$78.9M
Total Income Added
Total income added in the region or 1.2% of region's GRP.
NCMC's Economic Impact
This community would not be the same place without North Central Michigan College.
NCMC’s impact shows up in the local economy.
Overall, NCMC contributes about $78.9 million in added income each year. This represents the sum of several different impacts:
- Operations spending impact ($15.1 million)
- Construction spending impact ($969,200)
- Student spending impact ($1.5 million)
- Alumni impact ($61.4 million)
The total impact of $78.9 million is equivalent to approximately 1.2% of the
total GRP and ithe same as supporting 1,030 jobs. For perspective, this means that one out of every 66 jobs in the Four-County Region is supported by the activities of NCMC and its students.
Alumni generate $61.4 million in added regional income, supporting the equivalent of about 765 jobs.
For students, the return on education is strong. NCMC associate degree graduates see an estimated $369,600 in lifetime added value compared to stopping at the high school level.
NCMC’s Economic Impact at a Glance
Measurable impact on Northern Michigan’s economy, workforce and future.
1,030
Jobs Supported
Total jobs supported in the region because of NCMC.
1 out of 66
Regional Jobs
One out of every 66 jobs in the region is because of NCMC.
Investment Analysis
Student Perspective
$44.6 Million
Benefit: Higher future earnings
$10.0M
Cost: Tuition, supplies, opportunity cost
Benefit/Cost Ratio
4.5
Taxpayer Perspective
$19.1 Million
Benefit: Future tax revenue, government savings
$12.4M
Cost: State and local funding
Benefit/Cost Ratio
1.5
Social Perspective
$219.3 Million
Benefit: Growth in state economic base, future earnings, tax revenue, and private and social savings
$30.6M
Cost: All college and student costs
Benefit/Cost Ratio
7.2
Information on this page is from the 2025 Lightcast Economic Impact Study done for North Central Michigan College, and reflects information from FY 2023-24.