Jackson College vs. NMC

Comparable Facts

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

Jackson College is larger than NMC based on total student enrollment (5,086 students vs. 3,253 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Jackson College is located in Jackson, MI (Rural Fringe setting); Northwestern Michigan College is in Traverse City, MI (Remote Town setting).
• Jackson College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Northwestern Michigan College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Jackson College 18:1; Northwestern Michigan College 13:1.

Jackson College vs. NMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Jackson 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 Northwestern Michigan College than Jackson College ($7,427 vs. $8,271).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern Michigan College are 7.9% lower than at Jackson College ($10,600 vs. $11,510).
• Northwestern Michigan College is 29% more expensive for in-state tuition than Jackson College (about $2,412 more per year; $10,722.00 vs. $8,310.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 32.1% higher at NMC than at Jackson College (about $3,276 more per year; $13,476.00 vs. $10,200.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Jackson College than at Northwestern Michigan College (88% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Jackson College students is 28.5% larger than aid received by Northwestern Michigan College students ($10,185 vs. $7,926).

Jackson College vs. NMC Admissions comparison

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

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Jackson College - Open admission; NMC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Jackson College Jul 1, 2027.

Jackson College vs. NMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Jackson 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 $1,200 more per year than Jackson College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,500 vs. $32,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More NMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Jackson College students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 30%)

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.