Bay College vs. SMC

Comparable Facts

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

Bay de Noc Community College is larger than SMC based on total student enrollment (2,149 students vs. 2,000 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bay de Noc Community College is located in Escanaba, MI (Remote Town setting); Southwestern Michigan College is in Dowagiac, MI (Rural Fringe setting).
• Bay de Noc 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: Bay de Noc Community College 18:1; Southwestern Michigan College 17:1.

Bay College vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bay 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 Southwestern Michigan College than Bay College ($6,684 vs. $12,417).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bay de Noc Community College are 4.4% lower than at Southwestern Michigan College ($10,354 vs. $10,825).
• Bay de Noc Community College is 12.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $984 more per year; $8,848.00 vs. $7,864.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 25.4% higher at Bay College than at Southwestern Michigan College (about $2,134 more per year; $10,528.00 vs. $8,394.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern Michigan College than at Bay de Noc Community College (94% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Michigan College students is 20.5% larger than aid received by Bay de Noc Community College students ($8,166 vs. $6,777).

Bay College vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bay 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 Bay College.

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

Bay College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bay 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 Bay de Noc Community College earn a median of about $3,100 more per year than SMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($32,700 vs. $29,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bay de Noc Community College graduates have a $400 lower median loan debt than SMC graduates ($11,600 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, Bay College graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SMC graduates ($119 vs. $124).
• More Bay 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.