2027 Best Liberal Arts Schools in Michigan
Liberal Arts degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their liberal arts programs.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 28 schools to find the best for liberal arts students.
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Best Schools for Liberal Arts in Michigan
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the liberal arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Liberal Arts
No school ranked higher than Calvin College this year for liberal arts. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Grand Rapids. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. Calvin College awarded about 41 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Calvin College earn around $44,220 in the first couple years of their career. Calvin College graduates carry a median of $22,707 in student loans.
Get the full liberal arts details for Calvin College
Students looking for a strong liberal arts program will find one at Macomb Community College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a very large public institution. About 535 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Macomb Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $29,791 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,250.
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Grand Valley State University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Allendale. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 99 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Grand Valley State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Grand Valley State University earn around $35,767 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete this degree.
See the full liberal arts program report for Grand Valley State University
Grand Rapids Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. This large public university is located in the city of Grand Rapids. About 630 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Grand Rapids Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $33,777 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,644.
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Concordia University Ann Arbor is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, Concordia University Ann Arbor is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. There were roughly 17 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Concordia University Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Concordia University Ann Arbor earn a median of $54,043 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,248 to complete this degree.
See the full liberal arts program report for Concordia University Ann Arbor
Delta College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. Delta College is a large public school located in the rural area of University Center. There were roughly 257 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Delta College in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Delta College earn a median of $28,721 early in their careers. Delta College graduates carry a median of $10,750 in student loans.
See the full liberal arts program report for Delta College
Muskegon Community College earned the #7 position for liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Muskegon, Muskegon Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 188 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Muskegon Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Muskegon Community College generally make around $27,362. Students borrow a median of $6,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the liberal arts program at Muskegon Community College
Oakland Community College came in at #8 for liberal arts this year. Set in the suburb of Auburn Hills, Oakland Community College is a very large public institution. Oakland Community College awarded about 367 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Oakland Community College earn around $37,347 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,843 to complete this degree.
Read more about the liberal arts program at Oakland Community College
Monroe County Community College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. Set in the rural area of Monroe, Monroe County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Monroe County Community College awarded about 122 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Monroe County Community College earn a median of $30,539 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,488 to complete this degree.
See the full liberal arts program report for Monroe County Community College
Kalamazoo Valley Community College landed the #10 spot for liberal arts this year. Located in the suburb of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Kalamazoo Valley Community College awarded about 299 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Kalamazoo Valley Community College earn around $33,055 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,665.
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Rochester College earned the #11 position for liberal arts this year. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Rochester College is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 43%. Rochester College awarded about 18 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Rochester College generally make around $45,617. Typical student debt for the program is $29,137.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Rochester College
Northwestern Michigan College came in at #12 for liberal arts this year. Northwestern Michigan College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Traverse City. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. There were roughly 191 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern Michigan College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Northwestern Michigan College generally make around $28,706. Students borrow a median of $11,422 to complete this degree.
See the full liberal arts program report for Northwestern Michigan College
Washtenaw Community College landed the #13 spot for liberal arts this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Ann Arbor. Washtenaw Community College awarded about 257 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Washtenaw Community College earn around $27,643 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,511.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Washtenaw Community College
Henry Ford Community College earned the #14 position for liberal arts this year. This large public university is located in the city of Dearborn. There were roughly 332 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Henry Ford Community College in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Henry Ford Community College earn a median of $39,727 early in their careers. Henry Ford Community College graduates carry a median of $20,759 in student loans.
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Lansing Community College placed #15 among the best liberal arts schools. Located in the city of Lansing, Lansing Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 371 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Lansing Community College in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Lansing Community College earn a median of $27,926 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,264.
Read more about the liberal arts program at Lansing Community College
St Clair County Community College placed #16 among the best liberal arts schools. Located in the suburb of Port Huron, St Clair County Community College is a mid-sized public university. About 306 liberal arts degrees were awarded at St Clair County Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from St Clair County Community College earn around $30,002 in the first couple years of their career. St Clair County Community College graduates carry a median of $12,197 in student loans.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from St Clair County Community College
Mott Community College earned the #17 position for liberal arts this year. Mott Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Flint. Mott Community College awarded about 173 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Mott Community College generally make around $29,958. Students borrow a median of $16,668 to complete this degree.
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Jackson Community College placed #18 among the best liberal arts schools. Located in the rural area of Jackson, Jackson Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 33% of students finish within six years. Jackson Community College awarded about 163 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Jackson Community College earn around $26,696 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,750.
Read more about the liberal arts program at Jackson Community College
University Of Michigan Dearborn came in at #19 for liberal arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Dearborn. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 19 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Dearborn in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of University Of Michigan Dearborn earn a median of $37,742 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $32,609 to complete this degree.
See the full liberal arts program report for University Of Michigan Dearborn
Wayne County Community College District landed the #20 spot for liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne County Community College District is a large public institution. Wayne County Community College District awarded about 918 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Wayne County Community College District earn around $30,703 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,154.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Wayne County Community College District
North Central Michigan College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. Set in the town of Petoskey, North Central Michigan College is a mid-sized public institution. North Central Michigan College awarded about 78 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $20,834 in their early career. North Central Michigan College graduates carry a median of $10,312 in student loans.
Read more about the liberal arts program at North Central Michigan College
West Shore Community College earned the #22 position for liberal arts this year. West Shore Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Scottville. There were roughly 72 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at West Shore Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from West Shore Community College earn around $25,852 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,387 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from West Shore Community College
Kellogg Community College ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. Set in the city of Battle Creek, Kellogg Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Kellogg Community College awarded about 72 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Kellogg Community College earn around $32,616 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,057 to complete this degree.
See the full liberal arts program report for Kellogg Community College
Montcalm Community College placed #24 among the best liberal arts schools. Set in the rural area of Sidney, Montcalm Community College is a mid-sized public institution. About 134 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Montcalm Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Montcalm Community College generally make around $28,150. Students borrow a median of $13,405 to complete this degree.
Read more about the liberal arts program at Montcalm Community College
Bay De Noc Community College placed #25 among the best liberal arts schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Escanaba. Bay De Noc Community College awarded about 71 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Bay De Noc Community College earn around $20,720 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
See the full liberal arts program report for Bay De Noc Community College
Rest of the Top 28 Liberal Arts Schools
These schools also placed among the best for liberal arts this year:
More Liberal Arts Rankings
View All Liberal Arts Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 28 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
