About NMU

Northern Michigan University, located in Marquette, Michigan, is a dynamic four-year, public, comprehensive university that has grown its reputation based on its award-winning leadership programs, cutting-edge technology initiatives, and nationally recognized academic programs.

NMU has a population of over 7,000 undergraduate and graduate students. It offers over 170 degree programs, including 25 graduate programs. More than 75 percent of NMU's 300-plus full-time faculty members have doctorates or the highest degree in their fields, and a hallmark of the NMU experience is that full-time faculty members teach at all levels - freshmen through graduate courses. NMU’s 1,200 employees view helping students succeed as not only a university priority, but a personal goal. 

NMU's History

Northern was founded in 1899 as Northern State Normal School. What started as a small group of students who enrolled to become teachers has evolved into a comprehensive university that has educated thousands of people in its 120+ year history. 

Aerial photo of NMU's campus and Marquette, MI

NMU's Campus

NMU’s 360-acre campus features 52 facilities including a university theater, a number of award-winning laboratories, a newly-updated university center, a solely-dedicated technology and occupational sciences building, and a three-structure sports and recreation complex, including the Superior Dome, the world's largest wooden dome. Students gain professional skills at NMU's three public broadcasting stations, WNMU-TV, WNMU-FM and student radio WUPX, which also greatly enhance the region with news, educational and cultural programming. In addition to a rich physical campus, the diversity of the surrounding geographical terrain serves the NMU community as an extensive outdoor classroom.

Downtown Marquette

NMU's Community: Marquette, MI

Northern’s hometown of Marquette is a city of 20,000 residents located along the southern shore of Lake Superior. Michigan’s Upper Peninsula region is known for its safe, friendly and natural environment.  Marquette enjoys four distinct seasons that are celebrated by a wide variety of festivals and activities throughout the year. The Marquette community and Northern Michigan University are intricately intertwined, which adds to the vitality of the area and to the opportunities available to NMU students. 

NMU's Mission

Northern Michigan University empowers learners with distinct and meaningful experiences that open doors to extraordinary opportunities.

Our purpose is to foster close connections between learners, leaders, communities, and the natural environment in order to nurture and inspire creative problem solvers, critical thinkers, and responsible citizens dedicated to promoting the health and vitality of the Upper Peninsula, Michigan, and beyond.

NMU's Vision

Like the lake that inspires us, Northern Michigan University will be known as Superior – in the ways we support our people, partner with our place, and realize the potential of all our students.

Contact Northern Michigan University

NMU's normal business hours during the academic year are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To learn more about our academic offerings or attending NMU, explore our admissions site.

Main: 906-227-1000

NMU Admissions: 906-227-2650