NCMC vs. SMC

Comparable Facts

Compare North Central Michigan College in Petoskey, 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 NCMC based on total student enrollment (2,000 students vs. 1,613 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• North Central Michigan College is located in Petoskey, MI (Rural Fringe setting); Southwestern Michigan College is in Dowagiac, MI (Rural Fringe setting).
• North Central 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: North Central Michigan College 15:1; Southwestern Michigan College 17:1.

NCMC vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NCMC 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 NCMC ($6,684 vs. $11,807).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Central Michigan College are 4.8% lower than at Southwestern Michigan College ($10,303 vs. $10,825).
• North Central Michigan College is 8% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $626 more per year; $8,490.00 vs. $7,864.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 26.2% higher at NCMC than at Southwestern Michigan College (about $2,196 more per year; $10,590.00 vs. $8,394.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern Michigan College than at North Central Michigan College (94% vs. 91%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Michigan College students is 0.3% larger than aid received by North Central Michigan College students ($8,166 vs. $8,139).

NCMC vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NCMC 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 NCMC.

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

NCMC vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NCMC 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 Southwestern Michigan College earn a median of about $400 more per year than NCMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($29,600 vs. $29,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, North Central Michigan College graduates have a $3,074 lower median loan debt than SMC graduates ($8,926 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, NCMC graduates have an estimated $32 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SMC graduates ($92 vs. $124).
• More NCMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SMC students, three years after graduation. (46% 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.