Southwestern Michigan College

  • The mission of Southwestern Michigan College is to be the college of first choice for students who have a choice, the college that provides the programs and services to meet the needs of students with limited choices, and the college that serves our community.

School Highlights

Southwestern Michigan College serves 1,759 students (43% of students are full-time).
The college's student:teacher ratio of 9:1 is lower than the state community college average of 13:1.
Minority enrollment is 20% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is less than the state average of 28%.

Quick Stats (2024)

  • Enrollment: 1,759 students
  • In-state tuition: $5,866
  • Out-state tuition: $6,263
  • Student:teacher ratio: 9:1
  • Minority enrollment: 20%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

School Overview

The teacher population of 192 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Southwestern Michigan College
(MI) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Associates Colleges
Associates Colleges
Institution Level
At least 2 but less than 4 years
At least 2 but less than 4 years
Institution Control
Public
Public
Total Faculty
192 staff
224 staff
This chart display total faculty of Southwestern Michigan College and community college average number of faculty in MI by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.

Student Body

The student population of Southwestern Michigan College has declined by 17% over five years.
The student:teacher ratio of 9:1 has decreased from 11:1 over five years.
The Southwestern Michigan College diversity score of 0.35 is less than the state average of 0.46. The school's diversity has declined by 28% over five years.
Total Enrollment
1,759 students
2,783 students
This chart display the total enrollment of Southwestern Michigan College and community college average number of enrollment of MI by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio
9:1
13:1
This chart display the student staff ratio of Southwestern Michigan College and community college average student staff ratio of MI by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
# Full-Time Students
752 students
1,079 students
This chart display the total number of Full-time students enrollment of Southwestern Michigan College and average number of community college Full-time students enrollment of MI by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
# Part-Time Students
1,007 students
1,704 students
This chart display the total number of Part-time students enrollment of Southwestern Michigan College and average number of community college Part-time students enrollment of MI by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
This chart display the Full-time students and Part-time students enrollment breakdown of Southwestern Michigan College.
This chart display community college average Full-Time students and Part-Time students enrollment breakdown of MI.
# Enrollment Undergraduate
142 students
298 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
752 students
1,115 students
This chart display the total number of Full-time undergraduate students enrollment of Southwestern Michigan College and average number of community college Full-time undergraduate  students enrollment of MI by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
# Full-Time Graduate Students
n/a
4 students
# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
1,007 students
1,615 students
# Part-Time Graduate Students
n/a
4 students
Total Dormitory Capacity
390 students
178 students
This chart display the dormitory capacity of Southwestern Michigan College and the community college average dormitory capacity of MI by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% American Indian/Alaskan
1%
n/a
This chart display the percentage of American Indian/Alaskan students in Southwestern Michigan College and the percentage of American Indian/Alaskan community college students in MI by year, with the latest 2017-18 school year data.
% Asian
2%
2%
This chart display the percentage of Asian students in Southwestern Michigan College and the percentage of Asian community college students in MI by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Hispanic
4%
5%
This chart display the percentage of Hispanic students in Southwestern Michigan College and the percentage of Hispanic community college students in MI by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Black
6%
12%
This chart display the percentage of Black students in Southwestern Michigan College and the percentage of Black community college students in MI by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% White
80%
72%
This chart display the percentage of White students in Southwestern Michigan College and the percentage of White community college students in MI by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Hawaiian
1%
n/a
% Two or more races
2%
3%
This chart display the percentage of Two or more races students in Southwestern Michigan College and the percentage of Two or more races community college students in MI by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Non Resident races
n/a
1%
This chart display the percentage of Non Resident students in Southwestern Michigan College and the percentage of Non Resident community college students in MI by year, with the latest 2015-16 school year data.
% Unknown races
4%
5%
This chart display the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in Southwestern Michigan College.
This chart display the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in MI.
Diversity Score
0.35
0.46
This chart display the diversity score of Southwestern Michigan College and the community college average diversity score of MI by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
29%
21%
This chart display completion rates for First-Time of Full-time students of Southwestern Michigan College and community college average completion rates for First-Time of Full-time students of MI by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in 4 years or more than 4 years)
n/a
3.79%
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)
$28,700
$30,700
This chart display average graduate earnings (10 Years) of Southwestern Michigan College and community college average graduate earnings (10 Years) of MI by year, disaggregated by student subgroups with the latest 2012-13 school year data.

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

The public in-state tuition of $5,866 is more than the state average of $4,944. The in-state tuition has stayed relatively flat over four years.
The public out-state tuition of $6,263 is less than the state average of $6,878. The out-state tuition has stayed relatively flat over four years.
In-State Tuition Fees
$5,866
$4,944
This chart display tuition fees for an in-state student of Southwestern Michigan College and the public community college average tuition fees for an in-state student of MI by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Out-State Tuition Fees
$6,263
$6,878
This chart display tuition fees for an out-of-state student of Southwestern Michigan College and the public community college average tuition fees for an out-of-state student of MI by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
92%
87%
This chart display the percent of students who is receiving some financial aid in Southwestern Michigan College and the percent of community college students who is receiving some financial aid in MI by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Median Debt for Graduates
$11,075
$11,704
This chart display median debt for students who have completed a certificate or degree in Southwestern Michigan College and average median debt for community college students who have completed a certificate or degree in MI by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Median Debt for Dropouts
$5,500
$5,500
This chart display median debt for students who have not completed a certificate or degree in Southwestern Michigan College and average median debt for community college students who have not completed a certificate or degree in MI by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Acceptance Rate
n/a
99%
Source: 2021 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) , School Administrators

School Notes

  • We offer small class sizes, ensuring you will receive significant personalized attention from your instructors. We have campuses conveniently located in Dowagiac and Niles - close to home and work. We also have academic support services that offer assistance every step of the way from the time you apply for admission to SMC to the completion of your degree and beyond. We have high quality transfer courses and curricula for students who wish to pursue their first two years of a four-year degree at SMC before transferring to a four-year college or university. Plus, SMC is committed to offering the highest quality academic experience at less than half the cost of most four-year colleges and universities. Southwestern Michigan College offers two-year transfer programs (Associate in Arts and Associate in Sciences degrees) and professional technical programs. In addition, students can now complete a bachelor's degree in one of six areas right on our campuses. Southwestern Michigan College offers many scholarships, including generous awards for academically talented students in the most recent high school class. Southwestern Michigan College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, a commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Southwestern Michigan College cost?
Southwestern Michigan College's tuition is approximately $5,866 for In-State students and $6,263 for Out-State students.

Recent Articles

Healthcare Careers Hub
Healthcare Careers Hub
Discover the opportunities in the healthcare field. Your community college offers the courses and training you need to fill a job in this field that always seems to have openings.
The Pros and Cons of On-Campus Housing for Community College
The Pros and Cons of On-Campus Housing for Community College
Can you really have an authentic college experience while living off-campus? This article explores the pros and cons of campus housing for community college students.
Community Colleges: A to Z
Community Colleges: A to Z
Explore the diverse landscape of community colleges with our comprehensive guide, 'Community CollegeS: A to Z.' From academic programs to student support services, this article provides a look at everything community colleges have to offer.

Quick Stats (2024)

  • Enrollment: 1,759 students
  • In-state tuition: $5,866
  • Out-state tuition: $6,263
  • Student:teacher ratio: 9:1
  • Minority enrollment: 20%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

Related School Videos

Did You Know?

For Michigan public community colleges, the average tuition is approximately $4,944 per year for in-state students and $6,878 for out-of-state students. For private community colleges, the average yearly tuition is approximately $11,103 per year. Read more about average community college tuition costs across the country.

The average community college acceptance rate in Michigan is 87%. Read more about national community college acceptance rates.

Michigan community colleges have a diversity score of 0.46, which is lower than the national average of 0.70. The most diverse community college in Michigan is Schoolcraft College. Read more about community college diversity statistics in the USA.

Quick Links