LMC vs. NCMC

Comparable Facts

Compare Lake Michigan College in Benton Harbor, MI with North Central Michigan College in Petoskey, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Lake Michigan College is larger than NCMC based on total student enrollment (2,937 students vs. 1,613 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lake Michigan College is located in Benton Harbor, MI (Rural Fringe setting); North Central Michigan College is in Petoskey, MI (Rural Fringe setting).
• Lake Michigan College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. North Central Michigan College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lake Michigan College 17:1; North Central Michigan College 15:1.

LMC vs. NCMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, LMC or NCMC? 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 Lake Michigan College than NCMC ($7,557 vs. $11,807).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Central Michigan College are 8.5% lower than at Lake Michigan College ($10,303 vs. $11,256).
• North Central Michigan College is 9.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than LMC (about $735 more per year; $8,490.00 vs. $7,755.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 36.6% higher at NCMC than at Lake Michigan College (about $2,835 more per year; $10,590.00 vs. $7,755.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lake Michigan College than at North Central Michigan College (92% vs. 91%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by North Central Michigan College students is 4.3% larger than aid received by Lake Michigan College students ($8,139 vs. $7,803).

LMC vs. NCMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, LMC or NCMC? 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 NCMC and LMC.

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

LMC vs. NCMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for LMC and NCMC? 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 North Central Michigan College earn a median of about $2,200 more per year than LMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($29,200 vs. $27,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, North Central Michigan College graduates have a $1,938 lower median loan debt than LMC graduates ($8,926 vs. $10,864).
• Among borrowers, NCMC graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than LMC graduates ($92 vs. $112).
• More NCMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former LMC students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 27%)

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.