Outcomes-based program rankings.
Program outcomes at Northern Michigan University vary significantly by field of study. These rankings evaluate each program by post-graduation earnings, debt burden, and return on investment — not prestige or reputation.
Use this analysis to compare programs and understand which fields deliver the strongest outcomes.
Analyzing 39 programs with available earnings data.
recent graduates
This bar shows the range of median earnings across all majors at this school.
The tables below compare programs in each category by earnings, rank, debt, and cohort size.
These sections represent the complete set of ranked undergraduate programs at Northern Michigan University.
Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering Technology/Technician. leads engineering & technology with 68K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering Technology/Technician. | — | $68,476★ | — | 23 |
| Artificial Intelligence.Small sample |
Program rankings are derived entirely from post-graduation outcomes. We do not use reputation surveys, selectivity metrics, or SAT scores. This means some programs may rank differently than you'd expect based on prestige — and that's intentional.
Median earnings 10 years post-enrollment
Debt burden relative to earnings
Institutional contribution to outcomes
Resources, cohort size, and graduation rates
Trajectory from early to mid-career
| $50,439 |
| — |
| 13 |
Construction Management, General. leads business & economics with 75K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction Management, General. | — | $75,226★ | — | 32 |
| Banking and Financial Support Services.Small sample | — | $61,567 | — | 17 |
| Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping. | — | $48,226 | — | 31 |
| Business Administration and Management, General. | — | $47,962 | — | 49 |
| Digital Marketing. | — | $42,354 | — | 23 |
| Brewery/Brewpub Operations/Management.Small sample | — | $37,574 | — | 9 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations, Other.Small sample | — | $24,035 | — | 8 |
Adult Health Nurse/Nursing. leads health with 64K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult Health Nurse/Nursing. | — | $64,075★ | $29,972 | 99 |
| Blood Bank Technology Specialist. | — | $59,241 | — | 28 |
| Audiology/Audiologist and Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist.Small sample | — | $49,682 | — | 17 |
| Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling.Small sample | — | $40,182 | — | 9 |
Biology, General. leads sciences & mathematics with 46K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology, General. | — | $46,396★ | $24,000 | 112 |
| Analytical Chemistry.Small sample | — | $38,289 | — | 19 |
| Algebra and Number Theory.Small sample | — | $35,640 | — | 16 |
Applied Economics. leads social sciences & policy with 48K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied Economics.Small sample | — | $47,918★ | — | 14 |
| Forensic Social Work. | — | $42,896 | — | 20 |
| American Government and Politics (United States). | — | $36,666 | — | 23 |
| Psychology, General. | — | $34,026 | — | 46 |
| International Relations and Affairs.Small sample | — | $25,194 | — | 8 |
| Applied/Public Sociology.Small sample | — | $22,766 | — | 12 |
Advertising. leads communications with 43K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advertising.Small sample | — | $43,199★ | — | 17 |
| Communication and Media Studies, Other.Small sample | — | $37,204 | — | 16 |
Catalan Language and Literature. leads humanities & arts with 34K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catalan Language and Literature. | — | $33,993★ | — | 20 |
| Cinematography and Film/Video Production.Small sample | — | $31,499 | — | 14 |
| Art History, Criticism and Conservation. | — | $31,065 | $39,011 | 76 |
| Creative Writing. | — | $29,758 | — | 22 |
| English Language and Literature, General.Small sample | — | $26,004 | — | 11 |
| American History (United States). | — | $22,420 | — | 23 |
| Acting.Small sample | — | $17,481 | — | 6 |
Agricultural Teacher Education. leads education with 43K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Teacher Education. | — | $43,203★ | — | 38 |
| Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching. | — | $37,995 | — | 23 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals Who are Developmentally Delayed.Small sample | — | $37,856 | — | 5 |
Environmental Science. leads agriculture & environment with 37K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Environmental Science. | — | $36,955★ | — | 60 |
| Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management.Small sample | — | $28,019 | — | 19 |
Corrections Administration. leads criminal justice with 51K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corrections Administration. | — | $50,961 | $9,500 | 74 |
Exercise Science and Kinesiology. leads other & interdisciplinary with 33K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exercise Science and Kinesiology. | — | $32,895★ | — | 28 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies. | — | $25,194 | — | 29 |
Why rankings may differ by program: A university's nursing program and business program can have entirely different outcome profiles. Our methodology surfaces these differences so you can evaluate programs — not just institutions.
