<p>Northern has a strong curriculum generally associated with 2-year community colleges in addition to their 4-year programs. It is also an Olympic training center and agree that there is very little overlap between Michigan Tech and Northern. Northern also has a strong influx of students from northern Wisconsin. Northern continues to grow albeit slowly every year. Nothing will/should change for Northern. Northern is a unique college both from location, access to outdoor sports, geographic access for the UP and northern Wisconsin and depth and breath of available education. Marquette is also a social, economic and tourism hub unlike Big Rapids, Mt Clemons and downtown Detroit.</p>