Bay Mills Community College
Bay Mills Community College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Bay Mills Community College at a Glance
Bay Mills Community College (BMCC) is a public tribal land-grant community college in Brimley, Michigan. It is chartered by the federally recognized Bay Mills Indian Community of Michigan with a total enrollment of approximately 500 on-campus and online students. The students come primarily from Michigan's eastern Upper Peninsula and are 60% Native American. BMCC is a member of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC), a community of tribally and federally chartered institutions w…
1981
45 years old
531
Is Bay Mills Community College Worth It?
Bay Mills Community College delivers solid financial returns for its graduates. At $3,073/year, it's priced 85% below average, while graduates go on to earn $30,048 — near the national average.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.4 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 30% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 3 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
Bottom line: Bay Mills Community College delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How Bay Mills Community College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #5 of 16 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | North Florida College | 100 | $804 | $33,929 |
| #2 | Alpena Community College | 100 | $3,320 | $36,442 |
| #3 | Haskell Indian Nations University | 90 | $3,134 | $37,043 |
| #4 | American Samoa Community College | 89 | $3,386 | $30,087 |
| #5 | Bay Mills Community College | 74 | $3,073 | $30,048 |
| #6 | Northwest Indian College | 62 | $3,136 | $35,447 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Bay Mills Community College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 1 in MI.
Best Programs at Bay Mills Community College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Bay Mills Community College. When evaluating whether to attend, research outcomes for your specific major using the Department of Education's College Scorecard or ask the admissions office for placement rates.
As a general rule: STEM, nursing, accounting, and computer science programs tend to deliver the strongest ROI regardless of institution. Humanities and arts programs can still be worthwhile, but require more intentional career planning to achieve financial payoff.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $3,073/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Similar Colleges in MI
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Brimley, MI
- Student Body
- 662 students
- Graduation Rate
- 30%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $3,073
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $30,048