Covering Innovation & Inequality in Education
This year at Southwestern Michigan College, we project that on average students will pay $7,771, while the advertised price of attendance is $23,454. That’s a difference of $15,683.
| Year | Net in-state price at Southwestern Michigan College | In-state sticker price at Southwestern Michigan College | Out-of-state sticker price at Southwestern Michigan College |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26-27 | $7,771 | $23,454 | $24,012 |
| 25-26 | $7,571 | $22,853 | $23,397 |
| 24-25 | $7,377 | $22,267 | $22,797 |
| 23-24 | $6,684 | $20,174 | $20,660 |
| 22-23 | $7,901 | $19,840 | $20,311 |
| 21-22 | $9,094 | $19,757 | $20,209 |
| 20-21 | $9,153 | $19,688 | $20,141 |
| 19-20 | $8,421 | $19,534 | $19,979 |
| 18-19 | $8,638 | $19,866 | $20,286 |
| 17-18 | $9,078 | $19,566 | $19,986 |
| 16-17 | $8,741 | $18,312 | $18,724 |
| 15-16 | $8,806 | $18,154 | $18,557 |
| 14-15 | $7,411 | $16,736 | $17,133 |
| 13-14 | $8,490 | $17,093 | $17,480 |
How much a student actually pays usually depends, at least in part, on their family's household income. At Southwestern Michigan College this year, we project students with incomes over $110K will pay around $13,268, while students with incomes between $30K and $48K will pay around $4,826. That's a difference of $8,443.
| Income bracket | Projected net price at Southwestern Michigan College |
|---|---|
| <$30K | $5,969 |
| $30K-$48K | $4,826 |
| $48K-$75K | $8,619 |
| $75K-$110K | $12,223 |
| >$110K | $13,268 |
A school’s graduation rate can indicate how likely a student is to complete their degree. At Southwestern Michigan College, over the last five years 31% of students earned their associate’s degree within four years of enrolling.
Students from different demographic backgrounds often graduate at different rates, so it can be helpful to look beyond the overall graduation rate. This chart shows how students of different races and ethnicities fare earning their degrees at Southwestern Michigan College.
| Demographic category | Graduation rate at Southwestern Michigan College | National average |
|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 27% | 31% |
| Asian | 35% | 48% |
| Black | 10% | 35% |
| Hispanic | 23% | 45% |
| Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 67% | 25% |
| White | 38% | 51% |
| Multiple races | 20% | 36% |
| Unknown race | 25% | 34% |
Student retention, or how often students return to continue their degree after completing their first year, is another helpful indicator. Over the last five years, at Southwestern Michigan College, about 56% of full-time students returned the following fall to continue their degree.
The size and demographic makeup of a school’s student body can have a large impact on a student’s experience. Southwestern Michigan College has 2,339 students, which puts it in the {SIZE_PERCENTILE} percentile of public, 2-year schools.
About 60% of students are female.
And about 70% of students are white.