Best Community Colleges in Michigan 2025

Badge for BEST IN MICHIGAN COMMUNITY COLLEGES

The best community colleges provide an effective springboard into higher education, offering students high-quality two-year degree programs in a wide range of disciplines. The top-rated community colleges in Michigan offer a broad selection of associate’s degrees, affordable tuition rates, and strong partnerships with public four-year schools so that students can easily transfer their credits into accredited bachelor’s degree programs.

Key Takeaways

  • Many of the best community colleges in Michigan provide low tuition rates, making higher education accessible to a broader population.
  • The colleges in our ranking often foster a culture of community involvement, encouraging students to participate in local service projects and internships that enhance their educational experience and benefit the surrounding area.
  • The best community colleges in Michigan offer a wide range of majors and programs, allowing students to pursue various academic interests and career paths.

2025 Ranking Update

Our Influence Ranking Engine™ leverages machine learning to track the real-world influence of colleges and universities over time. Below you’ll see which schools gained or lost ground for the 2025 school year.

In 2025, the top schools in our ranking of the best community colleges in Michigan shuffled considerably. Mott Community College gained the second ranking position as the college is implementing several enhancements to enrich the student experience. The college is advancing its strategic plan, focusing on modernizing facilities and infrastructure to support academic excellence and student success. This includes creating new spaces that invigorate the learning and living environment.

Additionally, MCC’s commitment to global education is exemplified by its Tangier Campus, offering students unique international study opportunities. These developments demonstrate MCC’s dedication to providing a dynamic and supportive environment for its students.

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We’ve identified 23 community colleges in Michigan. The following list shows the best community colleges and primarily associate degree granting colleges in Michigan.

Best Community Colleges in Michigan

  1. Tuition + fees

    $6K

    Graduation

    12%

    Student body

    24K

    Career Outlook for degree at Macomb Community College

    Cost of Degree: $6,510
    Starting Salary: $37,300
    What is Macomb Community College known for?

    Macomb Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

  2. Tuition + fees

    $5K

    Graduation

    16%

    Student body

    8K

    Career Outlook for degree at Mott Community College

    Cost of Degree: $5,435
    Starting Salary: $31,300
    What is Mott Community College known for?

    Mott Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

  3. #3

    Oakland Community College

    Auburn Hills , MI

    Tuition + fees

    $5K

    Graduation

    17%

    Student body

    22K

    Career Outlook for degree at Oakland Community College

    Cost of Degree: $5,560
    Starting Salary: $35,800
    What is Oakland Community College known for?

    Oakland Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  4. Tuition + fees

    $7K

    Graduation

    19%

    Student body

    14K

    Career Outlook for degree at Lansing Community College

    Cost of Degree: $7,520
    Starting Salary: $36,100
    What is Lansing Community College known for?

    Lansing Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  5. Tuition + fees

    $4K

    Graduation

    28%

    Student body

    19K

    Career Outlook for degree at Washtenaw Community College

    Cost of Degree: $4,584
    Starting Salary: $34,600
    What is Washtenaw Community College known for?

    Washtenaw Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  6. Tuition + fees

    $11K

    Graduation

    26%

    Student body

    5K

    Career Outlook for degree at Muskegon Community College

    Cost of Degree: $11,510
    Starting Salary: $32,100
    What is Muskegon Community College known for?

    Muskegon Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  7. #7

    Delta College

    University Center , MI

    Tuition + fees

    $7K

    Graduation

    15%

    Student body

    9K

    Career Outlook for degree at Delta College

    Cost of Degree: $7,250
    Starting Salary: $34,600
    What is Delta College known for?

    Delta College ’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  8. Tuition + fees

    $8K

    Graduation

    19%

    Student body

    18K

    Career Outlook for degree at Grand Rapids Community College

    Cost of Degree: $8,049
    Starting Salary: $34,400
    What is Grand Rapids Community College known for?

    Grand Rapids Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  9. Tuition + fees

    $8K

    Graduation

    33%

    Student body

    2K

    Career Outlook for degree at North Central Michigan College

    Cost of Degree: $8,147
    Expenses: $16,177
    Starting Salary: $31,100
    Cost Recoup Time: 14 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is North Central Michigan College known for?

    North Central Michigan College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

  10. Tuition + fees

    $7K

    Graduation

    23%

    Student body

    10K

    Career Outlook for degree at Kalamazoo Valley Community College

    Cost of Degree: $6,746
    Starting Salary: $34,300
    What is Kalamazoo Valley Community College known for?

    Kalamazoo Valley Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

  11. #11

    Kellogg Community College

    Battle Creek , MI

    Tuition + fees

    $7K

    Graduation

    8%

    Student body

    5K

    Career Outlook for degree at Kellogg Community College

    Cost of Degree: $5,748
    Starting Salary: $34,500
    What is Kellogg Community College known for?

    Kellogg Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

  12. Tuition + fees

    $3K

    Graduation

    13%

    Student body

    18K

    Career Outlook for degree at Wayne County Community College District

    Cost of Degree: $3,333
    Starting Salary: $28,900
    What is Wayne County Community College District known for?

    Wayne County Community College District’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

  13. Tuition + fees

    $3K

    Graduation

    26%

    Student body

    <1K

    Career Outlook for degree at Bay Mills Community College

    Cost of Degree: $3,320
    Starting Salary: $24,600
    What is Bay Mills Community College known for?

    Bay Mills Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

  14. Tuition + fees

    $7K

    Graduation

    32%

    Student body

    2K

    Career Outlook for degree at Southwestern Michigan College

    Cost of Degree: $7,510
    Expenses: $12,810
    Starting Salary: $32,200
    Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Southwestern Michigan College known for?

    Southwestern Michigan College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

  15. Tuition + fees

    $7K

    Graduation

    29%

    Student body

    1K

    Career Outlook for degree at Gogebic Community College

    Cost of Degree: $7,419
    Expenses: $12,140
    Starting Salary: $32,400
    Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Gogebic Community College known for?

    Gogebic Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

  16. Tuition + fees

    $7K

    Graduation

    34%

    Student body

    2K

    Career Outlook for degree at Kirtland Community College

    Cost of Degree: $6,990
    Expenses: $14,985
    Starting Salary: $29,800
    Cost Recoup Time: 13 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Kirtland Community College known for?

    Kirtland Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

  17. Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Graduation

    25%

    Student body

    4K

    Career Outlook for degree at St. Clair County Community College

    Cost of Degree: $8,506
    Expenses: $18,908
    Starting Salary: $34,600
    Cost Recoup Time: 14 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is St. Clair County Community College known for?

    St. Clair County Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

  18. #18

    Glen Oaks Community College

    Centreville , MI

    Tuition + fees

    $6K

    Graduation

    36%

    Student body

    2K

    Career Outlook for degree at Glen Oaks Community College

    Cost of Degree: $5,712
    Expenses: $15,678
    Starting Salary: $32,100
    Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Glen Oaks Community College known for?

    Glen Oaks Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

  19. Tuition + fees

    $7K

    Graduation

    31%

    Student body

    3K

    Career Outlook for degree at Monroe County Community College

    Cost of Degree: $7,468
    Starting Salary: $35,500
    What is Monroe County Community College known for?

    Monroe County Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

  20. Tuition + fees

    $8K

    Graduation

    38%

    Student body

    2K

    Career Outlook for degree at Montcalm Community College

    Cost of Degree: $8,070
    Starting Salary: $30,900
    What is Montcalm Community College known for?

    Montcalm Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

  21. Tuition + fees

    $5K

    Graduation

    30%

    Student body

    1K

    Career Outlook for degree at West Shore Community College

    Cost of Degree: $6,270
    Starting Salary: $32,400
    What is West Shore Community College known for?

    West Shore Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

  22. Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Graduation

    32%

    Student body

    3K

    Career Outlook for degree at Bay de Noc Community College

    Cost of Degree: $9,858
    Expenses: $16,876
    Starting Salary: $33,400
    Cost Recoup Time: 14 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Bay de Noc Community College known for?

    Bay de Noc Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

2021 Ranking Archive

Many of our 2024 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2023. That’s because we took a fundamentally different approach. For 2024 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.

  1. Kalamazoo Valley Community College
  2. North Central Michigan College
  3. Gogebic Community College
  4. Muskegon Community College
  5. Grand Rapids Community College
  6. Wayne County Community College District
  7. Bay Mills Community College
  8. Monroe County Community College
  9. Bay de Noc Community College
  10. Mott Community College
  11. Glen Oaks Community College
  12. Macomb Community College
  13. Kirtland Community College
  14. Montcalm Community College
  15. Kellogg Community College
  16. Southwestern Michigan College
  17. Washtenaw Community College
  18. Delta College
  19. Lansing Community College
  20. Oakland Community College
  21. West Shore Community College
  22. St. Clair County Community College
  23. Mid Michigan Community College
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