Southwestern Michigan College
Dowagiac, MI 49047-9793
About Southwestern Michigan College
Southwestern Michigan College is a public community college in Dowagiac, Michigan, enrolling about 1,431 students. The college offers associate degrees, career certificates, and transfer pathways to four-year universities. Typical net price after grant aid is about $5,978 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $6,417. Student demographics in federal data include White (68.5%) and Black or African American (15.3%) among the largest enrollment groups.
Key findings
- Southwestern Michigan College charges 16% above the national public median tuition ($6,417).
- Versus the Michigan median, sticker tuition is about 0.4×.
- Average net price runs below the Michigan median net price.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 37.66%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $37,303.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Southwestern Michigan College is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 1460% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwestern Michigan College | $6,417 | $5,978 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,512 | — | 1,688 |
| Michigan (state median) | $15,221 | $7,368 | 96 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
Average net price is 7% below published tuition at Southwestern Michigan College
Key findings
- Southwestern Michigan College's average net price ($5,978) is 7% below published tuition ($6,417).
- Southwestern Michigan College charges 16% above the national public median tuition ($6,417).
- Versus the Michigan median, sticker tuition is about 0.4×.
- Average net price runs below the Michigan median net price.
Southwestern Michigan College tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $6,417
Finding Southwestern Michigan College charges 16% above the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $6,417. That is 16% above the national public median ($5,512). Versus the Michigan median ($15,221), sticker tuition is about 0.4×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 0.5×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to public and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Southwestern Michigan College versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Southwestern Michigan College versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Southwestern Michigan College is $5,978.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $5,978 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $1,390 below the Michigan median net price.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway Southwestern Michigan College’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 7% lower after grants and scholarships.
Southwestern Michigan College: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Southwestern Michigan College—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
In-state tuition
$6,417
Out-of-state tuition
$8,394
Avg. net price
$5,978
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $5,134 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $4,151 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $7,414 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $10,514 |
| $110,001+ | $11,413 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $25,668. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Southwestern Michigan College is known for
Top program completions
- General Studies74
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse38
- Welding Technology/Welder22
- Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician18
- Business/Commerce, General18
See earnings & programs for more.
Is Southwestern Michigan College a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Southwestern Michigan College is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Southwestern Michigan College.
Campus
Location
Dowagiac, MI
City / state
- ZIP
- 49047-9793
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- Great Lakes
- Carnegie
- Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Vocational & Technical-High Traditional
Size
Enrollment
1,431
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 2,461
- Full-time share
- 67%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$10,959
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 38.45%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Southwestern Michigan College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Southwestern Michigan College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Southwestern Michigan College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $4,689 | $6,068 | $9,070 |
| 2014 | $4,836 | $6,263 | $8,849 |
| 2015 | $4,921 | $6,370 | $7,531 |
| 2016 | $4,891 | $6,353 | $8,992 |
| 2017 | $5,025 | $6,525 | $9,095 |
| 2018 | $5,145 | $6,675 | $9,228 |
| 2019 | $5,380 | $6,999 | $8,468 |
| 2020 | $5,503 | $7,161 | $8,372 |
| 2021 | $5,556 | $7,229 | $8,889 |
| 2022 | $5,768 | $7,501 | $8,433 |
| 2023 | $6,026 | $7,850 | $6,463 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Admissions funnel data is not available for this institution.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Southwestern Michigan College reported total enrollment of about 1,431 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 38% male and 62% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (68.5%), Black or African American (15.3%), and Two or More Races (7.4%). About 38.45% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 41.4% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
67.3% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Southwestern Michigan College in 2024 is 1,431 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 2,461 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
57.0%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
26.27% 100% Completion Time
37.66% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 26.27% of students graduating from Southwestern Michigan College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- General Studies: 28% male / 72% female
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 18% male / 82% female
- Welding Technology/Welder: 77% male / 23% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Southwestern Michigan College graduates earn a median of $37,303 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Southwestern Michigan College.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $37,303. Median federal loan debt: $10,959. Average net price used in cost models: $5,978.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Southwestern Michigan College graduates report median earnings of $37,303 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Southwestern Michigan College.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (35 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Southwestern Michigan College.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Southwestern Michigan College graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Southwestern Michigan College—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$14.3M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Michigan median 0.46× the median ($30.9M)
- Great Lakes median 0.45× the median ($31.8M)
- U.S. median 0.54× the median ($26.4M)
- Michigan median 0.86× the median ($13,320)
- Great Lakes median 0.68× the median ($16,690)
- U.S. median 0.94× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 32.1%
- Michigan median 31.9 pp below median (64.1%)
- Great Lakes median 25.9 pp below median (58.1%)
- U.S. median 25.8 pp below median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $7,880
- Michigan median 0.88× the median ($8,917)
- Great Lakes median near the median ($8,046)
- U.S. median near the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $7,411
- Michigan median near the median ($7,240)
- Great Lakes median near the median ($7,690)
- U.S. median near the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Southwestern Michigan College at a glance
Southwestern Michigan College
Southwestern Michigan College is a public institution in Dowagiac, MI, classified as Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Vocational & Technical-High Traditional.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- General StudiesRegistered Nursing/Registered NurseWelding Technology/Welder
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian68.5%Black or African American15.3%Two or More Races7.4%
Schools near Southwestern Michigan College
Other campuses in Dowagiac, MI when available, plus nearby institutions in Michigan.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade D) within Michigan, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Southwestern Michigan College located?
Southwestern Michigan College is located in Dowagiac, MI.
What is Southwestern Michigan College's tuition?
Southwestern Michigan College tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $6,417 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $5,978 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Southwestern Michigan College cost?
Reported tuition is $6,417 and average net price is $5,978 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $10,825 annually.
Why is Southwestern Michigan College's net price so much lower than tuition?
At Southwestern Michigan College, published tuition is $6,417 while average net price is $5,978—about 7% lower. Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid (College Scorecard). Institutional aid therefore compresses sticker price into a lower typical undergraduate cost signal. The campus average still masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average. EDsmart Data treats the sticker–net gap as an analytical finding, not advice about individual aid offers.
What explains Southwestern Michigan College's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($5,978), completion (37.7% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($37,303). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Southwestern Michigan College?
Southwestern Michigan College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 2,461 students, White (68.5%), Black or African American (15.3%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Southwestern Michigan College?
About 41.4% of students at Southwestern Michigan College are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Southwestern Michigan College earn?
Median earnings are $33,204 six years after entry and $37,303 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Southwestern Michigan College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 37.7% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Southwestern Michigan College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $10,959.
Is Southwestern Michigan College public or private?
Southwestern Michigan College is a public institution located in Dowagiac, MI.
Is Southwestern Michigan College an HBCU?
No. Southwestern Michigan College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.