NMC vs. Oakland Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Oakland Community College is larger than NMC based on total student enrollment (15,287 students vs. 3,253 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Northwestern Michigan College is located in Traverse City, MI (Remote Town setting); Oakland Community College is in Auburn Hills, MI (Large Suburban setting).
• Northwestern Michigan College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Oakland Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Northwestern Michigan College 13:1; Oakland Community College 23:1.

NMC vs. Oakland Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NMC or Oakland Community 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 Oakland Community College than NMC ($3,871 vs. $7,427).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Oakland Community College are 11.3% lower than at Northwestern Michigan College ($9,400 vs. $10,600).
• Northwestern Michigan College is 92.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Oakland Community College (about $5,162 more per year; $10,722.00 vs. $5,560.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 142.4% higher at NMC than at Oakland Community College (about $7,916 more per year; $13,476.00 vs. $5,560.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northwestern Michigan College than at Oakland Community College (84% vs. 62%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Oakland Community College students is 2.9% larger than aid received by Northwestern Michigan College students ($8,158 vs. $7,926).

NMC vs. Oakland Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NMC or Oakland Community 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 Oakland Community College and NMC.

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

NMC vs. Oakland Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NMC and Oakland Community 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).

• Graduates from Oakland Community College earn a median of about $400 more per year than NMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,900 vs. $33,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Oakland Community College graduates have a $4,421 lower median loan debt than NMC graduates ($9,585 vs. $14,006).
• Among borrowers, Oakland Community College graduates have an estimated $45 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NMC graduates ($99 vs. $144).
• More NMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Oakland Community College students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 21%)

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.