Colleges in Michigan
Why go to College in Michigan?
Michigan boasts some of the best colleges and universities in the United States. Michigan students pursue degrees at colleges and universities in major cities such as Grand Rapids, Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Lansing. Scholars attend public, private, faith-based, and online schools in Michigan. The state is part of the Midwest Student Exchange Program, which allows students to attend other Midwestern universities at a discounted rate.
What Options are Available for Colleges in Michigan?
On-Campus
Living on campus builds camaraderie and a sense of community. College campuses are filled with clubs, organizations, events, and shops, and on-campus events help students meet others with similar interests. In the classroom, visual and sensory learners appreciate the interaction with professors, and on-campus classes create a support system. Group projects provide social interaction and collaboration.
Online Programs
Online colleges in Michigan are ideal for working professionals. Online programs are offered entirely or partially online. Students use internet applications, such as Blackboard, to access class materials, communicate with instructors, and receive syllabi. Many schools have designated administrators who monitor online classes and help students register and stay on track to graduate. Some online programs are accelerated, with shorter completion times than traditional programs.
Hybrid Programs
Among online schools in Michigan are certification and degree programs. An online certification program enhances the skillset of a worker in a particular industry and may be required for some fields. Online degree programs, on the other hand, comprise courses within a set curriculum and are typically completed fully online. Hybrid programs involve online and in-class coursework and are perfect for students who want components of both online and traditional programs.
Popular Degree Programs in Michigan
Popular degree majors vary by state, according to the industries driving the state's economy. Major industries in Michigan include automotives, advanced manufacturing, food and agriculture, freshwater technology and services, and Christmas tree cultivation. Many students in Michigan complete degrees that lead to careers in these industries.
Cognitive science and biopsychology Cognitive science studies how the human mind functions and processes information and is the basis for linguistics, psychology, and neuroscience. Biopsychology studies the relationship between psychology and biology, which is vital to human behavior.
Business management and administration Students learn basic principles of marketing, finance, economics, and accounting and how to use these disciplines to effectively manage workers and expand business. This degree is popular in Michigan due to the booming car industry.
What are the Best Online Colleges in Michigan?
Online enrollment is quickly outpacing enrollment in traditional programs. Online programs are ideal for working professionals and non-traditional learners. The best online colleges in Michigan help students with time management and work-life balance. Online students work at their own pace to complete degree programs, which often include accelerated courses. This resource provides detailed information about online schools in Michigan, including tuition costs, estimated completion time, required credit hours, and specialized degree programs.
Top 20 Online Colleges in Michigan for 2019
Admissions Rate
26%
Graduation Rate
90%
Online Enrollment
1%
Retention Rate
97%
Default Rate
2%
One of the top research universities in the country, UMich also ranks as one of the best online colleges in Michigan. The university was founded in 1817, 20 years prior to Michigan becoming a state. The school's online degree programs focus mainly on professional training, with offerings in many fields, such as dentistry, engineering, nursing, and public health. Online learners choose from several unique degree programs, including a master's in dental hygiene and an executive master's in health management and policy. The college of engineering's integrated systems and design program offers several interdisciplinary degree programs in unique technical subjects, including automotive engineering, energy systems engineering, and manufacturing. UMich offers most programs asynchronously, requiring no scheduled course meetings and allowing students to fit in coursework around their own schedules.
Visit SiteSponsored
What are the Best Online Community Colleges in Michigan?
Community colleges offer associate programs, which require two to three years to complete, whereas universities offer bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs, which require four to eight years to complete. Many community college graduates continue to four-year programs. Oftentimes, community colleges maintain partnerships with universities, enabling students to easily transfer credits. Community colleges save students time and money while they complete their prerequisites.
Top 9 Online Community Colleges in Michigan for 2019
Graduation Rate
39%
Online Enrollment
10%
Retention Rate
72%
Default Rate
15%
Founded in 1932, Gogebic Community College serves the small rural community of Ironwood, Michigan. The school boasts a small, connected student body of about 1,400 students, allowing for close student-faculty interaction and individualized attention with an average student-to-faculty ratio of 15:1. Gogebic has a home campus in Ironwood and a country center in Houghton.
Students looking specifically for online community colleges in Michigan may be interested in Gogebic's fully online business programs . Students can choose to earn an associate degree or certificate in many fields, including business administration, accounting, computer programming, and entrepreneurship. Students in the business administration transfer program may also opt to transfer to a university to complete their bachelor's degree upon earning an associate degree at Gogebic.
Visit SiteSponsored
How We Ranked the Schools
To determine the best programs, we looked at the most important factors prospective students, mainly common predictors of future success and a school's commitment to online programs. This boils down to admissions rate, student loan default rate, retention rate, graduation rate, and the percent of students enrolled in online classes. All data points are taken from information provided by colleges and universities to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Each factor is weighted evenly in order to give an objective view and determine the best online master's in management information systems programs. To calculate our rankings, we looked at a school's ranking when organized by a single factor, and then averaged each category's ranking to find an overall score: Admissions Rate (20%) + Default Rate (20%) + Retention Rate (20%) + Graduation Rate (20%) + Percent of Students Enrolled in Online Classes (20%) = Final score.
Education Trends in Michigan
The following table illustrates higher education cost and distribution in Michigan. Almost 10% of Michigan residents obtain an associate degree, and nearly 20% of residents hold a bachelor's degree. Michigan residents are highly educated and contribute greatly to the state's economy.
| Michigan | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Postsecondary Education Spending per Full-Time Student | $5,097 | $6,954 |
| Percent of Tax Revenue Allocated to Higher Education | 5.6% | 5.8% |
| Percentage of adults over 25 with associate degree | 8.9% | 8.1% |
| Percentage of adults over 25 with bachelor's degree | 16.5% | 18.5% |
| Percentage of adults over 25 with graduate degree or higher | 10.5% | 11.2% |
| Source: SHEEO and U.S. Census | ||
Paying for College in Michigan
Higher education can be costly, and several factors influence the cost of a program. In-state students typically pay cheaper tuition than out-of-state students, and private institutions are more expensive than public institutions. Faith-based institutions offer incentives and scholarships to students coming from faith-based schools. Regardless of the type of institution, financial aid is available to all students who qualify.
Tuition Prices
The following table highlights the median cost of attending a public institution and compares two-year and four-year tuition in Michigan to the national averages. These figures do not include books, transportation, rent, on-campus housing, or out-of-state tuition.
Financial Aid
Students in every state apply for loans, scholarships, and grants to finance their education. The Department of Education offers loans and grants to undergraduate and graduate students. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is used to determine aid eligibility based on income. Federal aid and scholarships are the most desirable forms of funding, but loans are available to make up the difference.
Cost for Online Programs in Michigan
Along with traditional tuition and expenses, federal aid applies to online program costs. Most online tuition costs the same as that for on-campus programs. Students pay for ebooks and other miscellaneous fees. Despite the cost of tuition, students pursuing online degrees save money on transportation, housing, and childcare. To be eligible for federal aid, students must complete the FAFSA before the deadline. Online colleges in Michigan send reminders, and academic advisors assist students in completing the FAFSA.
Cost of Living by Region
The cost of living in Michigan varies greatly. Cities are more expensive than suburban or rural communities. Cost of living, which includes covers housing, food, and transportation, is especially important for college students, considering the rising cost of education. Students should select an affordable and convenient area. Many students live on or near campus to lower transportation costs.
Scholarships for Michigan College Students
Can all Scholarships be Used for Online Programs?
Students use scholarships to finance both traditional and online colleges in Michigan. Scholarships cover any educational-related costs, including books, tuition, fees, housing, and transportation. If there are concerns regarding the usage of scholarship money, including its application toward an online program, contact the scholarship administrators.
Employment Outlook in Michigan
Detroit, Michigan, is the car capital of the United States. Michigan's positioning in the midwest, coupled with its close proximity to the Great Lakes, makes it a hotbed of economic opportunities. Many residents work in the automotive or advanced manufacturing industries, and online colleges in Michigan prepare students for long-term employment in these industries. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Michigan's unemployment rate is well below the national average; fewer than 4% of the state's residents are unemployed. Michigan's annual mean wage is on par with the national average.
| Michigan | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate, May 2017 | 3.9% | 4.3% |
| Annual Mean Wage, May 2016 | $47,350 | $49,630 |
| Source: BLS and BLS | ||
Top Employers and Industries in Michigan
Top Industries in Michigan
Automotive industry: Popular American car manufacturers Ford and General Motors are located in Michigan. In 2014, more than two million cars were produced in Detroit. Michigan is at the forefront of the automotive industry.
Advanced manufacturing: Michigan boasts nearly 50 equipment manufacturing assembly and component plants and more than 1,700 automotive manufacturing plants. Despite the recession, advanced manufacturing job opportunities increased 37% within the last eight years.
Food and agriculture: The food and agricultural industry provides jobs to residents in rural communities. Each year, Michigan exports more than two billion dollars worth of agricultural products internationally.
Top Employers in Michigan
Dow Chemical Co.: 88,000 employees
University of Michigan – Ann Arbor: 23,316 employees
GM Tech Center: 17,096 employees
Accreditation for Colleges in Michigan
Reputable degree programs will have regional or national accreditation. Accrediting agencies evaluate degree programs to ensure curricula meet academic standards. The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools provides regional accreditation to Michigan colleges and universities; all state universities and colleges are regionally accredited. The ED and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) validate regional accreditation agencies. Regional accreditation is highly respected, and credits from regionally accredited schools are easily transferable. Students receive grants, loans, and scholarships from the ED to fund education from regionally accredited institutions.
National accreditation is primarily reserved for vocational and distance-learning programs. Programs are evaluated every three to five years by CHEA-regulated agencies. Some online programs receive accreditation from industry-specific organizations, which cater to unique disciplines such as nursing or mechanical engineering. Reputable online schools in Michigan hold regional or national accreditation, which is crucial for transferring credits.
Resources for Students in Michigan
Michigan Finance Authority – Student Loan Programs: The Michigan Department of Treasury oversees the state's Federal Family Education Loan Program. The program ceased lending in 2010, but many Michigan residents still owe money to the program. The treasury department helps recipients make loan repayments, and request forbearances and deferments.
MI Student Aid – Paying for College: The Michigan Department of Treasury offers this resource as a financial literacy tool for incoming and current college students. The Paying for College resource includes information about account ownership and education funding. Special calculators estimate expected family contribution, savings, and borrowing.
Affording College in Michigan Guidebook: This 24-page ebook provides information regarding planning and applying for college. Students learn about standardized tests, degree types, and federal- and state-based financial aid programs, along with information for students attending online schools in Michigan.
Michigan Tuition Grant: The Michigan Tuition Grant administers financial assistance to Michigan residents in need. Funds may only be used at nonprofit colleges and universities, including nonprofit online schools in Michigan.
Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver: The Department of Civil Rights administers tuition waivers to Michigan residents with a certain amount of Native American ancestry. Applicants must have certified ancestry and must attend a public college or university in Michigan.