Gogebic Community College vs. SMC

Comparable Facts

Compare Gogebic Community College in Ironwood, 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 Gogebic Community College based on total student enrollment (2,000 students vs. 882 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Gogebic Community College is located in Ironwood, MI (Rural Fringe setting); Southwestern Michigan College is in Dowagiac, MI (Rural Fringe setting).
• Gogebic 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: Gogebic Community College 15:1; Southwestern Michigan College 17:1.

Gogebic Community College vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Gogebic 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 Southwestern Michigan College than Gogebic Community College ($6,684 vs. $7,408).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gogebic Community College are 36% lower than at Southwestern Michigan College ($6,923 vs. $10,825).
• Southwestern Michigan College is 18.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Gogebic Community College (about $1,234 more per year; $7,864.00 vs. $6,630.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 11.5% higher at SMC than at Gogebic Community College (about $864 more per year; $8,394.00 vs. $7,530.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern Michigan College than at Gogebic Community College (94% vs. 87%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Michigan College students is 23.2% larger than aid received by Gogebic Community College students ($8,166 vs. $6,627).

Gogebic Community College vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Gogebic 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 Gogebic Community College.

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

Gogebic Community College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Gogebic 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 Gogebic Community College earn a median of about $3,300 more per year than SMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($32,900 vs. $29,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Gogebic Community College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than SMC graduates ($10,000 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, Gogebic Community College graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SMC graduates ($103 vs. $124).
• More Gogebic Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SMC students, three years after graduation. (56% 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.