. $10,600).
• Northwestern Michigan College is 33.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Alpena Community College (about $2,712 more per year; $10,722.00 vs. $8,010.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 68.2% higher at NMC than at Alpena Community College (about $5,466 more per year; $13,476.00 vs. $8,010.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northwestern Michigan College than at Alpena Community College (84% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Alpena Community College students is 2.3% larger than aid received by Northwestern Michigan College students ($8,108 vs. $7,926).

Alpena Community College vs. NMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Alpena Community College or NMC? 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 NMC and Alpena Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Alpena Community College - Open admission; NMC - Open admission.

Alpena Community College vs. NMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Alpena Community College and NMC? 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).

• Graduates from Northwestern Michigan College earn a median of about $200 more per year than Alpena Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,500 vs. $33,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Alpena Community College graduates have a $4,913 lower median loan debt than NMC graduates ($9,093 vs. $14,006).
• Among borrowers, Alpena Community College graduates have an estimated $50 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NMC graduates ($94 vs. $144).
• More NMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Alpena Community College students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 41%)

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.