Getting in
Northern Michigan University admits 84% of those who apply, which makes it open to most applicants. The median admission rate of colleges on this site that report one is 77%.
What it costs
| Tuition and fees, students from Michigan | $15,012 |
| Tuition and fees, students from elsewhere | $20,508 |
| Room and meals on campus | $13,810 |
| Books and supplies | $530 |
| Average full cost of a year (tuition, living, books), before aid | $29,226 |
| Average net price after grants and scholarships | $12,759 |
The net price is what students who got federal aid paid on average for a year after grants and scholarships were taken off (for a public college, students from inside the state). It is 5% above the median net price of colleges in Michigan on this site ($12,147). International students are normally charged the out-of-state tuition and do not receive US federal aid.
Net price by family income
| Family income a year | Average net price |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | $6,162 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $4,553 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $10,154 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $14,160 |
| Above $110,000 | $22,333 |
For students who received federal aid. A negative figure means grants were larger than the cost counted.
For an estimate that fits your own family, use the college's net price calculator.
Results
| Measure | This college | MI median | US median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students who come back for a second year | 78% | 72% | 73% |
| Students who finish their degree (within one and a half times the normal length) | 54% | 48% | 49% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting | $51,936 | $52,190 | $53,132 |
| Median federal loan debt of those who finish | $19,500 | $19,500 | $19,994 |
Medians are the middle value of the colleges on this site in Michigan and in the whole country. Completion and return rates count first-time, full-time students. Earnings and debt count students who received federal aid.
The students
34% of undergraduates receive a Pell Grant, the federal grant for students from lower-income families. 46% take a federal student loan. The undergraduate body is 61% women and 39% men. By undergraduate numbers it is number 17 of the 72 colleges in Michigan on this site that report a size; the middle-sized one has 1,650.
Other colleges in Michigan of a similar size
- Saginaw Valley State UniversityUniversity Center, public
- Michigan Technological UniversityHoughton, public
- University of Michigan-DearbornDearborn, public
- Ferris State UniversityBig Rapids, public
- University of Michigan-FlintFlint, public
- Hope CollegeHolland, private nonprofit
Common questions
What is the acceptance rate of Northern Michigan University?
Northern Michigan University admits 84% of applicants, according to the College Scorecard.
How much is tuition at Northern Michigan University?
Published tuition and fees are $15,012 a year for students from Michigan and $20,508 for others. Most students with aid pay less: see the net price.
What is the graduation rate of Northern Michigan University?
54% of first-time, full-time students finish within one and a half times the normal length of the course.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, data released on 2 November 2026; checked in November 2026. Net price, debt and earnings describe students who received US federal aid. Costs change each year. This is official data for general information, not advice: confirm costs and admission rules on the college's own website and at collegescorecard.ed.gov.