NMC vs. West Shore Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Northwestern Michigan College is larger than West Shore Community College based on total student enrollment (3,253 students vs. 1,120 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Northwestern Michigan College is located in Traverse City, MI (Remote Town setting); West Shore Community College is in Scottville, MI (Distant Rural setting).
• Northwestern Michigan College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. West Shore Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Northwestern Michigan College 13:1; West Shore Community College 12:1.

NMC vs. West Shore Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NMC or West Shore 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 West Shore Community College than NMC ($3,927 vs. $7,427).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at West Shore Community College are 11.7% lower than at Northwestern Michigan College ($9,360 vs. $10,600).
• Northwestern Michigan College is 67% more expensive for in-state tuition than West Shore Community College (about $4,302 more per year; $10,722.00 vs. $6,420.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 52.8% higher at NMC than at West Shore Community College (about $4,656 more per year; $13,476.00 vs. $8,820.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Northwestern Michigan College as at West Shore Community College (84% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern Michigan College students is 12.5% larger than aid received by West Shore Community College students ($7,926 vs. $7,048).

NMC vs. West Shore Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NMC or West Shore 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 West Shore 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; West Shore Community College - Open admission.

NMC vs. West Shore Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NMC and West Shore 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 Northwestern Michigan College earn a median of about $3,500 more per year than West Shore Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,500 vs. $30,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, West Shore Community College graduates have a $4,397 lower median loan debt than NMC graduates ($9,609 vs. $14,006).
• Among borrowers, West Shore Community College graduates have an estimated $45 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NMC graduates ($99 vs. $144).
• More West Shore Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NMC students, three years after graduation. (42% vs. 41%)

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.