Head-to-head comparison
Baker College vs North Central Michigan College: which has better ROI?
Option A Owosso, MI
Baker College
- Net price / year
- $13,157
- Earnings, 10 years
- $35,833
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Petoskey, MI
North Central Michigan College
- Net price / year
- $10,083
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,594
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but North Central Michigan College comes closer — median earnings $36,594 against a $20,166 total, vs $35,833 at Baker College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Baker College | North Central Michigan College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,157 | $10,083 |
| Total net cost | $52,628 | $20,166 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $35,833 | $36,594 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $14,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$303,168 | -$255,486 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Baker College or North Central Michigan College?
North Central Michigan College, at $10,083 a year after aid versus $13,157 — a gap of $3,074 a year, or $32,462 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Baker College or North Central Michigan College graduates earn more?
North Central Michigan College graduates report a median $36,594 ten years after entry, $761 more than the $35,833 at Baker College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Baker College or North Central Michigan College?
North Central Michigan College: its completers carry a median $14,000 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Baker College, a difference of $11,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
36% of students finish at Baker College, against 29% at North Central Michigan College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.