One in 66 regional jobs is supported by North Central’s presence, new report finds

North Central Michigan College (NCMC) contributed $78.9 million to Northern Michigan’s economy in fiscal year 2023–24, according to a new report from Lightcast, a national labor market analytics firm.

The report examined the college’s operational spending, student and alumni earnings, and broader social benefits across the four-county region of Emmet, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, and Otsego counties. It found that North Central supports more than 1,000 jobs—equivalent to one in every 66 jobs in the region—and delivers a strong return on investment for students, taxpayers, and society.

The report found that North Central’s $78.9 million contribution is equivalent to 1.2% of the gross regional product (GRP) of the four-county region. By comparison, this contribution is nearly as large as the region’s entire arts, entertainment, and recreation industry, which totals $90.7 million—underscoring the college’s outsized role in the regional economy.

“This report reflects the heart of North Central’s mission, which is to provide exceptional, accessible, relevant higher education that fuels economic opportunity and regional vitality,” President David Roland Finley said. “When our students succeed, our communities thrive. The ripple effects are far-reaching and long-lasting.”

Key findings from the report

  • $78.9 million in total annual economic impact
  • One in 66 jobs in the region is supported by North Central activity.
  • $61.4 million in added income from alumni working locally
  • $8,400 average annual earnings increase for associate degree graduates
  • For every $1 invested, taxpayers gain $1.50, and society receives $7.20 in benefits.

See What $78.9M Means for Northern Michigan

The report also highlights broader social outcomes, including improved health, reduced crime, and increased workforce participation.

“North Central is more than a college — it’s an engine of opportunity,” said Dan Rasmussen, chair of the NCMC Board of Trustees. “This report shows how deeply the college is woven into the economic and social fabric of our region.”

Local employers affirm North Central’s regional impact

Across key regional industries like advanced manufacturing and healthcare, employers say North Central is an important partner in developing the local workforce. These sectors are central to Northern Michigan’s economy, and they are also the focus of North Central’s $22 million Career and Technical Education Enhancement (CATEE) project. CATEE is expanding the college’s academic and training capacity in healthcare, technology, and skilled trades with an emphasis on hands-on learning, industry-driven instruction, and close collaboration with regional employers.

In advanced manufacturing, employers point to North Central’s role in developing a skilled workforce.

“I’d hire 50 more machinists [from North Central] in a heartbeat,” said Nate Holmes, human resources manager at Moeller Aerospace, a precision aerospace manufacturing company based in Harbor Springs.

Holmes is referring to graduates like Hudson Decker, who turned a computer numerical control (CNC) elective into an internship and then a career operating a five-axis HAAS mill, a high-precision tool used in advanced manufacturing. Decker’s path illustrates how North Central’s technical programs prepare students for in-demand, high-skill jobs.

The college’s growing impact on the regional healthcare workforce is highlighted by local employers who point to the role of NCMC’s nursing programs in meeting urgent staffing needs.

“The addition of North Central’s licensed practical nurse (LPN) program presented another opportunity to meet the needs of our community and our organization,” said David Monan, vice president of patient services and chief nursing officer at McLaren Northern Michigan. “Highly trained graduates like those from North Central allow us to expand care and better serve our patients.”

Lisa Ashley, administrator at Bay Bluffs Emmet County Medical Care Facility, emphasized North Central’s role in addressing the region’s growing need for nurses at all levels of practice, a demand sharpened by an aging population.

“This is exactly what we need in rural Northern Michigan: access to high-quality education, at an affordable price, with immediate employment opportunities,” Ashley said. “North Central graduates are prepared to offer our community compassionate, skilled nursing care on day one.”

The full economic impact report is available on the college's website.