North Central Michigan College vs Bay Mills Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but North Central Michigan College comes closer — median earnings $36,594 against a $20,166 total, vs $30,048 at Bay Mills Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | North Central Michigan College | Bay Mills Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,083 | $3,073 |
| Total net cost | $20,166 | $12,292 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,594 | $30,048 |
| Median debt | $14,000 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$255,486 | -$378,532 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, North Central Michigan College or Bay Mills Community College?
Bay Mills Community College, at $3,073 a year after aid versus $10,083 — a gap of $7,010 a year, or $7,874 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do North Central Michigan College or Bay Mills Community College graduates earn more?
North Central Michigan College graduates report a median $36,594 ten years after entry, $6,546 more than the $30,048 at Bay Mills Community College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which graduates more of its students?
30% of students finish at Bay Mills Community College, against 29% at North Central Michigan College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.