Northern Michigan University ROI Analysis
Comprehensive ROI analysis based on tuition costs, graduate earnings, financial aid, and long-term earning potential.
Quick answer
USACollegeData.com ROI analysis (College Scorecard data): four years at Northern Michigan University costs about $53,216 in in-state tuition, and graduates earn a median of $37,996 five years after graduation — the investment breaks even in roughly 17.8 years (20-year ROI: 13%).
ROI Summary
Total 4-Year Cost
$53,216
In-state tuition x 4
Earnings Premium
$2,996/yr
above high school diploma avg
Break-Even Point
17.8 years
After graduation
20-Year ROI
13%
Return on investment
ROI Analysis
Northern Michigan University's in-state tuition costs $13,304 per year. One year after graduation, alumni earn $36,618. Five years after graduation, earnings increase to $37,996, and after ten years, earnings reach $47,107. The median debt for students is $21,474, and 50.7% of students receive financial aid.
The debt-to-income ratio, calculated by dividing the median debt by the one-year earnings, is approximately 0.59. This suggests that the median debt is about 59% of the average graduate's first-year earnings.
To calculate the break-even point, we can divide the median debt by the difference between the one-year earnings and the annual tuition cost. The difference between earnings and tuition is $23,314. Therefore, the break-even point is approximately 0.92 years.
Generated from College Scorecard & IPEDS data
The Numbers
Annual Tuition (In-State)
$13,304
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,474
Median Earnings (5yr)
$37,996
Graduation Rate
52%
Receive Financial Aid
51%
Avg Aid Amount
N/A
Program-Level ROI
Peer Comparison
Financial Aid Impact
Before Aid
After Aid (Estimated)
Frequently Asked Questions
Methodology
ROI calculations are based on data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. The earnings premium is calculated as the difference between median graduate earnings and the national average earnings for high school diploma holders ($35,000).
The 20-year ROI formula: ((Earnings Premium x 20) - Total Cost) / Total Cost x 100. Break-even point: Total Cost / Annual Earnings Premium. All figures use in-state tuition and do not account for inflation, opportunity cost, or financial aid variations.