Students on NMU's academic mall

Join us for Wildcat Weekend!

Explore beautiful Marquette, tour campus, see residence hall rooms and eat in The Northern Lights Dining Hall. Learn about your academic interest and student life from faculty and students. Plus, you'll get to chat with your admissions counselor.

It's an open house experience you won't want to miss. Let the adventure begin! 

(Please note: Our October Wildcat Weekend event has been canceled due to CDC restrictions on large gatherings. We are working on smaller visit day options this fall and will update you as soon as information is available. The March event will be held as planned unless restrictions are still in place restricting large gatherings.) 

Our next Wildcat Weekend is scheduled for March 19-20, 2021  | Registration will open on December 1, 2020
Sunset over Lake Superior

Sample Wildcat Weekend Schedule

Check-In (Northern Center, Main Entrance/Lobby)

Friday: 1:00 - 4:30 p.m. or
Saturday: 7:45 - 8:30 a.m. 

Welcome Sessions/Student Panels

Friday: 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. or
Saturday: 8:30 - 9:40 a.m.

Walking Campus Tours (tours last 1 hour)

Friday: 1:30 or 3:00 p.m. or
Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Walking tours leave every 15 minutes on Saturday

Marquette Information

Marquette County Convention and Visitor's Bureau
337 W. Washington St.
Marquette, MI 49855
906-228-7749

www.marquette.org
Official website of Marquette County, Mich.; Chamber of Commerce.
Great visitor information including area attractions, community calendar, restaurants and activity information.

www.marquettecountry.org
Discover Marquette. Information on arts and culture, fishing, golfing, hiking and biking, waterfalls, skiing, and snowmobiling from the Marquette-area Convention and Visitor's Bureau

Friday Activities

1:30 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. | Tour our athletic and recreational facilities. This tour will start at the Superior Dome. Tours are available at Pre-registration is encouraged. Tours last 1 hour. 

6:00 p.m. | Tour the Forest Roberts Theatre. This tour will meet in the lobby of the Theatre. Pre-registration is encouraged. Tours last 1 hour.

1:30 p.m. | Tour the Yurt and Exercise Science Labs with NMU's School of Health and Human Performance. Tours begin at in the PEIF. Pre-registration is encouraged. Tours last 1 hour. 

1:00 - 4:00 p.m. | Check out the Upper Peninsula's first Cyber Security Institute. Stop by the open house to try out some hands-on-activities and see if you have what it takes to stop a security attack. All are welcome! Located in the Northern Center. 

8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. | Visit NMU's bookstore in the Northern Center, open 8:00 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Friday.

Saturday Activities

8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Visit NMU's bookstore to pick up your NMU gear! (Northern Center)

10:00 or 11:30 a.m. | Get a taste of the academic experience with current students and faculty. Check your agenda received at check in for the time and location of your academic session. 

10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

  • Visit with your admissions counselor or talk with a current NMU student in the Ask a Wildcat Area. (2nd floor, Jamrich Hall) 

  • Meet with a Financial Aid Counselor. (3rd floor, Jamrich Hall) 

10:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

  • Tour NMU's Residence Halls and see a lived-in room. (Tours of The Woods and Quad II are departing from the lobby of Van Antwerp Hall).

  • Talk to other offices and departments on campus at the Information Fair (1st floor, Jamrich Hall)

  • Attend the Honors Program Open House for more information about admission requirements and opportunities the program offers. (Jamrich)

11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. | Check out NMU's Educational Virtual Reality Software. (Library) 

11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Eat lunch in micro-restaurants at Northern Lights dining facility. Guests are provided with meal tickets. (The Woods Complex)

Student doing research with a faculty member

“I love Northern because of the different opportunities I’ve had. I would tell students that are considering Northern to make a visit. Once you visit Marquette and you have the opportunity to meet other students and faculty and staff here on campus, Northern’s going to feel like home, just like it did for me."

Allison Opheim

Public Relations Major

Downtown Marquette

Dining in Marquette

There's no shortage of great places to eat in the Marquette area. Our team of admissions staff has assembled some of our favorite local dining spots for you and your family to enjoy while you're visiting NMU. 

Restaurant Recommendations

  • Babycakes Muffin Company | A charming bakery/café serving decadent made-from-scratch meals and full espresso bar with organic fair-trade coffees and teas.
  • Border Grill-Marquette (two locations) | Authentic fresh Mexican grill, five homemade salsas and vegetarian items. Quick service.
  • Casa Calabria | Pasta, pizza, steaks and more! Great dining experience in a festive Italian atmosphere.
  • Donkers Restaurant | A fun, family-friendly restaurant serving delicious, made from scratch food, plus an old-time soda fountain and candy store. 
  • Elizabeth's Chop House | Certified steaks and fresh seafood in downtown Marquette. 
  • Iron Bay Restaurant and Drinkery | Creative comfort food paired with a historic dining experience in Marquette's Iron Bay Foundry building. The view is pretty nice too!  
  • Lagniappe Cajun Creole Eatery | Wonderful Cajun-Creole dining experience.
  • The Portside Inn | A "True Marquette Original" for over 30 years. Casual pub-style atmosphere and famous breadsticks. 
  • Sol Azteca | Featuring all-time favorites, such as tacos and burritos and some house specialties such as chimichangas and fajitas. Located in Marquette's historic waterfront district.
  • Vango's Pizza and Cocktail Lounge | Specializes in Greek cuisine, but offers a variety of food, including their famous waffle fries and "death by chocolate" cake.
  • Vierling Restaurant & Marquette Harbor Brewery | Unique, historical, full-service restaurant and brewpub. Specializing in fresh Lake Superior Whitefish.

Wildcat Weekend Information Fair

Prepare to make the most of the Information Fair by reviewing this list of departments. Representatives will be eager to answer your questions.​​​​​​

This office coordinates all residence hall living at NMU.  Bring your questions about our suite-style housing, housing assignments, roommate assignments, meal plans, room and board rates and programming in our residence halls.

This office works with all NMU student organizations and provides volunteer opportunities and leadership development programs.  If you are looking to get involved at NMU, this is the office to see! 

All first-year students are required to attend an orientation session. Stop by our table to learn how to register for orientation and what you can expect during your session. We want you to feel at home during your time at NMU and part of making Northern your home-away-from-home starts at orientation.

The Financial Aid Office is a great place to learn more about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  Plus it has lots of information about grants, student loans, need-based scholarships and additional forms of aid. 

This office provides assistance for students who are qualified under the Americans with Disabilities Act to receive required accommodations.  Typical services provided for eligible students include extended test time, quiet room testing, note-taking services, alternate text formats and assistive technology.

This office partners with students, faculty, staff and alumni to build a vibrant, stimulating and safe learning community where cultural diversity is highly valued, differences are respected and people from all cultures and backgrounds flourish. 

If you hope to be involved in playing sports on NMU's campus or are just looking to stay in shape, this is the office to see.  Recreational Sports oversees club and intramural sports teams as well as NMU's fitness and recreational facilities. 

Learn about NMU's 13 different Division II sports and our Division I Men's hockey team. Interested in playing for NMU? This is a great place to learn about the process. 

The Honors Program at NMU provides academically qualified students the opportunity to challenge themselves by taking honors-level classes, engaging in many out-of-class learning experiences with other honors program students and faculty, undertaking a senior capstone project, and earning an "honors" designation on their college transcripts. 

The Freshman Fellowship Program at NMU provides an opportunity to understand and practice scholarship, work with a university professor and enhance overall intellectual curiosity … all while earning a cash stipend.

NMU Career Services provides resources and services focused on assisting students with career placement and career decision-making activities.  Career Services hosts several job fairs on NMU's campus every year and oversees on-campus job postings for current NMU students. 

ACAC is the place for answers to all of your academic and career questions. ACAC provides professional advisers to guide students through their first year at NMU, regardless of their academic major. 

NMU's First Year Experience program (FYE) is a learning community initiative that helps students develop strategies to maximize academic success, become familiar with campus resources, and cultivate positive relationships with faculty and other students. Through the FYE program, you will be assigned to a block of courses based on your intended academic major. When you attend orientation, you will work with an adviser to finalize your course schedule.

Are you thinking of studying abroad during your time at NMU? Stop here to find out information about NMU's many study abroad opportunities.

There’s more to NMU Dining than just serving up delicious food! Check out some of the great programs we’ve got going on. Stop by our table to learn more about dining plans, accommodations for dietary restrictions and much more.

The Music department supports a variety of exciting choral and instrumental ensembles that perform frequently throughout the school year. Although some groups require an audition, students do not have to be music majors to participate.

If you are a veteran and would like to learn more about your benefits stop by and talk with NMU’s Veteran Resource Representative. 

Accommodations

The following hotels may offer a special discount for Wildcat Weekend attendees. 

Cedar Motor Inn 
2523 US 41 West, Marquette
(906) 228-2280

Comfort Suites 
2463 US 41 West, Marquette
906-228-0028

Country Inn & Suites 
2472 US  41 West, Marquette
906-225-1300

Days Inn  
2403 US 41 West, Marquette
906-225-1393

Holiday Inn  
1951 US 41 West, Marquette
906-225-1351

My Place  
2383 US Highway 41 W., Marquette
906-232-1111

Ramada Inn 
412 West Washington Street, Marquette
906-228-6000

Landmark Inn
230 North Front Street, Marquette
906-228-2580

Staybridge Suites 
855 W. Washington Street, Marquette
906-225-9901

Map of these and other hotels near Northern Michigan University

Directions to Campus

If you are entering Marquette from the WEST on US Hwy 41, follow the “Junction Business 41” and “Downtown – Left Lane” signs. US Business 41 becomes Washington Street. Proceed east on Washington Street until you reach Seventh Street. Turn left onto Seventh Street and proceed to NMU’s campus. Turn left on Fair Avenue and right on Elizabeth Harden Drive. Jamrich Hall will be on your right.

If you are entering Marquette from the EAST or SOUTH on US Hwy 41/Michigan Hwy 28, follow the “Downtown Marquette” signs. US Business 41 will become Front Street. Proceed on Front Street to Washington Street. Turn left onto Washington Street (Wells Fargo Bank will be on your left). Proceed on Washington Street five blocks to Seventh Street. Turn right onto Seventh Street and proceed to NMU’s campus. Turn left on Fair Avenue and right on Elizabeth Harden Drive. Jamrich Hall will be on your right.

Parking is available in the following lots: 

Lot 29, 17 or 28 by Jamrich Hall
Lot 62 by Hedgcock
Lot 11 by the Learning Resource Center

Parking is permitted in any university parking lot on Saturday.