North Central Michigan College
- Graduation Rate
- 27% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $36,594 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $10,083 B
- 41% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 942
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 21.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $21.9 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $21.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $842,197.
What The Data Says
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A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 27% — 53% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $21.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why North Central Michigan College Matters
North Central Michigan College is a public community college in Petoskey, MI and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 942
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Physical Sciences, Business & Marketing
Why students choose North Central Michigan College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $10,083 a year after grants and scholarships — 41% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $36,594 ten years after enrolling — 10% below the typical college, against $14,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.8% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 86% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.08 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of just 942 students, North Central Michigan College in Petoskey offers a close-knit community for those pursuing studies in fields like Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Physical Sciences, and Visual & Performing Arts. This small size allows for more personalized attention from instructors and a chance to build meaningful connections. If you’re looking for an environment that fosters collaboration and individual growth, this could be a good fit.
After graduation, students can expect to earn around $36,594 within ten years, which gives a clear perspective on the potential return on investment. While the graduation rate sits at 27%, it’s essential to consider that many students may be balancing work or personal commitments alongside their studies. This college aims to be accessible, with 29% of students receiving Pell Grants, which helps support those who may need financial assistance.
When looking at the numbers, the net price after aid is about $10,083, which is relatively manageable compared to other institutions. The median debt for graduates is $14,000, a figure that suggests students are leaving with a reasonable financial burden. Those who tend to thrive here are often those who value a supportive environment and are focused on gaining practical skills for the job market.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective North Central Michigan College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into North Central Michigan College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Petoskey, Michigan, North Central Michigan College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 27%.
- Retention Rate
- 66%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,825
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 15:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.34
- First-Gen Students
- 42%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend North Central Michigan College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at North Central Michigan College is $10,590, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $10,083. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,819 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $14,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $5,430
- Out-of-State
- $10,590
- Avg Net Price
- $10,083
- Median Debt
- $14,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 29%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 8%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $9,819
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $7,469
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $11,658
- Family Income $110K+
- $15,435
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at North Central Michigan College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is North Central Michigan College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of North Central Michigan College report median earnings of $36,594, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $31,314
- 8 Years
- $32,692
- 10 Years
- $36,594
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.38x
- Earning > $25K
- 40%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (40)
- 17%
- 100% (40)
- 17%
- 100% (40)
- 17%
- 100% (40)
- 17%
How North Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is North Central Michigan College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, North Central Michigan College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $10,083/year ($40,332 total). Graduates earn $36,594 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $882,529 in total earnings — a net gain of $842,197 (21.9× your investment). The median debt is $14,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 27% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $40,332
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $882,529
- Net Return
- $842,197
- ROI Multiple
- 21.9×
- Cost Per Year
- $10,083
- Median Debt
- $14,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 27%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does North Central Michigan College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
North Central Michigan College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.84%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 12% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 7.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $60,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.84%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 7.1%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 12.0%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $82,198
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $2,057,142
- Federal Grants
- $801,298
- Investment Income
- $-1,685,064
Top Programs
The fields North Central Michigan College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Humanities 64%
- Health Professions 13% $68,427 early-career
- Physical Sciences 8% $26,827 early-career
- Business & Marketing 6% $39,882 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 2%
- Education 2% $23,116 early-career
- Criminal Justice 1%
- Visual & Performing Arts 1%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for North Central Michigan College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into North Central Michigan College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Petoskey, Michigan, North Central Michigan College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 27%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend North Central Michigan College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at North Central Michigan College is $10,590, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $10,083. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,819 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $14,000 in federal student loans.
Is North Central Michigan College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of North Central Michigan College report median earnings of $36,594, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does North Central Michigan College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
North Central Michigan College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.84%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 12% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 7.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $60,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is North Central Michigan College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at North Central Michigan College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.08, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to North Central Michigan College.
- Missouri State University-West PlainsWest Plains, MO · Close peer38% grad $36,922 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Kirtland Community CollegeGrayling, MI · Close peer30% grad $35,831 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · same state
- Salem Community CollegeCarneys Point, NJ · Close peer39% grad $38,020 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Southern State Community CollegeHillsboro, OH · Close peer31% grad $35,463 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Sullivan County Community CollegeLoch Sheldrake, NY · Close peer28% grad $38,354 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Bay de Noc Community CollegeEscanaba, MI · Close peer27% grad $35,090 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · same state
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is North Central Michigan College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at North Central Michigan College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.08, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note