Northern Michigan University Rankings & Recognition

Northern Michigan University appears in 8 of CollegesRef's value rankings by major. Its best placement is #46 of 379 for criminal justice, and #4 of 13 ranked colleges in Michigan.

Northern Michigan University rankings by major

Source: CollegesRef value rankings from U.S. College Scorecard data, 2025

Each ranking compares bachelor's programs in one field. A college's value score is the weighted average of four percentiles among the ranked colleges: graduate earnings, average net price, debt compared with earnings, and graduation rate. Percentiles here are 100 for the best figure in the field. How the rankings work

Criminal justice

Ranked #46 of 379 for value

Criminal Justice and Corrections · 60 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $59,390; Ranked-college median: $55,481
Median debt: $19,158; Ranked-college median: $21,500

Value score 71 of 100 · #4 of 13 in Michigan

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 74th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 72th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 74th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 59th percentile

Average net price $12,759 (median $16,222) · graduation rate 54% · debt is 32% of earnings

Ranked just above: Quinnipiac University (#45)
Ranked just below: Indiana University-Northwest (#47)

Best colleges for criminal justice

Education

Ranked #307 of 521 for value

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas · 72 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $46,002; Ranked-college median: $48,822
Median debt: $22,985; Ranked-college median: $21,500

Value score 45.2 of 100 · #12 of 19 in Michigan

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 32th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 78th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 32th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 44th percentile

Average net price $12,759 (median $17,201) · graduation rate 54% · debt is 50% of earnings

Ranked just above: Winona State University (#306)
Ranked just below: Georgia Southern University (#308)

Best colleges for education

Kinesiology and exercise science

Ranked #312 of 459 for value

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness · 44 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $47,613; Ranked-college median: $53,707
Median debt: $21,544; Ranked-college median: $21,500

Value score 40.2 of 100 · #13 of 17 in Michigan

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 18th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 81th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 30th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 45th percentile

Average net price $12,759 (median $18,314) · graduation rate 54% · debt is 45% of earnings

Ranked just above: Franklin College-Indiana (#311)
Ranked just below: Minnesota State University Moorhead (#313)

Best colleges for kinesiology and exercise science

Accounting

Ranked #345 of 408 for value

Accounting and Related Services · 25 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $62,901; Ranked-college median: $76,108
Median debt: $22,969; Ranked-college median: $20,500

Value score 31.1 of 100 · #11 of 17 in Michigan

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 11th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 78th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 10th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 34th percentile

Average net price $12,759 (median $17,285) · graduation rate 54% · debt is 37% of earnings

Ranked just above: Grace College and Theological Seminary-Indiana (#344)
Ranked just below: University of Michigan-Flint (#346)

Best colleges for accounting

Nursing

Ranked #543 of 686 for value

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · 95 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $77,670; Ranked-college median: $85,171
Median debt: $25,000; Ranked-college median: $20,938

Value score 35 of 100 · #15 of 21 in Michigan

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 16th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 77th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 11th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 47th percentile

Average net price $12,759 (median $18,014) · graduation rate 54% · debt is 32% of earnings

Ranked just above: Southern University and A & M College (#542)
Ranked just below: Walsh University-Ohio (#544)

Best colleges for nursing

Psychology

Ranked #581 of 814 for value

Psychology, General · 62 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $43,349; Ranked-college median: $51,007
Median debt: $19,485; Ranked-college median: $21,000

Value score 38.6 of 100 · #15 of 21 in Michigan

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 13th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 81th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 36th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 39th percentile

Average net price $12,759 (median $18,874) · graduation rate 54% · debt is 45% of earnings

Ranked just above: Ave Maria University (#580)
Ranked just below: Trine University (#582)

Best colleges for psychology

Biology

Ranked #589 of 680 for value

Biology, General · 98 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $43,698; Ranked-college median: $58,001
Median debt: $21,500; Ranked-college median: $20,717

Value score 28.6 of 100 · #17 of 19 in Michigan

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 4th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 80th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 9th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 35th percentile

Average net price $12,759 (median $18,049) · graduation rate 54% · debt is 49% of earnings

Ranked just above: Troy University (#588)
Ranked just below: Southeast Missouri State University (#590)

Best colleges for biology

Business

Ranked #777 of 986 for value

Business Administration, Management and Operations · 57 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $49,202; Ranked-college median: $64,860
Median debt: $19,500; Ranked-college median: $21,375

Value score 34.1 of 100 · #25 of 27 in Michigan

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 5th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 80th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 24th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 49th percentile

Average net price $12,759 (median $19,132) · graduation rate 54% · debt is 40% of earnings