Northern Michigan University

What are the graduation rates for students at Northern Michigan University?

Northern Michigan University's reported six-year graduation rate is 53% for the measured first-time, full-time bachelor's-seeking cohort. Its four-year rate is 35%. The difference shows why students should consider both the standard four-year plan and the possibility of taking longer.

These cohort measures do not describe every student who enters NMU: transfer students and students who begin part-time are not represented in the same way. A separately reported overall graduation figure of 52% uses its own reporting definition and should not be treated as interchangeable with the six-year bachelor's rate. NMU's reported first-to-second-year retention rate is 78%, measuring continued enrollment rather than eventual degree completion.

A prospective student can use these figures as planning context, then ask a department about course availability, prerequisite sequences and the typical path through a specific major. The rates alone do not establish why individual students did or did not complete a degree.

What is the earning potential for graduates at Northern Michigan University?

Federal College Scorecard program-level figures show that reported earnings one year after completion vary considerably by Northern Michigan University field of study. Among programs with a published figure, the one-year amount is $57,371 for registered nursing, $51,163 for computer and information sciences and $30,831 for psychology.

These are reported outcomes for the relevant program populations, not starting salaries promised to every graduate. Scorecard earnings measures reflect graduates captured by federal data under the measure's eligibility rules; they can exclude people without reportable earnings and may combine graduates with different jobs or locations. Small programs may not have a publishable figure at all. One-year results are especially incomplete for fields in which graduates commonly enter further education before pursuing their intended occupation.

Students comparing majors should weigh these figures alongside program cost, likely debt, licensing requirements and the work they want to do. NMU's career services can assist with exploration and job searches, but access to those services is not an employment outcome.