Northern Michigan University
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and families looking for lower cost. no major red flags in the data. a public school with 6,556 students.
About This School
Northern Michigan University is a public institution located in Marquette, Michigan with approximately 6,556 undergraduate students enrolled. Northern Michigan University has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 84%. The average net price after financial aid is $14,085 per year. The graduation rate is 52%, and the typical graduate earns $39,800 within 10 years of enrollment.
Northern Michigan University is a public university in Marquette, Michigan, United States. It was established in 1899 by the Michigan Legislature as Northern State Normal School. In 1963, the state designated the school a university and gave it the current name. The university comprises five academic divisions, offering some 180 programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. NMU's athletic teams are nicknamed the Wildcats and compete primarily in the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: the affordable net price of $17,485/year and low median debt of $13,750 are genuinely appealing, but a 51% graduation rate means roughly half of students who start don't finish, which is a real concern worth asking about during any campus visit. Median earnings of $39,800 a decade out are modest, so students should be strategic about choosing programs with stronger job outcomes — NMU's nursing, cybersecurity, and applied sciences offerings tend to be its most career-connected. Worth considering if you're drawn to a smaller, tight-knit campus in a beautiful lakeside setting and have a clear plan for staying on track to graduate.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 21% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
Northern Michigan University graduates earn most above the national rate in Criminal Justice and Corrections ($59,390 vs $55,378 nationally), and most below it in Business Administration, Management and Operations ($49,202 vs $68,257).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology, General | 107 | $43,698 | $57,214 | −$13,516 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 89 | $77,670 | $88,910 | −$11,240 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 67 | $59,390 | $55,378 | +$4,012 |
| Psychology, General | 64 | $43,349 | $50,706 | −$7,357 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 60 | $46,002 | $51,389 | −$5,387 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 60 | $50,300 | $55,012 | −$4,712 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 59 | $49,202 | $68,257 | −$19,055 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 55 | $36,228 | $41,367 | −$5,139 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 42 | $47,613 | $54,562 | −$6,949 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 42 | $45,008 | $47,382 | −$2,374 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | 36 | $67,522 | $75,975 | −$8,453 |
| Construction Management | 36 | $91,682 | $95,124 | −$3,442 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (6,556 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Address
Northern Michigan University
1401 Presque Isle Avenue
Marquette, MI 49855-5301
Official Links
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See How Colleges Compare
Northern Michigan University is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Northern Michigan University?
Northern Michigan University has an acceptance rate of 84%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Northern Michigan University hard to get into?
Not especially. Northern Michigan University has an acceptance rate of 84%, so admissions are relatively accessible for applicants who meet the requirements.
How much does Northern Michigan University cost?
The average net price at Northern Michigan University is about $14,085 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Northern Michigan University?
Northern Michigan University has a graduation rate of 52%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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