NMU Board Approves Tuition and Fee Rates

The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees today approved 2026-2027 tuition and fee rates that maintain NMU's competitive rank as second-most affordable among the state's public universities, allow for investments that align with the university's strategic plan, and preserve long-term financial stability.

The average resident undergraduate will pay $7,889 per semester beginning this fall, an increase of $325.50 per semester. Graduate tuition will increase by $32 per credit. All tuition rates will be available at nmu.edu/tuition.

"Because the state budget process has not been finalized, we developed this tuition structure around the proposed Executive, House and Senate versions, all of which offer no base operations increase," said Gavin Leach, executive vice president for Finance and Administration. "We are in compliance with the tuition restraint cap identified in all three versions, but will adjust accordingly if that cap is lowered in the final state budget."

Leach said projected investments for the coming year will address personnel contractual increases and rising healthcare costs, and include enhanced support for student financial aid, academic programs and departmental operations. To balance the budget, operational cost reductions will be realized through savings from an Early Buyout Plan and budgetary reallocations.

Trustees also approved a set of formal recommendations, including faculty appointments and four new academic programs that will go into effect this fall: a bachelor's degree in communication management; a bachelor's in medicinal chemistry and pharmacognosy; a certificate in user experience research; and a certificate in marine biology.

In other action at today's meeting, the board approved the recently ratified contract with the Technical and Office Professionals union, UAW Local 1950. The agreement is effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029.