by our College Data Analytics Team
Looking for the best colleges for the money in Michigan? We have ranked 56 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. This is our No Aid ranking, which weighs each school’s published sticker price (tuition, fees, and room and board) before financial aid — see Customize Your Rankings below for aid-adjusted and by-degree views.
To help you make your decision, College Factual analyzed 56 schools to build this 2026 best-value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
See What’s Included in This Value Report:
We analyzed 56 schools in Michigan to surface the strongest return on investment. Our ranking is based on objective factors.
To determine a school’s value, we first add up average tuition, fees, and room and board — the list price before aid is applied (our No Aid ranking). Cost alone isn’t enough — overall quality matters too. We then balance cost against student outcomes — completion, resources, and earnings after graduation.
The result is a ranking of schools that give you the most for your money. View our full ranking methodology.
Not every student is looking for the same thing. Narrow your list by location and field of study, or explore related rankings below. Start by picking a degree level:
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Our analysis ranked Alpena Community College the best college for the money in Michigan. This public school is set in Alpena, MI. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,840, compared with $8,220 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt is $10,000. Alpena Community College alumni report median earnings of $36,442 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Washtenaw Community College earned it the #2 place in Michigan. Located in Ann Arbor, MI, Washtenaw Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,736, compared with $6,504 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,616 to complete their program here. Median earnings reach $39,449 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
You'll get strong value at Lansing Community College, which ranked #3 this year. Based in Lansing, MI, Lansing Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,100, while out-of-state students pay about $11,300. The median program debt is $16,700. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,206 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Henry Ford Community College earned it the #4 place in Michigan. Set in Dearborn, MI, Henry Ford Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,568, while out-of-state students pay about $7,816. The median program debt is $18,876. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $34,795. Set against $18,876 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Kalamazoo Valley Community College earned it the #5 place in Michigan. This public school is set in Kalamazoo, MI. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,144, compared with $9,094 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt is $15,525. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,618 ten years after entry. Set against $15,525 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Delta College placed #6 among the best values in Michigan. Located in University Center, MI, Delta College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,820, while out-of-state students pay about $7,880. Students borrow a median of $14,075 to complete their program here. Delta College alumni report median earnings of $37,781 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Oakland Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for the money. Located in Auburn Hills, MI, Oakland Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,120, compared with $5,560 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,865 to complete their program here. Median earnings reach $37,395 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Macomb Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for the money. Macomb Community College is a public school based in Warren, MI. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. The median program debt is $9,862. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,596 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
West Shore Community College came in at #9 in this year's value ranking. This public school is set in Scottville, MI. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,470, with out-of-state students paying around $8,820. Graduates carry a median of $17,399 in student loans. Median earnings reach $36,115 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $17,399 median debt.
Muskegon Community College landed the #10 spot for value in Michigan this year. Set in Muskegon, MI, Muskegon Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,250, while out-of-state students pay about $16,010. The median program debt is $14,928. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $36,549. That is a strong return on a $14,928 median debt.
Montcalm Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for the money. This public school is set in Sidney, MI. Students from in state pay about $3,936 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,104 for out-of-state students. Montcalm Community College students take on a median of $15,767 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $35,499. That is a strong return on a $15,767 median debt.
Monroe County Community College placed #12 among the best values in Michigan. Monroe County Community College is a public school based in Monroe, MI. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,759, while out-of-state students pay about $8,267. The median program debt is $16,031. Monroe County Community College alumni report median earnings of $41,646 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $16,031 median debt.
Schoolcraft College landed the #13 spot for value in Michigan this year. Based in Livonia, MI, Schoolcraft College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,799, compared with $6,501 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $15,677 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,722 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gogebic Community College came in at #14 in this year's value ranking. This public school is set in Ironwood, MI. In-state tuition and fees average $4,800, with out-of-state students paying around $7,530. Gogebic Community College students take on a median of $15,250 in debt. Gogebic Community College alumni report median earnings of $40,950 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $15,250 median debt.
Kellogg Community College placed #15 among the best values in Michigan. Located in Battle Creek, MI, Kellogg Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,118, with out-of-state students paying around $8,282. The median program debt is $20,432. Median earnings reach $38,329 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northwestern Michigan College landed the #16 spot for value in Michigan this year. Located in Traverse City, MI, Northwestern Michigan College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,860, with out-of-state students paying around $13,476. Graduates carry a median of $17,694 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,167. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bay Mills Community College came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. Based in Brimley, MI, Bay Mills Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,480. Graduates go on to earn a median of $30,048 ten years after entry.
University Of Michigan Dearborn landed the #18 spot for value in Michigan this year. Located in Dearborn, MI, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,640, with out-of-state students paying around $32,896. Students borrow a median of $26,516 to complete their program here. University Of Michigan Dearborn alumni report median earnings of $59,649 a decade after entry. Set against $26,516 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Michigan Dearborn admits about 56% of applicants.
North Central Michigan College placed #19 among the best values in Michigan. This public school is set in Petoskey, MI. Students from in state pay about $5,430 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,590 for out-of-state students. North Central Michigan College students take on a median of $12,398 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $36,594 ten years after entry. Set against $12,398 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Sacred Heart Major Seminary ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for the money. Based in Detroit, MI, Sacred Heart Major Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $24,140. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $49,295. Sacred Heart Major Seminary admits about 100% of applicants.
Jackson Community College placed #21 among the best values in Michigan. This public school is set in Jackson, MI. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,350, while out-of-state students pay about $10,200. Typical student debt is $16,960. Median earnings reach $36,898 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $16,960 median debt.
St Clair County Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. This public school is set in Port Huron, MI. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,212, with out-of-state students paying around $12,150. The median program debt is $16,379. Median earnings reach $40,177 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $16,379 median debt.
Ferris State University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for the money. Based in Big Rapids, MI, Ferris State University is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,778. Students borrow a median of $23,562 to complete their program here. Ferris State University alumni report median earnings of $54,735 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $23,562 median debt. Ferris State University has an acceptance rate of 91%.
Mott Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #24 position. Located in Flint, MI, Mott Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,845, while out-of-state students pay about $11,460. Students borrow a median of $20,645 to complete their program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $32,538 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southwestern Michigan College offered strong value this year, earning the #25 position. Located in Dowagiac, MI, Southwestern Michigan College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,417, with out-of-state students paying around $8,394. Southwestern Michigan College students take on a median of $16,575 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $37,303. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
These schools also landed near the top of this year’s value ranking:
*Averages shown above reflect the top 56 ranked schools only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Rankings consider the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Best Colleges For Money · Scope: State · 56 schools evaluated. References
More about our data sources and methodologies.