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Fireworks over Marquette's Lower Harbor

1. Adventure Town

Marquette, Mich., home to Northern Michigan University, was named the Best Small Town for Adventure by USA Today in 2018.

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Sunrise from Mount Marquette

2. Amazing Scenery

Money Magazine featured Marquette as a top city to visit in October because of the beautiful fall colors and the amazing downtown scene.

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Student using a 3D printer

3. Innovation at NMU

Invent@NMU was lauded by the former Governor of Michigan, Rick Snyder, featured among the state’s top innovative programs and recognized for its approach in entrepreneurship and manufacturing by the United States White House.

4. Record Breaking Students

Al Roker and the Today Show crew came to Marquette to break a world record! On March 28, 2017, Roker and NMU students set the new Guinness World Record for the largest game of freeze tag ever played.  

5. Novel Programs

The Center for Native American Studies at NMU introduced the first and only bachelor’s degree in Native American Studies in the State of Michigan, and a pioneering cookbook focusing on food indigenous to the Great Lakes region.

6. Game Changing Alumni

Including Howard Schultz, CEO and chairman of Starbucks; Tom Izzo, head coach for the Michigan State University men's basketball team; John Lautner, visionary architect; Leah Hocking, Broadway actress; and Teri List, Chief Financial Officer of Gap, Inc.

7. Marquette to the Olympics

Northern Michigan University Olympic Training Center athletes have won 15 medals in the last five Olympic Games. Eight NMU student-athletes participated in the 2016 summer games in Brazil, competing in boxing, wrestling and weightlifting. Sarah Robles took home a bronze medal and Helen Maroulis won gold (the first American female athlete to ever win gold in wrestling).

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NMU ROTC Uniform

8. Veteran Friendly

NMU achieved gold-level status from the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency for supporting the academic and transitional needs of student veterans. NMU was also named a Military Friendly School by Victory Media as one of the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools nationwide that are “doing the most to embrace military students and dedicate resources to ensure their success in the classroom and after graduation."

9. Connected 'Cats

Through the Center for Student Enrichment, there are over 300 student organizations on campus for Northern students to get involved in. From academic-focused groups to residence life to community service groups, there is a way for every Wildcat to get connected.

10. Newsworthy Standing

The U.S. News and World Report 2019 college rankings show that, among regional universities in the Midwest, Northern Michigan University is the 15th Top Public School.