Henry Ford College vs. SMC

Comparable Facts

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

Henry Ford College is larger than SMC based on total student enrollment (11,410 students vs. 2,000 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Henry Ford College is located in Dearborn, MI (Small City setting); Southwestern Michigan College is in Dowagiac, MI (Rural Fringe setting).
• Henry Ford College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwestern Michigan College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Henry Ford College 25:1; Southwestern Michigan College 17:1.

Henry Ford College vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Henry Ford 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 Henry Ford College than SMC ($1,064 vs. $6,684).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwestern Michigan College are 9% lower than at Henry Ford College ($10,825 vs. $11,898).
• Southwestern Michigan College is 39.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Henry Ford College (about $2,220 more per year; $7,864.00 vs. $5,644.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.4% higher at SMC than at Henry Ford College (about $578 more per year; $8,394.00 vs. $7,816.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern Michigan College than at Henry Ford College (94% vs. 86%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Henry Ford College students is 15.5% larger than aid received by Southwestern Michigan College students ($9,428 vs. $8,166).

Henry Ford College vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Henry Ford 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 Henry Ford College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Henry Ford College - Open admission; SMC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Henry Ford College Aug 24, 2027.

Henry Ford College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Henry Ford 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 Henry Ford College earn a median of about $5,300 more per year than SMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,900 vs. $29,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwestern Michigan College graduates have a $4,687 lower median loan debt than Henry Ford College graduates ($12,000 vs. $16,687).
• Among borrowers, SMC graduates have an estimated $48 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Henry Ford College graduates ($124 vs. $172).
• More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Henry Ford College students, three years after graduation. (28% vs. 19%)

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.