Northern Michigan University is the second most affordable insitution in Michigan, according to a ranking of the two four-year colleges or universities with the lowest tuition in each state released by UniversityHQ.org.

Northern Michigan University alumna Shayla Manitowabi-Huebner, who ran her first Boston Marathon on Monday as a member of the Native Women Running group, was featured in media coverage around the event of efforts to increase representation of Indigenous women in the running community by encouraging and featuring their involvement. The 2019 NMU sports science graduate “crushed” the race, as one article stated, with a finish time of 3:25:25 after only two months of serious training.

As the winner of Northern Michigan University's Three Minute Thesis (3MT) graduate student competition, exercise science master's candidate Caro Els represented NMU at the Midwest Association of Graduate Schools 3MT competition. She advanced to the last round as one of eight finalists out of 43 participants, some of whom were doctoral students and from larger research institutions.  

Northern Michigan University will present an honorary Doctor of Science degree to scientist Thomas Zurbuchen, the head of Science at NASA and former NMU trustee. He will also deliver the keynote address at the university's April 30 commencement.

John W. Berry Jr., a 1971 Northern Michigan University accounting and finance graduate who has supported his alma mater through student scholarships and athletic capital projects, will receive an honorary Doctor of Business degree at NMU's April 30 commencement. He will be recognized for his roles as a highly regarded business leader and philanthropist. Berry is a past recipient of Northern's highest alumni honor, the Distinguished Alumni Award.