Alpena Community College vs. SMC

Comparable Facts

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

Southwestern Michigan College is larger than Alpena Community College based on total student enrollment (2,000 students vs. 1,581 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Alpena Community College is located in Alpena, MI (Rural Fringe setting); Southwestern Michigan College is in Dowagiac, MI (Rural Fringe setting).
• Alpena Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwestern Michigan College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Alpena Community College 15:1; Southwestern Michigan College 17:1.

Alpena Community College vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Alpena Community College or SMC? 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 SMC ($3,946 vs. $6,684).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Alpena Community College are 18.6% lower than at Southwestern Michigan College ($8,815 vs. $10,825).
• Alpena Community College is 1.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $146 more per year; $8,010.00 vs. $7,864.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.8% higher at SMC than at Alpena Community College (about $384 more per year; $8,394.00 vs. $8,010.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern Michigan College than at Alpena Community College (94% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Michigan College students is 0.7% larger than aid received by Alpena Community College students ($8,166 vs. $8,108).

Alpena Community College vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Alpena Community College or SMC? 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 SMC 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; SMC - Open admission.

Alpena Community College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Alpena Community College and SMC? 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 Alpena Community College earn a median of about $3,700 more per year than SMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,300 vs. $29,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Alpena Community College graduates have a $2,907 lower median loan debt than SMC graduates ($9,093 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, Alpena Community College graduates have an estimated $30 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SMC graduates ($94 vs. $124).
• More Alpena Community College 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.