Northern Michigan University (NMU) 2026 Admission 84%, Cost

84.02%

Acceptance Rate

$8,455

Avg.Financial Aid

002301

FAFSA Code

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★ Northern Michigan University (NMU) Report Card

Selectivity

—

84% acceptance rate

Academics

C-

52% graduation rate

Class Size

—

20:1 student-faculty ratio

Value

B+

$19,773 tuition

Grades calculated by The College Monk from IPEDS/NCES data. Methodology: How we grade →

★ Key Facts: Northern Michigan University (NMU)

Institution: Northern Michigan University (NMU)
Type: Public

Data compiled by The College Monk from IPEDS/NCES and official university sources. Last verified June 2026. Citable source →

Northern Michigan University (NMU)

Type Control of Institution - Public/Private
Public
Acceptance Rate:
N/A
Level
4 Years
Religious Affiliation Indicates religious affiliation (denomination) for private not-for-profit institutions that are religiously affiliated.
Not applicable
Accreditation Accreditation is the process by which the quality of learning at various educational institutions are evaluated. Read More.
HLC
Website
www.nmu.edu
Student Population Number of Students attending College
6,556
On Campus Housing Does the institution provide on-campus housing?
Yes

Northern Michigan University (NMU) is a public institution, headquartered at Marquette, in the state of Michigan U.S. It was established in the year 1899. It has a student population of 7,865 students pursuing undergraduate and graduate studies.

It is one of the 2 universities in the state of Michigan which provides entrepreneurship as a major. It also offers rare programs like ski management and wildland firefighting that are being offered only by a few universities in the U.S.

It offers more than 177-degree programs and 29 of them are online degree programs. The university was started with the sole purpose to educate students and teachers. The professors are experienced and offer the students help when required for both online and on-campus students.

NMU’s main campus is located in a small city with 350 acres of huge campus. Its high rated placement offered programs include Business, Clinical Sciences, Engineering Technology, Music Education, Theater and Line, Power Technician.

NMU acceptance rate is 66% with the student-faculty ratio is 20:1. The retention rate of the university is 75% and the total graduation rate is 45%.
It is accredited by a regional accreditation agency by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), recognized by the U.S. Department of Education since 1916.

Location & Contact

Address

1401 Presque Isle Avenue, Marquette, Michigan

Contact

Phone: (906) 227-2650

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Rankings

According to the U.S. News and World Report, Northern Michigan University rankings are:

81 in Regional Universities Midwest.
17th in Top public schools.
68 in Best Value Schools.
50 in Best colleges for veterans.
350 in Business programs.

Admissions

Application Deadline Deadline for application submissions. Please contact the school for more details.
Rolling Admissions
Acceptance Rate Percentage of applicants who are accepted in an Institution.
84.02%
SAT Range
970 - 1180
SAT/ACT
Recommended
ACT Range
20 - 26
High School GPA
Required
Application Fee
$35
Accept Common App
None

It processes its applications on a rolling basis. There are no deadlines but the University wishes to assist students well in advance for the semester.

Additionally, a candidate has to maintain the SAT/ACT range of 970 - 1180 or 20 - 26 to be eligible to get into NMU

Steps to apply for admission to NMU are cited below in the following:

Complete the application for admission into the program of choice.
Pay the application fee of $35 online, by phone, by mail, or money order.
Transcripts or GED should be sent to the admission office directly.
Send SAT/ACT scores to NMU.

Full Admission Info Find College Scholarships Request Info

Annual Cost to Attend

Net Price Cost of attendance minus any grants and scholarships received.
$14,085
Average Annual Cost
$14,277

Additional Costs:

Books And Supplies
$24,187
Other Fees
$745
Room And Board The charges for an academic year for Rooming accommodations and meals for a typical student.
$10,666
Budget For Other Expenses
$1,992

Total One Year Cost

$24,187

From the above table, it is clear that the average annual cost to attend NMU is $9,984. The students also need to budget for other expenses which include the following:

NMU room and board amounting to $10,666 while books and supplies amount to $800.

For any further information about tuition and ways to pay, we suggest you follow our tuition and programs page.

Explore Programs Explore Student Loans Explore Tuition and Cost

Academics

Highest Degree Offered The highest degree offered by the Institution.

Student:Faculty Ratio

20:1

Full-Time Retention Rate Percent of the that re-enrolled at the institution as either full- or part-time in the current year.

78%

Part-Time Retention Rate Percent of the that re-enrolled at the institution as either full- or part-time in the current year.

62%

Academic Calendar

Semester

Research Funding per Student

$214

Faculty Overview

56%

Male Professors

44%

Female Professors

Non-traditional Learning

Evening Degree Programs

Teacher Certification

Distance Education

Study Abroad

Majors

Student Body

Undergraduate Students

7,089

Socio-Economic Diversity Percent of full-time, first-time students receiving an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

33%

Full-time / Part-time

87% / 13%

Students Gender

Male

44%

US National: 44%

Female

56%

US National: 56%

LGBTQIA STUDENT RESOURCE GROUPS

ON CAMPUS WOMEN'S CENTER

Race/Ethnicity

White

84%

Unknown

Black

Hispanic

Two or more races

Non Resident alien

Asian

American Indian/Alaska native

Native Hawaiians/Pacific islander

Geographic Density

High

Unknown Location

27%

Out Of State

71%

In State

Foreign

Economic Diversity

36% percentage of students who recieved an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

Median Household Income

$57,050 per year

Campus Life

Housing

The students can reside on campus and N/A of Freshman Live On-Campus.

On Campus Housing Available

Yes

Freshmen Required to Live on Campus

Freshmen Live on Campus

N/A

Undergrads in College Housing

41%

Averege Housing Cost

$5,692/year

Campus Food

The institution has several dining and meal plan options available to students and the average meal plan cost is around $4,974/year.

Meal Plan Available

Yes

Average Meal Plan Available

$4,974/year

Athletes

Division Sports Nickname

Wildcats

School Colors

olive green and old gold

Varsity Athletics Association

NCAA

Varsity Athletics Conference Primary

Great Lakes Intercollegiate Ath Conf

Total Male Athletes

230

Total Female Athletes

163

Intramural Sports

Sports Club

Sports Team (Men)

Basketball

Football

Golf

Ice Hockey

Skiing-Snowboarding

Soccer

Swimming and Diving

Sports Team (Women)

Basketball

Cross Country

Golf

Lacrosse

Skiing-Snowboarding

Soccer

Swimming and Diving

Track and Field

Volleyball

Campus Security

The university offers on-campus housing facilities to the students who wish to stay on the campus. At NMU, $10,774 is the normal expense for on-campus housing, which a student will be needed to pay, each year. The average meal plan at NMU costs around $4,974 a year. Notably, students at the varsity get to choose from various dining and meal plan options as well. The university considers the safety and security of its students to be paramount. At NMU, campus safety and security features include 24-hr security patrol, campus emergency phones, 24-hr escort safety rides and mobile campus emergency alert. There are around 44% male and 56% female students enrolled at the university.

24-Hour Security Patrol

Campus Emergency Phones

24-Hour Escort Safety rides

Mobile Campus Emergency Alert

After Graduation

Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation

$28,500/year

Median Earnings 10 Years After Graduation

$35,500/year

Median Total Debt After Graduation The median cumulative federal debt of undergraduate borrowers who graduated.

$5,500 - $31,000

Typical Monthly Loan Payment The median monthly loan payment for student borrowers who completed, if it were repaid over 10 years at a 4.53% interest rate.

$57 - $322

Outcomes 8 Years of Attending

Show data for students who

and started their studies

Out of 7,811 students

30% Graduated

10% Still Enrolled

15% Transfer

1% Withdraw

Financial Aid

Students Receiving Gift Aid Percent of undergraduate students awarded federal gift aid.

82%

Average Aid Per Year

$8,455

Students Receiving Federal Grants

42%

Average Aid Per Year

$4,869

Students Receiving State Aid

21%

Average Aid Per Year

$8,399

Students Receiving Institutional Grants

69%

Average Aid Per Year

$4,553

Average Grant & Scholarship by Family Income Aid awarded based on the family income.

Income

Average Amount

< $30K

$13,269

$30K - $48K

$11,257

$48K - $75K

$6,402

$75K - $110K

$2,989

> $110K

$1,671

Total Needs based Scholarships/Grants

$13,775,925

Total Non-Needs based Scholarships/Grants

$16,227,378

The Financial Aid department of NMU is working round the clock to assist students to pay for their education. The assistance is provided in the form of loans, scholarships, and grants.

A candidate has to file the FAFSA and receive the Student Aid Report to determine their eligibility and financial position.

Northern Michigan University (NMU) federal school code is 002301.

Pell grant, Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, and TEACH grant are the federal grants available. Direct Subsidized Loan, Direct Unsubsidized Loan, Federal Perkins Loan, and Direct PLUS Loan are the federal loans available. Federal work-study is also available as Federal Financial Aids.
Michigan Competitive Scholarship, Tuition Incentive Program (TIP), and Fostering Futures Scholarship, Children of Veterans Tuition Grant, GEAR UP College Day scholarships are the state scholarships and grants available for the students as state aids.
Wildcat Achievement Scholarship, Waldo Scholarship, and National Academic Award are the institutional scholarships and awards available as Institutional.
Montgomery GI Bill, Survivors and Dependents Assistance, and Post 9/11 GI Bill are the Military Aid available for the students. 155 students received Post 9/11 GI Bills.

About 90% of the students received either federal, state, or institutional aids from the university. $12,667 is the average amount awarded as a grant or scholarship per year.

Explore Financial Aid & Scholarships

Frequently Asked Questions About Northern Michigan University (NMU)

How hard is it to get into Northern Michigan University (NMU)?

Northern Michigan University (NMU) is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of 84%. Strong applicants typically have above-average test scores, a rigorous course load, and compelling extracurricular activities.

How much does Northern Michigan University (NMU) cost?

Tuition at Northern Michigan University (NMU) is approximately $19,773 per year before financial aid. Room, board, fees, and personal expenses add to the total cost of attendance. Most students receive scholarships or financial aid that reduces the net price.

How many students attend Northern Michigan University (NMU)?

Northern Michigan University (NMU) enrolls approximately 6,556 students across its programs.

What is the graduation rate at Northern Michigan University (NMU)?

The graduation rate at Northern Michigan University (NMU) is 52%, reflecting the percentage of students who complete their degree within the standard timeframe.

What is the student-faculty ratio at Northern Michigan University (NMU)?

The student-faculty ratio at Northern Michigan University (NMU) is 20:1, meaning students typically have good access to faculty for mentoring, research, and smaller class experiences.

What SAT and ACT scores do I need for Northern Michigan University (NMU)?

Northern Michigan University (NMU) typically admits students with SAT scores in the range of 440 - 580 (Reading) and 450 - 580 (Math) and ACT composite scores of 19 - 24. Check the admissions office for the most current testing requirements and whether test-optional policies apply.

Is Northern Michigan University (NMU) a public or private university?

Northern Michigan University (NMU) is a public institution.

When is the application deadline for Northern Michigan University (NMU)?

Application deadlines at Northern Michigan University (NMU) vary by program. Early Decision and Early Action applicants typically submit in November, while Regular Decision deadlines fall in early January. Always check the official admissions website for the current cycle's dates.

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Northern Michigan University (NMU) — 2026 Profile - Marquette, Michigan

★ Northern Michigan University (NMU) Report Card

★ Key Facts: Northern Michigan University (NMU)

Northern Michigan University (NMU)

Location & Contact

Rankings

Admissions

Annual Cost to Attend

Academics

Majors

Student Body

Students Gender

Geographic Density

Economic Diversity

Campus Life

After Graduation

Outcomes 8 Years of Attending

Financial Aid

Average Grant & Scholarship by Family Income Aid awarded based on the family income.

Frequently Asked Questions About Northern Michigan University (NMU)

Other Colleges In Michigan

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★ Northern Michigan University (NMU) Report Card

★ Key Facts: Northern Michigan University (NMU)

Northern Michigan University (NMU)

Location & Contact

Rankings

Admissions

Annual Cost to Attend

Academics

Majors

Student Body

Students Gender

Geographic Density

Economic Diversity

Campus Life

After Graduation

Outcomes 8 Years of Attending

Financial Aid

Average Grant & Scholarship by Family Income Aid awarded based on the family income.

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Northern Michigan University (NMU) — 2026

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