Match #1
Saginaw Valley State University
University Center, MI
Profile closeness90/100
Admit rate72%
- 5,989 students
- Public
- Suburb: Midsize
- Graduation rate 51%, close to 54%
- Enrollment 5,989 students, close to 6,556
The colleges most similar to Northern Michigan University are Saginaw Valley State University, Western Michigan University, and Oakland University-Michigan. Northern Michigan University admits 84% of applicants and has an average net price of $12,759 a year; 5 of its 10 alternatives cost less and 5 admit a larger share of applicants, in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition.
Profile closeness (0–100) compares graduation rate, size, admit rate, net price, Carnegie class, and control with Northern Michigan University. The order also uses CollegesRef matching tiers, so a later match can score higher. Admit-rate bars use a 0–100% scale.
Top 10 alternatives to Northern Michigan University
Row-wise results ranked by similarity. No curated AI list exists for this school.
Match #2
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI
Profile closeness80/100
Admit rate85%
- 12,568 students
- Public
- City: Small
- Graduation rate 59%, close to 54%
- Acceptance rate 85%, close to 84%
Match #3
Oakland University-Michigan
Rochester Hills, MI
Profile closeness80/100
Admit rate88%
- 12,351 students
- Public
- Suburb: Large
- Graduation rate 58%, close to 54%
- Average net price $11,815, close to $12,759
Match #4
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MI
Profile closeness78/100
Admit rate91%
- 8,106 students
- Public
- Town: Distant
- Enrollment 8,106 students, close to 6,556
- Acceptance rate 91%, close to 84%
Match #5
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI
Profile closeness77/100
Admit rate90%
- 10,035 students
- Public
- Town: Distant
- Graduation rate 59%, close to 54%
- Acceptance rate 90%, close to 84%
Match #6
Michigan Technological University
Houghton, MI
Profile closeness76/100
Admit rate92%
- 5,955 students
- Public
- Town: Remote
- Enrollment 5,955 students, close to 6,556
- Average net price $13,446, close to $12,759
Match #7
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, MI
Profile closeness76/100
Admit rate80%
- 10,055 students
- Public
- Suburb: Large
- Acceptance rate 80%, close to 84%
- Same control type (public)
Match #8
Wayne State University-Michigan
Detroit, MI
Profile closeness73/100
Admit rate81%
- 15,587 students
- Public
- City: Large
- Graduation rate 60%, close to 54%
- Acceptance rate 81%, close to 84%
Match #9
Grand Valley State University
Allendale, MI
Profile closeness70/100
Admit rate83%
- 18,854 students
- Public
- Suburb: Large
- Acceptance rate 83%, close to 84%
- Same control type (public)
Match #10
Lake Superior State University
Sault Ste Marie, MI
Profile closeness64/100
Admit rate73%
- 1,325 students
- Public
- Town: Remote
- Graduation rate 50%, close to 54%
- Average net price $9,782, close to $12,759
Questions about Northern Michigan University alternatives
What colleges are similar to Northern Michigan University?
The closest matches to Northern Michigan University are Saginaw Valley State University, Western Michigan University, Oakland University-Michigan, Ferris State University, and Central Michigan University. CollegesRef ranks them on admissions, cost, graduation rate, size, and campus profile using IPEDS and College Scorecard data.
Is Northern Michigan University hard to get into?
Northern Michigan University admitted 84% of its 6,553 applicants in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition, so it is not very selective: it admits most applicants. 5 of its 10 closest alternatives admit a larger share of applicants.
Which Northern Michigan University alternatives cost less?
5 of the 10 closest alternatives have a lower average net price than Northern Michigan University ($12,759 a year), including Ferris State University ($8,402), Lake Superior State University ($9,782), and Wayne State University-Michigan ($11,212). Net price is what first-time, full-time students paid after grants; your own price depends on family income.
