Northern Michigan University vs. Northland College

Deciding between Northern Michigan University and Northland College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Northern Michigan University
Northland College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Northern Michigan University Marquette, MI
  • Northland College Ashland, WI
  • Setting
  • Northern Michigan University Remote Town
  • Northland College Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Northern Michigan University 7,409
  • Northland College 286
  • Type
  • Northern Michigan University Public 4 Year
  • Northland College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Northern Michigan University
  • Northland College
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Northern Michigan University -
  • Northland College United Church of Christ
  • Status
  • Northern Michigan University Non-profit
  • Northland College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Northern Michigan University
  • Northland College
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Northern Michigan University $14,277
  • Northland College $44,403
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Northern Michigan University $19,773
  • Northland College $44,403
  • Room & Board
  • Northern Michigan University $13,274
  • Northland College $11,600
  • Average Net Price
  • Northern Michigan University $15,707
  • Northland College $23,253
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Northern Michigan University $12,012
  • Northland College $33,572
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Northern Michigan University 94%
  • Northland College 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Northern Michigan University 12,204
  • Northland College 947
  • Admitted
  • Northern Michigan University 10,254
  • Northland College 710
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Northern Michigan University 84%
  • Northland College 75%
  • Enrolled
  • Northern Michigan University 15.3%
  • Northland College 9.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Northern Michigan University
  • Northland College 1050
  • Typical ACT score
  • Northern Michigan University
  • Northland College 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • Northern Michigan University 3.33
  • Northland College 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Northern Michigan University B+
  • Northland College B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Northern Michigan University Unavailable
  • Northland College Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Northern Michigan University
  • Northland College
  • ACT Range
  • Northern Michigan University
  • Northland College 18/25
  • SAT Range
  • Northern Michigan University
  • Northland College 950/1140
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Northern Michigan University Test-free
  • Northland College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Northern Michigan University
  • Northland College
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Northern Michigan University 18:1
  • Northland College 5:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Northern Michigan University
    • Health Professions (17%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
    • Engineering Technology (6%)
  • Northland College
    • Natural Resources Conservation (23%)
    • Biology (22%)
    • Education (15%)
    • Physical Sciences (9%)
    • Business (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Northern Michigan University 48%
  • Northland College 48%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Northern Michigan University $38,400
  • Northland College $34,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Northern Michigan University 56%
  • Northland College 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Northern Michigan University $22,292
  • Northland College $26,943
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Northern Michigan University $230
  • Northland College $278
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Northern Michigan University 38%
  • Northland College 58%
  • % Women
  • Northern Michigan University 62%
  • Northland College 42%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Northern Michigan University Very Low
  • Northland College Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Northern Michigan University No
  • Northland College No
  • % White
  • Northern Michigan University 85%
  • Northland College 83%
  • % Asian
  • Northern Michigan University 0%
  • Northland College 0%
  • % Black
  • Northern Michigan University 2%
  • Northland College 1%
  • % Hispanic
  • Northern Michigan University 3%
  • Northland College 6%
  • % Native American
  • Northern Michigan University 2%
  • Northland College 2%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Northern Michigan University 0%
  • Northland College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Northern Michigan University 3%
  • Northland College 2%
  • % International
  • Northern Michigan University 1%
  • Northland College 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Northern Michigan University 2%
  • Northland College 4%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Northern Michigan University 73%
  • Northland College 32%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Northern Michigan University 26%
  • Northland College 43%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Northern Michigan University Yes
  • Northland College Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Northern Michigan University No
  • Northland College No
  • Meal Plan
  • Northern Michigan University Yes
  • Northland College Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Northern Michigan University Yes
  • Northland College No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Northern Michigan University No
  • Northland College No
  • Learn More
  • Northern Michigan University Details
  • Northland College Details

Comparable Facts

Compare Northern Michigan University in Marquette, MI with Northland College in Ashland, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Northern Michigan University is larger than Northland College based on total student enrollment (7,409 students vs. 286 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Northern Michigan University is located in Marquette, MI (Remote Town setting); Northland College is in Ashland, WI (Remote Town setting).
  • Northern Michigan University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Northland College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Northern Michigan University 18:1; Northland College 5:1.

Northern Michigan University vs. Northland College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northern Michigan University or Northland College? 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 Northern Michigan University than Northland College ($15,707 vs. $23,253).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northland College are 12.6% lower than at Northern Michigan University ($11,600 vs. $13,274).
  • Northland College is 211% more expensive for in-state tuition than Northern Michigan University (about $30,126 more per year; $44,403.00 vs. $14,277.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 124.6% higher at Northland College than at Northern Michigan University (about $24,630 more per year; $44,403.00 vs. $19,773.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northland College than at Northern Michigan University (100% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northland College students is 179.5% larger than aid received by Northern Michigan University students ($33,572 vs. $12,012).

Northern Michigan University vs. Northland College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Northern Michigan University or Northland College? 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 Northland College and Northern Michigan University.

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsNorthland College 950/1140.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsNorthland College 18/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Northern Michigan University - Test-free; Northland College - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman Northern Michigan University students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.33) than students at Northland College (3.3).
  • Northern Michigan University has a higher acceptance rate (84%) than Northland College (75%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.3% at Northern Michigan University vs. 9.6% at Northland College.

Northern Michigan University vs. Northland College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Northern Michigan University and Northland College? 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).

  • The graduation rate at Northern Michigan University is the same as at Northland College (48% vs. 48%).
  • Graduates from Northern Michigan University earn a median of about $3,500 more per year than Northland College graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,400 vs. $34,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Northern Michigan University graduates have a $4,651 lower median loan debt than Northland College graduates ($22,292 vs. $26,943).
  • Among borrowers, Northern Michigan University graduates have an estimated $48 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northland College graduates ($230 vs. $278).
  • More Northland College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northern Michigan University students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 56%)

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.