by our College Data Analytics TeamMichigan Technological University ranks #1 of 50 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best Associate’s Degree Colleges in Michigan ranking, which scores schools on more than 20 measures of academic quality and student outcomes. The top 25 colleges average a 58% six-year graduation rate and $59,096 in median earnings five years after graduation.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
With all of the college options in Michigan, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. Our ranking highlights **50** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual analyzed 50 colleges on more than 20 objective measures such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Michigan Technological University leads the 50 ranked colleges in Michigan, followed by Calvin College (#2) and Lawrence Technological University (#3). Explore the leading colleges below:
No school ranked higher than Michigan Technological University this year in Michigan. This public school is set in Houghton, MI. Michigan Technological University posts a six-year graduation rate of 68%. In-state tuition and fees average $20,532, while out-of-state students pay about $44,807. Graduates go on to earn a median of $64,652 early in their careers. The median student debt is $25,800.
Calvin College came in at #2 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Michigan. Calvin College is a private not-for-profit school based in Grand Rapids, MI. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,350. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,220 early in their careers. Calvin College students take on a median of $22,707 in debt.
Out of the 50 colleges in Michigan in this year's ranking, Lawrence Technological University landed the #3 spot. Based in Southfield, MI, Lawrence Technological University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,760. Early-career graduates earn a median of $74,924. Typical student debt is $27,799.
A rank of #4 makes Ferris State University one of the top colleges in Michigan. Located in Big Rapids, MI, Ferris State University is a public institution. Ferris State University graduates 56% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,778. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,608 early in their careers. The median student debt is $23,562.
You'll be in good company at Northwood University Michigan, which ranked #5 this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Midland, MI. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,400. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,791 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $25,344 in student loans.
Cleary University did well this year, earning the #6 position. Set in Howell, MI, Cleary University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 38% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $26,102 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $58,385 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $22,067 in student loans.
Lake Superior State University placed #7 among the best colleges in Michigan. Lake Superior State University is a public school based in Sault Ste Marie, MI. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,890. Early-career graduates earn a median of $47,910. Graduates carry a median of $22,429 in student loans.
Macomb Community College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Set in Warren, MI, Macomb Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Macomb Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $38,758. Graduates carry a median of $9,862 in student loans.
Concordia University Ann Arbor did well this year, earning the #9 position. Located in Ann Arbor, MI, Concordia University Ann Arbor is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,410. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,043 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,248 to complete a degree here.
Northern Michigan University came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Northern Michigan University is a public school based in Marquette, MI. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,322, with out-of-state students paying around $19,944. Northern Michigan University graduates report median early-career earnings of $40,508. Typical student debt is $22,608.
Grand Rapids Community College placed #11 among the best colleges in Michigan. Located in Grand Rapids, MI, Grand Rapids Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,179 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,219. Grand Rapids Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $41,689. The median student debt is $11,780.
Davenport University landed the #12 spot in Michigan this year. Set in Grand Rapids, MI, Davenport University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. In-state tuition and fees average $24,466. Davenport University graduates report median early-career earnings of $55,736. Graduates carry a median of $30,603 in student loans.
Adrian College came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Adrian College is a private not-for-profit school based in Adrian, MI. Adrian College posts a six-year graduation rate of 45%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,684. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,444 early in their careers. The median student debt is $28,071.
Cornerstone University came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Based in Grand Rapids, MI, Cornerstone University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,000. Early-career graduates earn a median of $44,501. Typical student debt is $29,243.
Delta College placed #15 among the best colleges in Michigan. This public school is set in University Center, MI. In-state tuition and fees average $4,820, compared with $7,880 for out-of-state students. Delta College graduates report median early-career earnings of $37,342. The median student debt is $14,075.
Northwestern Michigan College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Located in Traverse City, MI, Northwestern Michigan College is a public institution. Northwestern Michigan College graduates 53% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $5,860 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $13,476. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,210. Typical student debt is $17,694.
Monroe County Community College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Based in Monroe, MI, Monroe County Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,759 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,267. Median early-career earnings reach $47,729. Monroe County Community College students take on a median of $16,031 in debt.
Oakland Community College placed #18 among the best colleges in Michigan. Set in Auburn Hills, MI, Oakland Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,120, compared with $5,560 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $43,205. Oakland Community College students take on a median of $15,865 in debt.
Washtenaw Community College placed #19 among the best colleges in Michigan. Based in Ann Arbor, MI, Washtenaw Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,736, compared with $6,504 for out-of-state students. Washtenaw Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,332. Typical student debt is $17,616.
Rochester College came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Rochester College is a private not-for-profit school based in Rochester Hills, MI. About 43% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $29,196. Early-career graduates earn a median of $45,617. Graduates carry a median of $29,137 in student loans.
Schoolcraft College came in at #21 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Livonia, MI. Students from in state pay about $3,799 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,501. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $46,283. Students borrow a median of $15,677 to complete a degree here.
Muskegon Community College placed #22 among the best colleges in Michigan. Set in Muskegon, MI, Muskegon Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,250, while out-of-state students pay about $16,010. Median early-career earnings reach $48,267. Typical student debt is $14,928.
Alpena Community College landed the #23 spot in Michigan this year. This public school is set in Alpena, MI. Alpena Community College posts a six-year graduation rate of 100%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,840, with out-of-state students paying around $8,220. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $45,132. Typical student debt is $10,000.
St Clair County Community College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Based in Port Huron, MI, St Clair County Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,212 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,150. Median early-career earnings reach $45,735. The median student debt is $16,379.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Based in Kalamazoo, MI, Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,144, compared with $9,094 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,198 early in their careers. Kalamazoo Valley Community College students take on a median of $15,525 in debt.
These 25 colleges rank #26 through #50 of 50 in Michigan. These colleges also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Colleges are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.