Best Community Colleges in Michigan 2024
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.
10 Best Community Colleges in Michigan
- Macomb Community College
- Muskegon Community College
- Mott Community College
- Oakland Community College
- Washtenaw Community College
- Grand Rapids Community College
- Lansing Community College
- Delta College
- North Central Michigan College
- Wayne County Community College District
- Lansing Community College
- Macomb Community College
- Mott Community College
- Oakland Community College
- Muskegon Community College
- Washtenaw Community College
- Delta College
- North Central Michigan College
- Grand Rapids Community College
- Kalamazoo Valley Community College
- Mid Michigan Community College 25 to 1
- Wayne County Community College District 25 to 1
- Oakland Community College 24 to 1
- Macomb Community College 23 to 1
- Glen Oaks Community College 23 to 1
- Grand Rapids Community College 18 to 1
- Bay de Noc Community College 17 to 1
- Muskegon Community College 17 to 1
- Mott Community College 17 to 1
- Washtenaw Community College 17 to 1
- Muskegon Community College $9,360
- St. Clair County Community College $9,300
- Mid Michigan Community College $8,808
- Bay de Noc Community College $7,657
- Grand Rapids Community College $7,470
- North Central Michigan College $6,870
- Lansing Community College $6,840
- Montcalm Community College $6,660
- Monroe County Community College $6,383
- Kalamazoo Valley Community College $6,210
- West Shore Community College
- Glen Oaks Community College
- Montcalm Community College
- Bay Mills Community College
- Bay de Noc Community College
- Southwestern Michigan College
- Monroe County Community College
- St. Clair County Community College
- Kellogg Community College
- Kalamazoo Valley Community College
- West Shore Community College
- Montcalm Community College
- Monroe County Community College
- Glen Oaks Community College
- Bay de Noc Community College
- Kirtland Community College
- St. Clair County Community College
- Mid Michigan Community College
- Gogebic Community College
- Bay Mills Community College
- Bay Mills Community College 8 to 1
- Kellogg Community College 8 to 1
- West Shore Community College 11 to 1
- Lansing Community College 12 to 1
- Kalamazoo Valley Community College 12 to 1
- Gogebic Community College 12 to 1
- Montcalm Community College 12 to 1
- Monroe County Community College 14 to 1
- St. Clair County Community College 15 to 1
- North Central Michigan College 15 to 1
- Wayne County Community College District $2,839
- Bay Mills Community College $3,320
- Washtenaw Community College $4,056
- West Shore Community College $4,320
- Mott Community College $4,446
- Glen Oaks Community College $4,704
- Oakland Community College $5,180
- Southwestern Michigan College $5,410
- Kirtland Community College $5,820
- Gogebic Community College $5,921
Colleges and Universities in Michigan
With over 80 public and private colleges to choose from, students hoping to earn their associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree can find a program that suits their educational needs and budget. Michigan State University and the University of Michigan are the two largest schools, both serving around 42,000 students and costing $16,000 in tuition. Most of the schools in The Wolverine State, however, serve smaller student populations, with tuition fees ranging from $3,000 to $49,000.
Find college admissions consultants in your state.
Additionally, students pursuing their degree at a school with religious affiliations have more than 20 options to choose from, including Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, Grand Rapid’s Calvin College, and Hope College in Holland. Students attending one of Michigan’s private schools, like Davenport University, can earn their degrees in fields like nursing, education, criminal justice, and history. Michigan, like many other states, also provides a special loan forgiveness program to those in medical, dental, and mental health professions who work in underserved communities. Recipients can receive up to $200,000 of tax-free funds over an eight-year period.
The great state of Michigan famously serves as the major hub of the United States auto industry - and also boasts the longest freshwater coastline in the nation. Students who love the outdoors but are also drawn to the metropolitan energy of big cities like Detroit and Grand Rapids will feel very much at home in Michigan.
To find your degree program, explore some of the top schools in Michigan.
What are Michigan’s Colleges & Universities?
- 12 Research Universities
- 30 Liberal Arts Colleges & Universities
- 16 Graduate Schools
- 21 Public Colleges & Universities
- 21 Private Colleges & Universities
- 16 Christian Colleges & Universities
- 26 Small Colleges & Universities (fewer than 5,000 students)
- 21 Affordable Colleges (below $20,000/year)
- 23 Community Colleges
- 20 Online Colleges
Michigan’s Best Overall
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
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
12%
Student body
24K
Career Outlook for degree at Macomb Community College
Cost of Degree: $6,210Starting Salary: $37,300What is Macomb Community College known for?
Macomb Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- #8 Best Online Associate Degrees in Michigan 2024 #19 Best Online Associate in Early Childhood Education
Tuition + fees
$11K
Graduation
26%
Student body
5K
Career Outlook for degree at Muskegon Community College
Cost of Degree: $11,090Starting Salary: $32,100What is Muskegon Community College known for?
Muskegon Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
16%
Student body
8K
Career Outlook for degree at Mott Community College
Cost of Degree: $5,201Starting Salary: $31,300What is Mott Community College known for?
Mott Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
17%
Student body
22K
Career Outlook for degree at Oakland Community College
Cost of Degree: $5,400Starting Salary: $35,800What is Oakland Community College known for?
Oakland Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
- #10 Best Online Associate in Communications #12 Best Online Associate Degrees in Michigan 2024 #13 Best Online Associate in Education
Tuition + fees
$4K
Graduation
28%
Student body
19K
Career Outlook for degree at Washtenaw Community College
Cost of Degree: $4,416Starting Salary: $34,600What is Washtenaw Community College known for?
Washtenaw Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
- #7 Best Online Associate in Economics #7 Best Online Associate in Graphic Design #9 Best Online Associate in Web Design #13 Best Online Associate Degrees in Michigan 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$8K
Graduation
19%
Student body
18K
Career Outlook for degree at Grand Rapids Community College
Cost of Degree: $7,929Starting Salary: $34,400What is Grand Rapids Community College known for?
Grand Rapids Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
Tuition + fees
$7K
Graduation
19%
Student body
14K
Career Outlook for degree at Lansing Community College
Cost of Degree: $7,340Starting Salary: $36,100What is Lansing Community College known for?
Lansing Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Political Science
- Criminal Justice
- Computer Science
- History
- Medical
- Nursing
- Education
- Biology
- Sociology
- Business
Most Influential Alumni
Tuition + fees
$7K
Graduation
15%
Student body
9K
Career Outlook for degree at Delta College
Cost of Degree: $6,980Starting Salary: $34,600What is Delta College known for?
Delta College ’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Social Work
- Education
- Computer Science
- Criminal Justice
- Political Science
- Nursing
- Medical
- Business
- Communications
- Engineering
Most Influential Alumni
Tuition + fees
$8K
Graduation
33%
Student body
2K
Career Outlook for degree at North Central Michigan College
Cost of Degree: $7,770Expenses: $12,313Starting Salary: $31,100Cost Recoup Time: 12 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is North Central Michigan College known for?
North Central Michigan College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$3K
Graduation
13%
Student body
18K
Career Outlook for degree at Wayne County Community College District
Cost of Degree: $3,263Starting Salary: $28,900What is Wayne County Community College District known for?
Wayne County Community College District’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- #13 Best Online Associate in Entrepreneurship #16 Best Online Associate Degrees in Michigan 2024 #17 Best Online Associate in Small Business Management #17 Best Online Associate in Business Management
Tuition + fees
$7K
Graduation
29%
Student body
1K
Career Outlook for degree at Gogebic Community College
Cost of Degree: $7,209Expenses: $10,100Starting Salary: $32,400Cost Recoup Time: 11 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Gogebic Community College known for?
Gogebic Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$9K
Graduation
12%
Student body
4K
Career Outlook for degree at Mid Michigan Community College
Cost of Degree: $8,908Starting Salary: $32,800What is Mid Michigan Community College known for?
Mid Michigan Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Graduation
34%
Student body
2K
Career Outlook for degree at Kirtland Community College
Cost of Degree: $6,630Starting Salary: $29,800What is Kirtland Community College known for?
Kirtland Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Graduation
23%
Student body
10K
Career Outlook for degree at Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Cost of Degree: $6,526Starting Salary: $34,300What is Kalamazoo Valley Community College known for?
Kalamazoo Valley Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Graduation
8%
Student body
5K
Career Outlook for degree at Kellogg Community College
Cost of Degree: $7,013Starting Salary: $34,500What is Kellogg Community College known for?
Kellogg Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- #8 Best Online Associate in Web Design #12 Best Online Associate in Software Development #20 Best Online Associate Degrees in Michigan 2024
Tuition + fees
$9K
Graduation
25%
Student body
4K
Career Outlook for degree at St. Clair County Community College
Cost of Degree: $9,300Expenses: $15,718Starting Salary: $34,600Cost Recoup Time: 13 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is St. Clair County Community College known for?
St. Clair County Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Graduation
31%
Student body
3K
Career Outlook for degree at Monroe County Community College
Cost of Degree: $7,213Starting Salary: $35,500What is Monroe County Community College known for?
Monroe County Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Graduation
32%
Student body
2K
Career Outlook for degree at Southwestern Michigan College
Cost of Degree: $7,169Expenses: $12,810Starting Salary: $32,200Cost Recoup Time: 12 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Southwestern Michigan College known for?
Southwestern Michigan College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$9K
Graduation
32%
Student body
3K
Career Outlook for degree at Bay de Noc Community College
Cost of Degree: $9,455Expenses: $13,162Starting Salary: $33,400Cost Recoup Time: 13 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Bay de Noc Community College known for?
Bay de Noc Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$3K
Graduation
26%
Student body
<1K
Career Outlook for degree at Bay Mills Community College
Cost of Degree: $3,320Starting Salary: $24,600What is Bay Mills Community College known for?
Bay Mills Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$8K
Graduation
38%
Student body
2K
Career Outlook for degree at Montcalm Community College
Cost of Degree: $7,980Starting Salary: $30,900What is Montcalm Community College known for?
Montcalm Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
36%
Student body
2K
Career Outlook for degree at Glen Oaks Community College
Cost of Degree: $5,640Expenses: $13,378Starting Salary: $32,100Cost Recoup Time: 12 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Glen Oaks Community College known for?
Glen Oaks Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
30%
Student body
1K
2021 Ranking Archive
Many of our 2022 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2021. That’s because we took a fundamentally different apporach. For 2021 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.
- Kalamazoo Valley Community College
- North Central Michigan College
- Gogebic Community College
- Muskegon Community College
- Grand Rapids Community College
- Wayne County Community College District
- Bay Mills Community College
- Monroe County Community College
- Bay de Noc Community College
- Mott Community College
- Glen Oaks Community College
- Macomb Community College
- Kirtland Community College
- Montcalm Community College
- Kellogg Community College
- Southwestern Michigan College
- Washtenaw Community College
- Delta College
- Lansing Community College
- Oakland Community College
- West Shore Community College
- St. Clair County Community College
- Mid Michigan Community College