Southwestern Michigan College vs Bay de Noc Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Southwestern Michigan College comes closer — median earnings $37,303 against a $11,956 total, vs $35,090 at Bay de Noc Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southwestern Michigan College | Bay de Noc Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,978 | $11,949 |
| Total net cost | $11,956 | $23,898 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,303 | $35,090 |
| Median debt | $10,959 | $12,618 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$233,096 | -$289,298 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Southwestern Michigan College or Bay de Noc Community College?
Southwestern Michigan College, at $5,978 a year after aid versus $11,949 — a gap of $5,971 a year, or $11,942 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Southwestern Michigan College or Bay de Noc Community College graduates earn more?
Southwestern Michigan College graduates report a median $37,303 ten years after entry, $2,213 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, Southwestern Michigan College or Bay de Noc Community College?
Southwestern Michigan College: its completers carry a median $10,959 in federal loans versus $12,618 at Bay de Noc Community College, a difference of $1,659. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
38% of students finish at Southwestern Michigan College, against 30% at Bay de Noc Community 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.