Undergraduate Admissions Overview

While some may think a traditional SMC student is a recent high school graduate, a look around our campuses will illustrate our students are of various ages and life experiences – all coming together in pursuit of academic achievement.

Students who choose SMC for their undergraduate studies will find highly qualified faculty who use active learning strategies, setting the foundation for academic success that will benefit students well after they have graduated from SMC. All of SMC’s faculty focus on student learning outcomes facilitated in small classes and enhanced by state-of-the-art technology and learning environments.

Southwestern Michigan College does not require any tests as a condition of admission, but various tests can assist students in selecting the right courses to match their academic strengths and weaknesses.

Southwestern Michigan College students continue to demonstrate a strong success rate both as SMC student and upon transfer to a four-year university.

In a recent report from Ferris State University and Western Michigan University compiled from the 2010-11 academic year, SMC students who transferred to either university earned a higher grade-point-average than those students who began at the schools.

On average, SMC students received a 3.26 GPA compared to native Ferris students who earned a 3.10 GPA. Similar data from Western shows, on average, that SMC students who transferred to that university earned a 2.98 GPA, higher than the native Western students who received a 2.91 GPA.

In addition, SMC is in the top 4 percent of the nation for transfer success, according to the National Community College Benchmarking Project (NCCBP). The project is a sampling of performance data from more than 200 community colleges from around the country.

Even though SMC has one of the lowest tuition rates in the region, we know that many students will need further financial assistance to make their educational dreams come true. SMC helps make college affordable by offering financial aid to qualified students. Many SMC students receive some type of financial aid, including grants, scholarships, work-study and loans. Southwestern Michigan College also offers a convenient monthly budget plan through the eCashier™ FACTS Automatic Payment Plan.

All students, both full- and part-time, should apply for financial aid. Though, many financial aid awards are based on financial need or on academic achievement, there are numerous community scholarships available that have various criteria for eligibility.

And with a dedicated faculty and a winning strategy for student success, Southwestern Michigan College will help students build a solid academic foundation for their educational future. With the assistance from one of our friendly Outreach Specialist in Enrollment Management, you will get step-by-step assistance to guide you through the application process.