Northwestern Michigan College vs Bay de Noc Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Northwestern Michigan College comes closer — median earnings $38,167 against a $12,462 total, vs $35,090 at Bay de Noc Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Northwestern Michigan College | Bay de Noc Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,231 | $11,949 |
| Total net cost | $12,462 | $23,898 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,167 | $35,090 |
| Median debt | $12,500 | $12,618 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$216,322 | -$289,298 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Northwestern Michigan College or Bay de Noc Community College?
Northwestern Michigan College, at $6,231 a year after aid versus $11,949 — a gap of $5,718 a year, or $11,436 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Northwestern Michigan College or Bay de Noc Community College graduates earn more?
Northwestern Michigan College graduates report a median $38,167 ten years after entry, $3,077 more than the $35,090 at Bay de Noc 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 leaves students with less debt, Northwestern Michigan College or Bay de Noc Community College?
Northwestern Michigan College: its completers carry a median $12,500 in federal loans versus $12,618 at Bay de Noc Community College, a difference of $118. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
30% of students finish at Bay de Noc Community College, against 25% at Northwestern 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.