Northern Michigan University
Northern Michigan University — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Northern Michigan University at a Glance
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 Intercollegi…
1899
127 years old
$159M
$159 million (2023)
7,409
6,684 undergrad · 725 grad
457
350 acres
Identity
Is Northern Michigan University Worth It?
Northern Michigan University offers moderate value at $14,085/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $47,107, which is 12% below average — meaning the financial payoff takes longer than typical. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.2 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 52% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 5 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
How Northern Michigan University compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in MI
Ranked #95 of 218 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 | Skyline College | 100 | $1,738 | $55,702 |
| #2 | College of the Mainland | 100 | $1,342 | $39,639 |
| #3 | Taft College | 96 | $2,823 | $38,861 |
| #4 | Pensacola State College | 91 | $3,957 | $36,739 |
| #5 | Gulf Coast State College | 90 | $4,709 | $38,359 |
| #6 | Shasta College | 89 | $2,878 | $39,269 |
| #95 | Northern Michigan University | 43 | $14,085 | $47,107 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Northern Michigan University's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 6 in MI.
Best Programs at Northern Michigan University
The highest-earning program at Northern Michigan University is Construction Engineering Technologies at $67,600/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is History at $18,300/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Construction Engineering Technologies graduate from Northern Michigan University earns $67,600, while a History graduate earns $18,300. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Construction Engineering Technologies graduates carry $23,000 in median debt vs. $26,107 for History.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $14,085/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
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction Engineering Technologies | $67,600 | $67,600 | $23,000 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $53,600 | $53,600 | $27,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $53,400 | $53,400 | $27,000 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $43,200 | $43,200 | $15,500 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $42,300 | $42,300 | $24,125 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $39,800 | $39,800 | $25,187 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $33,800 | $33,800 | $24,936 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $33,800 | $33,800 | $21,750 |
| Marketing | $33,500 | $33,500 | $23,552 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $33,000 | $33,000 | $24,393 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $29,900 | $29,900 | $26,125 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $29,600 | $29,600 | $23,462 |
| Biology, General | $27,600 | $27,600 | $22,619 |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | $27,300 | $27,300 | $22,500 |
| Social Work | $26,800 | $26,800 | $20,500 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $26,000 | $26,000 | $21,922 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $24,800 | $24,800 | $23,250 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $22,000 | $22,000 | $25,000 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $20,800 | $20,800 | $22,500 |
| Political Science and Government | $20,200 | $20,200 | $23,531 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $19,200 | $19,200 | $25,940 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $18,700 | $18,700 | $21,500 |
| History | $18,300 | $18,300 | $26,107 |
Similar Colleges in MI
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Marquette, MI
- Student Body
- 6,556 students
- Admission Rate
- 84%
- Graduation Rate
- 52%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $14,085
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $47,107
- Median Student Debt
- $21,474