Mid Michigan College vs. SMC

Comparable Facts

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

Mid Michigan College is larger than SMC based on total student enrollment (3,692 students vs. 2,000 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Mid Michigan College is located in Harrison, MI (Rural Fringe setting); Southwestern Michigan College is in Dowagiac, MI (Rural Fringe setting).
• Mid Michigan College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwestern Michigan College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Mid Michigan College 28:1; Southwestern Michigan College 17:1.

Mid Michigan College vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mid Michigan 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 Mid Michigan College ($6,684 vs. $8,803).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mid Michigan College are 28.1% lower than at Southwestern Michigan College ($7,778 vs. $10,825).
• Mid Michigan College is 12% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $946 more per year; $8,810.00 vs. $7,864.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 29.4% higher at Mid Michigan College than at Southwestern Michigan College (about $2,470 more per year; $10,864.00 vs. $8,394.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern Michigan College than at Mid Michigan College (94% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mid Michigan College students is 5.6% larger than aid received by Southwestern Michigan College students ($8,620 vs. $8,166).

Mid Michigan College vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mid Michigan 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 Mid Michigan College.

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

Mid Michigan College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mid Michigan 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 Mid Michigan College earn a median of about $1,900 more per year than SMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($31,500 vs. $29,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwestern Michigan College graduates have a $1,487 lower median loan debt than Mid Michigan College graduates ($12,000 vs. $13,487).
• Among borrowers, SMC graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mid Michigan College graduates ($124 vs. $139).
• More Mid Michigan College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SMC students, three years after graduation. (32% 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.