NMC vs. SMC

Deciding between Northwestern Michigan College and Southwestern Michigan 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.

Northwestern Michigan College
Southwestern Michigan College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • NMC Traverse City, MI
  • SMC Dowagiac, MI
  • Setting
  • NMC Remote Town
  • SMC Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • NMC 3,253
  • SMC 2,000
  • Type
  • NMC Public 2 Year
  • SMC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • NMC
  • SMC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • NMC -
  • SMC -
  • Status
  • NMC Non-profit
  • SMC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • NMC
  • SMC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • NMC $5,860
  • SMC $6,417
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • NMC $13,476
  • SMC $8,394
  • Room & Board
  • NMC $10,600
  • SMC $10,825
  • Average Net Price
  • NMC $7,427
  • SMC $6,684
  • Average Grant Aid
  • NMC $7,926
  • SMC $8,166
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • NMC 84%
  • SMC 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • NMC -
  • SMC -
  • Admitted
  • NMC -
  • SMC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • NMC Open
  • SMC Open
  • Enrolled
  • NMC Open
  • SMC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • NMC
  • SMC
  • Typical ACT score
  • NMC
  • SMC
  • Average High School GPA
  • NMC -
  • SMC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • NMC -
  • SMC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • NMC Unavailable
  • SMC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • NMC
  • SMC
  • ACT Range
  • NMC
  • SMC
  • SAT Range
  • NMC
  • SMC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • NMC Open admission
  • SMC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • NMC
  • SMC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • NMC 13:1
  • SMC 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • NMC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (50%)
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Personal and Culinary Services (6%)
    • Transportation and Materials Moving (6%)
    • Business (5%)
  • SMC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (41%)
    • Health Professions (29%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (7%)
    • Communications Technology (3%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • NMC -
  • SMC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • NMC $33,500
  • SMC $29,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • NMC 41%
  • SMC 28%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • NMC $14,006
  • SMC $12,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • NMC $144
  • SMC $124

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • NMC 49%
  • SMC 39%
  • % Women
  • NMC 51%
  • SMC 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • NMC Very Low
  • SMC Low
  • HBCU
  • NMC No
  • SMC No
  • % White
  • NMC 84%
  • SMC 72%
  • % Asian
  • NMC 1%
  • SMC 1%
  • % Black
  • NMC 1%
  • SMC 12%
  • % Hispanic
  • NMC 4%
  • SMC 6%
  • % Native American
  • NMC 2%
  • SMC 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • NMC 0%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • NMC 3%
  • SMC 5%
  • % International
  • NMC 1%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • NMC 4%
  • SMC 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • NMC 97%
  • SMC 85%
  • % Out-of-State
  • NMC 3%
  • SMC 14%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • NMC Yes
  • SMC Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • NMC No
  • SMC No
  • Meal Plan
  • NMC Yes
  • SMC No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • NMC No
  • SMC No
  • Daycare Facility
  • NMC No
  • SMC No

Comparable Facts

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

Northwestern Michigan College is larger than SMC based on total student enrollment (3,253 students vs. 2,000 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Northwestern Michigan College is located in Traverse City, MI (Remote Town setting); Southwestern Michigan College is in Dowagiac, MI (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Northwestern 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: Northwestern Michigan College 13:1; Southwestern Michigan College 17:1.

NMC vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NMC 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 NMC ($6,684 vs. $7,427).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern Michigan College are 2.1% lower than at Southwestern Michigan College ($10,600 vs. $10,825).
  • Northwestern Michigan College is 36.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $2,858 more per year; $10,722.00 vs. $7,864.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 60.5% higher at NMC than at Southwestern Michigan College (about $5,082 more per year; $13,476.00 vs. $8,394.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern Michigan College than at Northwestern Michigan College (94% vs. 84%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Michigan College students is 3% larger than aid received by Northwestern Michigan College students ($8,166 vs. $7,926).

NMC vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NMC 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 NMC.

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

NMC vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NMC 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 Northwestern Michigan College earn a median of about $3,900 more per year than SMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,500 vs. $29,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwestern Michigan College graduates have a $2,006 lower median loan debt than NMC graduates ($12,000 vs. $14,006).
  • Among borrowers, SMC graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NMC graduates ($124 vs. $144).
  • More NMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SMC students, three years after graduation. (41% 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.