Best Colleges in Michigan
The top colleges in Michigan by graduate outcomes, plus all 156 schools compared on cost, admissions, and earnings.
Best Colleges in Michigan, Ranked
The top 8 four-year colleges in Michigan by graduation rate and 10-year graduate earnings, from federal College Scorecard data. A data-backed shortlist to start from, not a substitute for finding the right fit.
- 1University of MichiganAnn Arbor · Public93%Grad$13,138Net Price$79,000Earnings
- 2Kettering UniversityFlint · Private nonprofit71%Grad$34,660Net Price$78,500Earnings
- 3Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing · Public81%Grad$19,680Net Price$63,200Earnings
- 4Michigan Technological UniversityHoughton · Public68%Grad$14,182Net Price$66,800Earnings
- 5Hope CollegeHolland · Private nonprofit80%Grad$27,182Net Price$50,700Earnings
- 6Kalamazoo CollegeKalamazoo · Private nonprofit76%Grad$19,072Net Price$54,400Earnings
- 7Calvin UniversityGrand Rapids · Private nonprofit74%Grad$22,992Net Price$48,700Earnings
- 8Lawrence Technological UniversitySouthfield · Private nonprofit61%Grad$32,918Net Price$60,500Earnings
Michigan in the news
All news →UMich Early Decision Deadline Is November 1
University of Michigan added binding Early Decision for fall 2027 applicants. Deadline is November 1, but there are financial aid risks to weigh first.
Aug 11Michigan Drops Freshman Letter Grades in 2027
Michigan's LSA will replace freshman letter grades with pass/no credit on transcripts starting fall 2027. What it means for students and GPAs.
Jul 17Penn State Votes to Raise Tuition 2.5%
Penn State voted today to raise 2027-28 in-state tuition 2.5%. Michigan is up 3–4% this fall. What families need to know now.
Public Universities(44)
Michigan State University
East Lansing · Public
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor · Public
Grand Valley State University
Allendale · Public
Wayne State University
Detroit · Public
Macomb Community College
Warren · Public
Oakland Community College
Auburn Hills · Public
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo · Public
Oakland University
Rochester Hills · Public
Grand Rapids Community College
Grand Rapids · Public
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti · Public
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant · Public
Henry Ford College
Dearborn · Public
Lansing Community College
Lansing · Public
Ferris State University
Big Rapids · Public
Washtenaw Community College
Ann Arbor · Public
Schoolcraft Community College District
Livonia · Public
Wayne County Community College District
Detroit · Public
Delta College
University Center · Public
Northern Michigan University
Marquette · Public
Saginaw Valley State University
University Center · Public
Michigan Technological University
Houghton · Public
University of Michigan-Dearborn
Dearborn · Public
Mott Community College
Flint · Public
Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Kalamazoo · Public
University of Michigan-Flint
Flint · Public
Jackson College
Jackson · Public
Kellogg Community College
Battle Creek · Public
Northwestern Michigan College
Traverse City · Public
Muskegon Community College
Muskegon · Public
St Clair County Community College
Port Huron · Public
Lake Michigan College
Benton Harbor · Public
Mid Michigan College
Harrison · Public
Monroe County Community College
Monroe · Public
Southwestern Michigan College
Dowagiac · Public
Lake Superior State University
Sault Ste Marie · Public
Bay de Noc Community College
Escanaba · Public
Montcalm Community College
Sidney · Public
Kirtland Community College
Grayling · Public
North Central Michigan College
Petoskey · Public
West Shore Community College
Scottville · Public
Alpena Community College
Alpena · Public
Glen Oaks Community College
Centreville · Public
Gogebic Community College
Ironwood · Public
Michigan Career and Technical Institute
Plainwell · Public
Private Colleges & Universities(101)
Hope College
Holland · Private nonprofit
Calvin University
Grand Rapids · Private nonprofit
Davenport University
Grand Rapids · Private nonprofit
Baker College
Owosso · Private nonprofit
University of Detroit Mercy
Detroit · Private nonprofit
Lawrence Technological University
Southfield · Private nonprofit
Madonna University
Livonia · Private nonprofit
Adrian College
Adrian · Private nonprofit
Hillsdale College
Hillsdale · Private nonprofit
Siena Heights University
Adrian · Private nonprofit
Universal Technical Institute-Canton
Canton · Private for-profit
Albion College
Albion · Private nonprofit
Cornerstone University
Grand Rapids · Private nonprofit
Andrews University
Berrien Springs · Private nonprofit
Kettering University
Flint · Private nonprofit
Kalamazoo College
Kalamazoo · Private nonprofit
Alma College
Alma · Private nonprofit
Aquinas College
Grand Rapids · Private nonprofit
Spring Arbor University
Spring Arbor · Private nonprofit
University of Olivet
Olivet · Private nonprofit
Rochester University
Rochester Hills · Private nonprofit
Douglas J Aveda Institute
East Lansing · Private for-profit
Northwestern Technological Institute
Southfield · Private for-profit
Grace Christian University
Wyoming · Private nonprofit
Concordia University Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor · Private nonprofit
Dorsey College
Madison Heights · Private for-profit
Arizona College of Nursing-Southfield
Southfield · Private for-profit
Dorsey College-Roseville
Roseville · Private for-profit
Dorsey College-Dearborn
Detroit · Private for-profit
Ross College-Grand Rapids North
Grand Rapids · Private for-profit
Irene's Myomassology Institute
Southfield · Private for-profit
Twin City Beauty College
Saint Joseph · Private for-profit
L'esprit Academy
Canton · Private for-profit
Empire Beauty School-Michigan
Grand Rapids · Private for-profit
Ross Medical Education Center-Warren
Warren · Private for-profit
Michigan College of Beauty-Troy
Troy · Private for-profit
David Pressley School of Cosmetology
Royal Oak · Private for-profit
Dorsey College-Woodhaven
Woodhaven · Private for-profit
Elevate Salon Institute
Royal Oak · Private for-profit
Great Lakes Christian College
Lansing · Private nonprofit
Dorsey College-Wayne
Wayne · Private for-profit
Dorsey College-Saginaw
Saginaw · Private for-profit
Sacred Heart Major Seminary
Detroit · Private nonprofit
Michigan Barber School
Detroit · Private nonprofit
Dorsey School of Beauty
Taylor · Private for-profit
Kuyper College
Grand Rapids · Private nonprofit
Abcott Institute
Southfield · Private for-profit
Paul Mitchell the School-Michigan
Sterling Heights · Private for-profit
Ross Medical Education Center-Lansing
Lansing · Private for-profit
Ross Medical Education Center-Kentwood
Kentwood · Private for-profit
DSDT
Detroit · Private for-profit
Ross Medical Education Center-Roosevelt Park
Roosevelt Park · Private for-profit
Ross Medical Education Center-Portage
Portage · Private for-profit
Detroit Business Institute-Downriver
Riverview · Private for-profit
Ross Medical Education Center-Flint
Flint · Private for-profit
Paul Mitchell the School-Farmington Hills
Farmington Hills · Private for-profit
Bayshire Academy of Beauty Craft Inc
Bay City · Private for-profit
Nuvo College of Cosmetology
Norton Shores · Private for-profit
Carnegie Institute
Troy · Private for-profit
Ross Medical Education Center-Canton
Canton · Private for-profit
All private colleges & universities in this state
- P&A Scholars Beauty School· Detroit
- Paul Mitchell the School-Grand Rapids· Kentwood
- Ross Medical Education Center-Saginaw· Saginaw
- Dorsey College-Grand Rapids· Grand Rapids
- Salon Professional Academy of Holland· Holland
- West Michigan College of Barbering and Beauty· Kalamazoo
- Paul Mitchell the School-Great Lakes· Port Huron
- Ross Medical Education Center-Taylor· Taylor
- Protege Academy· East Lansing
- Michigan College of Beauty-Monroe· Monroe
- Mosley School of Cosmetology· Kentwood
- Metro Detroit Barber College· Detroit
- Taylor Andrews Academy of Hair Design-Hair Lab Detroit Barber School· Southgate
- Ross Medical Education Center-Midland· Midland
- Ross Medical Education Center-Davison· Davison
- Motion Picture Institute· Troy
- French Academy of Cosmetology· Spring Lake
- Ross Medical Education Center· Ann Arbor
- M J Murphy Beauty College of Mount Pleasant· Mount Pleasant
- Ross Medical Education Center-Battle Creek· Battle Creek
- Salon Professional Academy-Battle Creek· Battle Creek
- Marketti Academy of Cosmetology· Waterford
- Brighton Institute of Cosmetology· Brighton
- Cadillac Institute of Cosmetology· Cadillac
- Ross Medical Education Center-Brighton· Brighton
- Creative Hair School of Cosmetology· Flint
- Ross Medical Education Center-Port Huron· Port Huron
- Port Huron Cosmetology College· Waterford
- School of Missionary Aviation Technology· Ionia
- Ross Medical Education Center-New Baltimore· New Baltimore
- Dymond Designs Beauty School· Detroit
- Hillsdale Beauty College· Hillsdale
- Great Lakes Boat Building School· Cedarville
- U.S. Truck Driver Training School· Sterling Heights
- Sharp's Academy of Hairstyling· Grand Blanc
- Southwest Michigan Beauty School· Sturgis
- Lakewood School of Therapeutic Massage· Port Huron
- D&S School of Cosmetology· Waterford
- Calvin University - Handlon Campus· Ionia
- L'esprit Academy - Southfield· Southfield
- Moody Theological Seminary and Graduate School--Michigan· Plymouth
Community & 2-Year Colleges(11)
Northwood University
Midland · Private nonprofit
College for Creative Studies
Detroit · Private nonprofit
Cleary University
Howell · Private nonprofit
Bay Mills Community College
Brimley · Public
Chamberlain University-Michigan
Troy · Private for-profit
Walsh College
Troy · Private nonprofit
Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College
Mount Pleasant · Public
Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College
LAnse · Public
Yeshiva Gedolah of Greater Detroit
Oak Park · Private nonprofit
Ecumenical Theological Seminary
Detroit · Private nonprofit
Thomas M Cooley Law School
Lansing · Private nonprofit
Data sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Updated regularly via automated sync. Contact schools directly for current requirements and costs.