Best Colleges in Michigan

As the only state made up of two peninsulas, Michigan is nicknamed “The Great Lakes State” since it’s bordered by Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, and Lake Superior. The southern portion of the state experiences hot summers and cold winters, but the northern half has short, warm summers and can have very cold winters. Colleges in Michigan are mostly in the lower peninsula, all 93 of them minus 2, and include 8 research universities, 17 baccalaureate colleges, and 19 master’s universities. The University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is the oldest, as well as the most selective, institution. The Wolverine State’s top industries are automotives, advanced manufacturing, freshwater technology, and Christmas trees. The most popular places to visit are Mackinac Island, Detroit Institute of Arts, and the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

How Were the Top Schools in Michigan Chosen?

Appily determines “Best Colleges” based on publicly-available information from the US Department of Education. Several factors include, but are not limited to, data about admitted students’ academic calibers, students’ expected career outcomes after graduation, and colleges’ investments toward making their institution accessible to all students.

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Northwestern Michigan College

Northwestern Michigan College is a public, 2-year institution located in Traverse City. NMC maintains four satellite facilities in the region, including the Rogers Observatory, which is five miles of south of campus and frequently opens for public...

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Smaller classes with great teachers.
Lot's of opportunities with difference classes.
Supportive staff.

” – Catherine from Interlochen, MI
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Featuring a main campus a short walk from the US/Canada border, St. Clair County Community College is a 2-year institution in eastern Michigan. Known as “SC4,” the college features degree and certificate programs in five academic departments...

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St. Clair is a very awesome college that I really enjoy. The teachers are great and the campus is small and easy to get around. Everyone is very helpful and the school offers much help to all the students attending!

” – Maria from Mt. Pleasant, MI
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Washtenaw Community College is a public, 2-year institution established on a wooded, 291-acre campus in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with satellite facilities located in Brighton and Hartland. WCC offers over 100 academic programs through a catalog of...

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I’ve been taking art classes to build up my portfolio for when I transfer and the art teachers here are phenomenal. Many of them are also employed at more expensive, “brand name” colleges like Eastern or U of M, so it’s like getting the same teaching...

” – E.
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Baker College of Muskegon is a private four-year technical and business college mere minutes away from Lake Michigan’s shores. Baker College maintains seven other campuses, is a designated military-friendly school, and claims the title of largest...

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Baker has so many programs and will put you where you need to be for what you want to achieve. They place you with a career instead of just a major and minor. You will be going to school for what you want to be and not taking pointless classes.

” – Melisanda from Zeeland, MI
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Bay de Noc Community College, more commonly known as Bay College, is a 2-year institution with two locations in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Bay is home to eight career pathways consisting of over 80 degree and certificate programs. Utilizing its...

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I hear a lot of great news about Bay de Noc Community College and I am hoping to attend soon. My friends and other acquaintances tell me of how much success they are retrieving from their classes and can not wait to pursue more of an education there.

” – Jessica from Cornell, MI
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With a campus along the shore of Lake Superior, Bay Mills Community College is the first 2-year tribal community college in the northeastern upper peninsula of Michigan. BMCC confers degrees and certificates in 24 academic programs. As a tribal...

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Established in 1965, Glen Oaks Community College is a public, 2-year institution located in Centreville Michigan. Glen Oaks offers 15 associate’s degree programs and 19 certificate programs, including agricultural programs in collaboration with MSU...

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The teachers here for the most part really take time to get to know you and how well you learn in order for you to advance. They seem to show they really are for your education, though a lot of people think community colleges don't care as much...

” – Brandye from Sturgis, MI
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Gogebic Community College is a 2-year community college with a main campus and extension center in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. GCC confers degrees and certificates in 55 academic fields of study. The college utilizes its northwoods location for...

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Perfect for the academic, Gogebic Community College offers top of the line courses with small class sizes!
The teachers are flexible and for the student not interested in the hustle and bustle of the city Gogebic is a great place to study. It is...

” – Vivian from Ironwood, MI
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Jackson College is a public, 2-year institution established in Jackson County, Michigan. The campus features The George E. Potter Center, which houses entertainment events in its three theaters all throughout the year. While the college offers many...

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JCC is great for education. Many of the professors could easily be university professors, and it is because of that that JCC is so helpful. Because of the size of JCC, one can get help much easier which, in turn, will help the individual to learn...

” – Jacob from Albion, MI
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Kirtland Community College is a 2-year institution covering the largest geographic area of any Michigan community college. Kirtland is home to five academic departments offering 25 degree and certificate-granting programs. With a campus located in a...

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kirtland community college is a cost effective way to obtain general education credits. the teachers give a lot of personal attention to students. it is a good transition from high school into college.

” – Brittany from Roscommon, MI
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Mid Michigan Community College is a 2-year institution with two campuses. Mid offers over 600 courses each semester from six academic departments and over 100 of those classes are available online. Mid also has a diverse student body with over 100...

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mid michigan community college is a fantastic college when your first starting out. not only is the staff more then helpful, but the expense is significantly more affordable. my dad directed me to mmcc and now i feel i should return the favor, it is...

” – Ashlie from Mt.Pleasant, MI
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Montcalm Community College is a 2-year college with four locations in central Michigan. MCC confers degrees and certificates in 54 academic programs. For students who wish to enter the farming industry, MCC partners with the Michigan State University...

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College is so far helpful and informitive. I have attended orientation and the teachers were nice and helpful. I can't wait to get started!

” – Amy from Belding, MI
Mott Community College

Mott Community College is a public, 2-year institution established in Flint, Michigan, with satellite locations throughout the state in Clio, Howell, Fenton, and Owosso. The college offers over 100 certificates, occupational degrees, and degrees for...

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At Mott, most of the students are there to learn their basics and then move on to a bigger better four-year university. It makes Mott sound like a lame little stepping stone, but I love Mott. It has smaller class sizes, even for basics, and the...

” – Jessica from Flushing, MI
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With a main campus off the coast of Lake Michigan, Muskegon Community College is a 2-year institution and the fourth oldest community college in Michigan. MCC is home to 40 associate degrees and 35 certificate-granting programs. The Astronomy program...

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Muskegon Community College’s professors sincerely want their students to learn as much as possible and they go out of their way to make this happen. One of my instructors was excellent and helped me at my own pace. Another was tougher and rather...

” – Erika from Whitehall, MI
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North Central Michigan College is a 2-year community college in the northernmost part of the Michigan lower peninsula. North Central confers associate degrees in 24 fields of study and is also home to 39 certificate-granting programs. For students...

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Southwestern Michigan College is a 2-year community college featuring over 40 degrees and certificates, as well as an honors program. In addition, SMC partners with Ferris State University to provide an opportunity to earn six bachelor’s degrees on...

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Southwestern Michigan College has amazing dorms, professors, and course options. The tuition is low compared to bigger colleges. Although it is a community college, it still has a university feel.

” – Sky from Sturgis, MI
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Located in the heart of downtown Detroit, the Michigan Barber School is a training salon dedicated to instructing students in the art of cutting and styling hair. Michigan Barber School offers several training curricula on different hairstyle...

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The Wayne County Community College District is a public, 2-year institution established in Michigan, with six campuses in Detroit, Taylor, and Belleville. The district offers over 80 degree and certificate programs, including a Nursing program and 10...

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Wayne County Community College is phenomenal. They offer a variety of programs with shorter programs to a 2 yr. degree. They also have a great healthcare program certification. The Professors that are employed at the school are very informal, helpful...

” – Tempest from Detroit, MI
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With a main campus a short distance from Lake Michigan, West Shore Community College is a 2-year institution in northwest Michigan. WSCC is home to eight academic departments conferring degrees and certificates in 35 academic programs. Outside of...

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One of the things I enjoy most about West Shore Community College (WSCC) is the small class sizes and one-on-one interaction with the instructors. All of the instructor's I've had so far have been very helpful during and outside of class hours...

” – Carly from Ludington, MI
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Baker College Center for Graduate Studies, a branch of Baker College, is a private, graduate education institution located in Flint, Michigan. The college offers 18 fully-online programs throughout six schools of study, awarding master’s degrees...

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Baker College is exceptional in all areas. They have an environment that promotes positive learning, and their staff is all eager and willing to help you in whatever ways they can. For me, it is the BEST!

” – Cynthia from Detroit, MI