It's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Top Michigan Colleges for an Associate ranking - to help you make that decision.
After analyzing 37 schools in Michigan, we came up with our list of those that offered the best associate degree programs. Our ranking methodology focuses on different objective factors to make this determination of the best schools. In the next few paragraphs, we'll talk a little about what we use in our analysis and why.
Higher Than Average Earnings
The average early-career salary of those graduating with a associate degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. A associate degree holder from a school in Michigan makes an average starting salary of $36,608, but the students who attended schools in the top 21 of our list make an average of $36,751.
Starting Salary ( 33582 to 39509 )
Taking Out Student Loans
Another factor that we look at to determine a school's ranking is the average debt load that students take on while they are working on their associate degree.
During their time at college, associate degree seekers from schools in Michigan take out an average of $18,344.
The average debt load at a particular school may not be bad, but it's an important thing to consider in conjunction with post-graduation earnings.
More Ranking Factors That Are Important
Our Best Associate Degree Schools considers other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt.
On a broad level, other factors that go into our rankings include such things as the demand of the school, the student body caliber, if the school has online options, and the educational resources provided by the school.
You may also want to narrow this list by location to find the best associate degree schools nearest you. Also, check out our other college rankings to help you with your college decision.
Our 2024 rankings named Macomb Community College the best school in Michigan in terms of overall quality for students working on their associate degree. Macomb Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Warren, Michigan. It awarded 2,260 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Macomb Community College make an average of $36,546 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $9,334 after getting their degree.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ferris State University. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan list. Ferris is located in Big Rapids, Michigan and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 732 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Ferris is $32,804 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $19,903. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $194.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Jackson College. The school came in at #3 in Michigan on this year’s best associate degree schools ranking. Located in Jackson, Michigan, the small public school handed out 510 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $39,282 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $16,443.
The excellent associate degree programs at Lake Superior State University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Michigan. Located in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan, the small public school handed out 148 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Associate students leave the school with an average of $14,750 in student loans.
The excellent associate degree programs at Davenport University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Michigan. Located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 142 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $32,306 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $28,233 in student loans.
Washtenaw Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan ranking. Washtenaw Community College is a public institution located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,322 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Washtenaw Community College go into careers with an average salary of $36,378 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $18,878 in student loans.
Grand Rapids Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan ranking, coming in at #7. Grand Rapids, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 1,398 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Grand Rapids Community College go into careers with an average salary of $36,334 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $15,569 after getting their degree.
Siena Heights University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan list. Siena Heights University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Adrian, Michigan that handed out 4 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #9, Oakland Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan list. Auburn Hills, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 1,826 students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from Oakland Community College make an average of $38,470 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $17,474 in student loans.
Northern Michigan University did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan ranking, coming in at #10. Northern Michigan University is located in Marquette, Michigan and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 225 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Graduates with a associate degree from Northern Michigan University make an average of $32,577 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $18,087.
Lansing Community College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan list. LCC is a public institution located in Lansing, Michigan. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,203 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from LCC make an average of $40,641 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $17,878 after getting their degree.
With a ranking of #12, Delta College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan list. Delta College is a medium-sized public school located in University Center, Michigan that handed out 942 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Delta College is $39,834 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $13,941 after getting their degree.
Baker College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan ranking, coming in at #13. Located in Owosso, Michigan, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 566 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $35,549 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $22,122. This translates to an average monthly payment of $91 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Wayne County Community College District landed the #14 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan ranking. Located in Detroit, Michigan, the fairly large public school awarded 747 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from WCCCD is $36,660 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $19,305 after getting their degree.
Schoolcraft College landed the #15 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan ranking. Schoolcraft College is located in Livonia, Michigan and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,082 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Those who receive a associate degree from Schoolcraft College go into careers with an average salary of $32,936 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $15,066 after getting their degree.
Henry Ford College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan ranking. Located in Dearborn, Michigan, the fairly large public school awarded 1,266 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Henry Ford College is $38,713 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $20,554.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan list. Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It awarded 812 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Kalamazoo Valley Community College is $35,529 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $14,935 in student loans.
Mott Community College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan list. Mott Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Flint, Michigan that handed out 1,105 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from MCC make an average of $36,931 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $21,407.
Northwestern Michigan College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan ranking. NMC is a small public school situated in Traverse City, Michigan. It awarded 614 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from NMC make an average of $35,279 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $15,045 in student loans.
With a ranking of #20, Cornerstone University did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan list. Located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 33 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $27,375 after getting their degree.
Spring Arbor University landed the #21 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan ranking. Located in Spring Arbor, Michigan, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 2 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #22, Lake Michigan College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan list. This small public school is located in Benton Harbor, Michigan, and it awarded 350 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from LMC make an average of $42,328 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $17,246.
Muskegon Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan ranking, coming in at #23. This small public school is located in Muskegon, Michigan, and it awarded 476 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Muskegon Community College is $41,875 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $19,005 after getting their degree.
Kellogg Community College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan ranking. Kellogg Community College is a public institution located in Battle Creek, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 556 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Kellogg Community College is $36,819 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $15,521 after getting their degree.
Southwestern Michigan College landed the #25 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan ranking. Located in Dowagiac, Michigan, the small public school awarded 255 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from SMC go into careers with an average salary of $33,987 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $14,665 after getting their degree.
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).
Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
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