MARQUETTE, MI— The NMU Board of Trustees passed a balanced budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year at a meeting on Friday, despite an $8 million projected shortfall.
The deficit was driven by a 16-percent increase in healthcare costs, a decline in enrollment, contractual compensation cost increases, and inflation.
Officials say because they anticipated the gap, they were able to mitigate it primarily through a voluntary separation program offered last spring and targeted divisional expenditure reductions.
They say the budget will keep the university operating efficiently without interrupting student services or academic programming.
