NMC graduation rises 10%, boosted by state scholarship programs

Northwestern Michigan College’s latest graduation numbers point to more than a campus celebration. The Traverse City institution said 579 students earned 632 degrees and certificates in the 2025-26 academic year, pending final grades, a 10% rise in graduates and nearly a 12% increase in credentials over 2025.

The biggest driver was affordability. More than one-third of this year’s graduates benefited from either the Community College Guarantee or Michigan Reconnect, two state scholarship programs aimed at cutting the cost of college for recent high school graduates and adults returning to school later in life. Lindsey Dickinson, NMC’s director of student success and retention, said, “Scholarship programs like the Michigan Community College Guarantee are the spark for many students.”

That matters in Grand Traverse County, where workforce development and tuition affordability are closely linked. A larger share of NMC graduates means more local residents finishing programs that can translate into jobs without leaving Traverse City or taking on the full cost of a four-year path. For employers in the region, it also means a bigger pool of people with recognized credentials and fewer barriers between enrollment and completion.

The Community College Guarantee, first offered in fall 2024, covers in-district tuition, contact hours and mandatory fees, while out-of-district students still receive a significant discount. Michigan Reconnect is a last-dollar scholarship for Michigan residents age 25 and older who are seeking associate degrees or skill certificates, and it fits into a state goal of raising the share of adults ages 25 to 64 with a degree or credential to 60% by 2030. NMC’s own scholarship support has also grown, with the college distributing $2.07 million in 2024-25, its first year above $2 million.

NMC marked its 2026 Commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 2, with all Fall 2025, Spring 2026 and Summer 2026 graduates eligible to participate. The college, founded in 1951 as Michigan’s first community college, is using its 75th anniversary year to spotlight 110 milestones, underscoring how closely its mission has been tied to access, completion and the local workforce.