Best Online Colleges in Michigan 2023

Published: Jan 4, 2022
Updated: Sep 8, 2023

Find the best online colleges in Michigan ranked by the academic successes of faculty and alumni associated with the colleges and universities and their online degree programs.

Top 10 Online Colleges in Michigan

Wayne State University
Western Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University
Oakland University
Andrews University
Grand Valley State University
Ferris State University
Northern Michigan University
University of Michigan–Flint
Northwood University

Grace Christian University 100%
Davenport University 98%
Rochester College 98%
Oakland University 92%
Grand Valley State University 92%
Cornerstone University 91%
Ferris State University 85%
Eastern Michigan University 85%
Western Michigan University 83%
Northwood University 83%

Northern Michigan University 20 to 1
Oakland University 19 to 1
Western Michigan University 18 to 1
Grand Valley State University 16 to 1
Wayne State University 15 to 1
Cornerstone University 15 to 1
Eastern Michigan University 15 to 1
Ferris State University 15 to 1
Grace Christian University 14 to 1
University of Michigan–Flint 14 to 1

Concordia University Ann Arbor $31,830
Andrews University $31,782
Spring Arbor University $31,080
Northwood University $30,520
Siena Heights University $28,502
Cornerstone University $27,040
Rochester College $25,462
Madonna University $24,900
Davenport University $20,964
Walsh College $19,785

Northwood University $37,080
Andrews University $28,656
Oakland University $19,323
Grand Valley State University $17,904
Wayne State University $16,920
Western Michigan University $16,884
Eastern Michigan University $16,562
Walsh College $16,401
Madonna University $16,380
Davenport University $16,308

Grace Christian University
Rochester College
Walsh College
Concordia University Ann Arbor
Davenport University
Siena Heights University
Spring Arbor University
Baker College
Cornerstone University
Madonna University

Baker College 41%
Madonna University 52%
Spring Arbor University 60%
Concordia University Ann Arbor 63%
Wayne State University 63%
Siena Heights University 68%
Northern Michigan University 71%
University of Michigan–Flint 74%
Andrews University 82%
Northwood University 83%

Baker College 8 to 1
Northwood University 9 to 1
Andrews University 10 to 1
Concordia University Ann Arbor 10 to 1
Walsh College 11 to 1
Rochester College 12 to 1
Spring Arbor University 12 to 1
Siena Heights University 12 to 1
Madonna University 13 to 1
Davenport University 13 to 1

University of Michigan–Flint $11,868
Northern Michigan University $12,386
Baker College $12,420
Ferris State University $12,740
Western Michigan University $13,334
Wayne State University $13,532
Grand Valley State University $13,900
Grace Christian University $14,400
Oakland University $15,135
Eastern Michigan University $15,700

Spring Arbor University $8,093
Ferris State University $8,232
Northern Michigan University $9,792
Rochester College $10,512
Grace Christian University $10,800
University of Michigan–Flint $12,227
Siena Heights University $12,456
Baker College $12,510
Concordia University Ann Arbor $12,885
Cornerstone University $14,160

Table of Contents

Featured Programs

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?

Michigan’s Best Overall

Online education has grown dramatically in quality, credibility, and popularity over the last two decades. Today, more than a quarter of all college students are taking at least one online course. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there are more than 5 million college students who are pursuing their undergraduate degree fully online. And the number of online college and graduate students continues to grow as online technology and instructional methods improve.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, access to remote learning has proven an essential part of the educational ecosystem. Schools that offer primarily online degree programs saw an increase of 7% enrollment just between Fall 2020 and Spring 2021. The number of traditional institutions offering online courses and degrees is growing as well. This all paints a promising picture for the future of online education. But it also produces a dizzying array of options.

Frequently Asked Questions About Best Online Colleges 2022

Asynchronous learning means classes don’t meet at set times. This is the most flexible online learning experience, making when you cover your course material up to you. Most asynchronous online courses will still have deadlines throughout the semester for various assignments and tests. Some asynchronous classes may still ask for an occasional meeting, such as initial meet-and-greets, and in some cases there may be scheduled test times. The idea of asynchronous learning is to allow the student to manage their schedules as needed.

Synchronous learning means you will have scheduled meeting times for your online classes. Synchronous learning gives online students the flexibility of location while also giving students a chance to engage with each other and their professors. For many online students, the structured class schedules and ability to see and hear from peers in real-time helps create the learning experience they want.

Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable institutions and less-than-reputable for-profit schools. Accreditation gives you the power to differentiate between the two. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency which indicates that a college or university is meeting standards of quality, credibility, and currency. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.

Attending a college or university which is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. When seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that students opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree.

As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited, you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer. In many cases, you will be required to navigate a bureaucracy in which some of your credits will be transferred and others will be jettisoned. However, provided that you have attended an online school with the proper regional accreditation, you should have plenty of options for transfer.

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript or resume differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

While some employers may express concern about making the adjustment from online education to in-person workplace collaboration, many other employers will view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st Century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

The advantages of online classes are many. First and foremost, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities—educational experiences that you can complete on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

How do we determine the best online colleges for undergrads?

Methodology

Pursuing your degree online doesn’t mean you need to settle for an inferior school. Today, most universities and colleges offer online degrees, and many respected schools are seeing significant growth in their numbers of online students.

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great. This is why influence — i.e., the academic impact of faculty and alumni associated with a school — gets at the heart of what is truly best in education. The combined influence score of a college or university’s top academic influencers is the best indicator of academic excellence. For our online degree rankings, we focus on the academic influence of faculty and alumni in the specific disciplines we’re ranking.

If you are serious about finding the best online colleges, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching, and whether their graduates themselves are advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence. Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Influence, as measured by our InfluenceRanking engine, provides a ranking that is free from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

Median Salaries of Top Careers in Michigan

The following graph depicts the average salaries of top occupations in different industries in Michigan.

Source: U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

Annual Salary

107680Personal Financial Advisors

113190Database Architects

117110Nuclear Engineers

141780Political Scientists

258270Chief Executives

Best Online Colleges in Michigan 2023

Top 10 Online Colleges in Michigan

Featured Programs

Colleges and Universities in Michigan

What are Michigan’s Colleges & Universities?

Median Salaries of Top Careers in Michigan

Best Online Colleges in Michigan 2022

Online Degrees

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Online Degrees

Areas of Study

Online Degrees

Online Degrees

Online Degrees

Online Degrees

Tracks

Concentrations

Online Degrees

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Online Degrees

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Online Degrees

Online Degrees

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Concentrations

Concentrations

Online Degrees

Minors and Concentrations

Concentrations

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Online Degree Completion Programs

Concentrations

Concentrations

Concentrations

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Online Degree Completion Programs

Concentrations

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Concentrations

Concentrations