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Marquette, MI · Public · 6,556 undergraduates · town

Northern Michigan University

Moderately selective

Add to my college list Review admission

Its Lake Superior location makes the surrounding landscape a practical extension of the classroom for many students.

Campus image / Publicly hosted campus image

Institutional profile

Regionally focused Solid in affordability, and steady in academic standing.
Academic Steady Affordability Solid Career Emerging Mobility Emerging Experience Emerging
Academic standing Steady
Affordability Solid
Career outcomes Emerging
Mobility Emerging
Student experience Emerging
Admission
70% admitted

6,922 applicants in the reported year

Price by income
Resident and nonresident prices differ

Compare recent average annual costs by household income

Completion
56.3%

$47,107 median earnings 10 years after enrollment

What sets Northern Michigan University apart

Academic design

NMU offers about 200 degree programs with small classes, applied learning and faculty access. Programs range from traditional liberal arts and sciences to nursing, business, education and career-focused technical study.

Campus pattern

The campus is in Marquette on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, with Lake Superior, forests, trails and heavy winter snowfall integral to daily life. Outdoor recreation is accessible from campus.

Defining feature

Its Lake Superior location makes the surrounding landscape a practical extension of the classroom for many students.

Can I get in?

70% admitted

Start with academic preparation, then show why this particular academic and campus environment fits you.

Recent applicant pool

6,922

About 70 in every 100 applicants were admitted.

Admission rate 70%
Entering class

Record over scores

No score range is published for the entering class, so the transcript, the course rigor, and the required materials carry the file.

Testingoptional
Return for a second year76.9%
Finish the degree56.3%

In the season card

Where your GPA sits in the entering class

The full entering-class GPA distribution for Northern Michigan University, in nine bands from 4.0 down, with your own record marked on it.

See where I land

In the season card

What Northern Michigan University weighs when it reads a file

See how this college describes the role of grades, testing, essays, recommendations, activities, and demonstrated interest.

  • Course rigor  
  • GPA  
  • Test scores  
  • Essay  
  • Recommendations  
  • Extracurriculars  
  • Demonstrated interest  
See what counts here

What moves the application

The evidence that separates a strong file

01

Show preparation for this curriculum

NMU offers about 200 degree programs with small classes, applied learning and faculty access. Programs range from traditional liberal arts and sciences to nursing, business, education and career-focused technical study.

02

Make the fit specific

Its Lake Superior location makes the surrounding landscape a practical extension of the classroom for many students.

03

Account for the tradeoff

Keep academic direction and school-specific choices coherent across the application.

How to apply

Rounds, route, and required materials

Build the calendar around the earliest realistic application round and make the school-specific case concrete.

Regular Decisionrolling
Fee and waiverNo application fee

Check eligibility for a fee waiver

Major and program admission

Some fields have their own entry path.

The college admit rate above covers the university as a whole. These requirements apply only to the named program.

Teacher preparationAdmits separately

What this program asks for, and when it closes.

Health professionsAdmits separately

What this program asks for, and when it closes.

NursingAdmits separately

What this program asks for, and when it closes.

Can I afford it?

Compare annual cost by household income.

Start with the average net price for your income range, then set that estimate beside your other realistic options.

Published annual cost$26,590
Average annual cost after aid, in-state$14,000
Affordability profileSolid

College funding

Scholarships and financial aid

Review available aid, application requirements, and renewal terms.

Northern Michigan University publishes six merit awards, the largest reaching full tuition or more. one require a separate scholarship application. five renew past the first year.

Automatic consideration An award reaching $5,000 to $10,000 a year

Open across the university · Merit · Guaranteed at a stated threshold · Renews each year

Automatic consideration An award under $5,000 a year

Open across the university · Merit · Guaranteed at a stated threshold · Renews each year

Automatic consideration An award reaching $5,000 to $10,000 a year

Open across the university · Merit · Guaranteed at a stated threshold · Renews each year

Automatic consideration An award reaching $5,000 to $10,000 a year

Open across the university · Merit · Guaranteed at a stated threshold · Renews each year

Automatic consideration An award under $5,000 a year

Open across the university · Merit · Guaranteed at a stated threshold · Renews each year

Separate scholarship application An award reaching full tuition or more

Open across the university · Merit · Competitive

In the season card

These six awards, by name

What each one is called, what it pays, the grades and scores it asks for, and what to send.

  • The name of each award 
  • What it pays 
  • The grades and scores it asks for 
  • How to be considered 
  • What to send, and where 
See the full read
NMU Tuition AdvantageA last-dollar scholarship provides remaining tuition after federal, state and institutional funding. Qualifying students also receive a one-time $1,000 Tuition Advantage Plus award for additional first-year fees.Students must qualify for both the Michigan Achievement Scholarship and Federal Pell Grant. Global Campus students are not eligible. Plan with your figuresOpen this college’s net price calculator
Open financial aid plan

In the season card

Average annual cost by household income at Northern Michigan University

Compare recent average net prices across five federal income ranges and estimate a 4-year cost for yours.

  • $0–30k 
  • $30–48k 
  • $48–75k 
  • $75–110k 
  • $110k+ 
Open the price by income

Is it worth it?

Completion, debt, and earnings

Its Lake Superior location makes the surrounding landscape a practical extension of the classroom for many students.

Complete within 8 years56.3%

Degree completion across the reported entering cohort

Return after year one76.9%

First-year students who return for year two

Median federal debtWhat students owe on the way out

And what that comes to against what they earn.

Median earnings$47,107

Reported 10 years after enrollment

Academic portfolio

Largest bachelor’s fields

How many students finish in each field, and median earnings four years after completing the program.

Biology, General

Recent graduates107
Median earnings$43,698

Criminal Justice and Corrections

Recent graduates67
Median earnings$59,390

Psychology, General

Recent graduates64
Median earnings$43,349

Natural Resources Conservation and Research

Recent graduates60
Median earnings$50,300

What is campus life like?

Northern Michigan University beyond the classroom

The campus is in Marquette on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, with Lake Superior, forests, trails and heavy winter snowfall integral to daily life. Outdoor recreation is accessible from campus.

Academics

A defining academic feature

NMU offers about 200 degree programs with small classes, applied learning and faculty access. Programs range from traditional liberal arts and sciences to nursing, business, education and career-focused technical study.

Campus setting

What shapes an ordinary week

The campus is in Marquette on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, with Lake Superior, forests, trails and heavy winter snowfall integral to daily life. Outdoor recreation is accessible from campus.

Distinctive edge

What changes the experience

Its Lake Superior location makes the surrounding landscape a practical extension of the classroom for many students.

6,556 undergraduatesMidwesttown settingCampus housing available