Best Online Colleges in Michigan
Known for its diverse economy and top-ranked public universities, Michigan lags slightly behind the national average in the percentage of adults with a college degree. A bachelor’s degree can help professionals stand out in Michigan’s job market.
Many of Michigan’s online colleges offer tuition discounts, access to hybrid programs, and other student resources.
Our list of the best online colleges in Michigan evaluates schools based on academic quality, affordability, reputation, program offerings, and student enrollment percentage.
Top Online Colleges in Michigan for 2025
Baker College
- Owosso, MI
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Why We Chose This Superlative: Lowest Tuition Cost for All Online Students
Baker College offers the lowest tuition on this list. The school's tuition rate of $450 per credit applies to on-campus and online students regardless of location. Baker offers 41 online bachelor's and master's degrees, including topical majors like game software development and artificial intelligence.
Why Students Choose Baker:
- BeFree Tuition Guarantee: If you meet certain requirements, you can qualify for the BeFree Tuition Guarantee, which covers tuition costs for up to five years.
- Personalized Experience: You can combine course formats, asynchronous or synchronous, to fit your schedule and learning style.
Know Before You Enroll:
- Baker offers a variety of scholarships, including scholarships for adult learners, transfer students, and first-generation students.
- You can transfer up to 90 credits toward a bachelor’s degree to finish faster.
75%
$12,460
66%
$12,460
- Acceptance Rate
- 82%
- Students Enrolled
- 3,955
- Institution Type
- Private
Central Michigan University
- Mount Pleasant, MI
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Why We Chose This Superlative: Dedicated Tuition Discounts and Support for Military All Members
CMU offers tuition discounts, financial aid, and comprehensive support services for military-affiliated students and their families. Enroll in CMU's online programs — such as business communication, international relations, and organizational leadership — at half the standard tuition rate ($250 per credit hour for active duty, reservists, and National Guard members, as well as military spouses and dependents).
Why Students Choose CMU:
- Military Savings: Access discounted tuition rates and need-based awards as active-duty military, reservists, National Guard members, spouses, and qualified dependents.
- Veterans' Resource Center: Get personalized support, including help with educational benefits, academic advising, tutoring, counseling, and resources for transitioning to college life.
- Tuition Advantage: Qualify for free tuition at CMU if your family income and assets are under $65,000.
Know Before You Enroll:
- If you use Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits, you may be responsible for any tuition and fees the VA doesn't cover.
- CMU meets all demonstrated financial needs, and about 91% of full-time undergraduates receive financial aid.
56%
$13,248
75%
$13,248
- Acceptance Rate
- 90%
- Students Enrolled
- 14,515
- Institution Type
- Public
Davenport University
- Grand Rapids, MI
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Why We Chose This Superlative: Largest Selection of Online Degree Programs
DU offers over 90 online degrees and certificates, making it one of the more expansive online program selections on this list. Davenport offers areas of study in arts and sciences, business, health, technology, and urban education, giving you many options to match your career goals.
Why Students Choose DU:
- Extensive Undergrad and Grad Offerings: Choose from over eight online associate degrees, 30 online bachelor's degrees, and 25 online master's degrees.
- Learning Options: Study fully online wherever you want or mix online and in-person classes.
- Student Support: Get help with advising, tutoring, career planning, and mental health with DU's "complete campus experience."
Know Before You Enroll:
- Non-Michigan residents at DU pay a reduced online tuition rate but are not eligible for other DU scholarships or discounts.
- DU offers free applications, helping you save on application fees.
81%
$22,272
74%
$22,272
- Acceptance Rate
- 97%
- Students Enrolled
- 4,848
- Institution Type
- Private
University of Michigan-Flint
- Flint, MI
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Why We Chose This Superlative: Variety of Online Degree-Completion Program Offerings
UM-Flint’s online degree completion programs help you finish your bachelor’s faster and more affordably. With prior college credit or an associate degree, you can choose from pathways like nursing, applied science, respiratory therapy, and data analytics. Multiple start dates throughout the year make it easy to get started.
Why Students Choose UM-Flint:
- Accelerated Option: Finish faster with accelerated degree completion programs in business administration, interdisciplinary studies, health care management, and psychology.
- Equitable Access: Out-of-state students in eligible online programs at UM-Flint pay just 10% more than in-state tuition.
- Flexible Grad Programs: Choose from 20 online master's degree programs, including accounting, health services administration, and software engineering.
Know Before You Enroll:
- UM-Flint automatically considers eligible in-state students from lower-income households for the Go Blue Guarantee, which provides free tuition based on academic achievement.
- UM-Flint's admissions are moderately selective, with 69% of applicants admitted in the fall of 2023, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
74%
$14,208
78%
$27,744
- Acceptance Rate
- 70%
- Students Enrolled
- 6,529
- Institution Type
- Public
Western Michigan University
- Kalamazoo, MI
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Why We Chose This Superlative: Best Online College for Job Placement
Western Michigan University prepares you for success, with 94% of 2024 graduates employed or in grad school. With top employers like Stryker and FOX Sports, WMU grads can thrive no matter what industry they work in. WMU offers flexible online programs for working adults, with options in high-demand fields such as cybersecurity, finance, and chemistry.
Why Students Choose WMU
- Job Satisfaction: 92% of WMU grads from the class of 2024 landed jobs in their field and were happy with where they ended up.
- Student Diversity: 34% of WMU students identify as historically underrepresented or international, reflecting the university’s diverse student population.
Know Before You Enroll:
- Nearly every WMU student receives some form of financial aid.
- WMU guarantees admission to students who meet specific academic criteria, including a 3.0 GPA and a consistent or improving grade trend.
59%
$15,814
81%
$19,768
- Acceptance Rate
- 85%
- Students Enrolled
- 17,605
- Institution Type
- Public
Price Check
Michigan Reconnect tuition for residents attending in-district community colleges and recently expanded to include students ages 21-24. Students can save even more on their education by using their Michigan Reconnect benefits before transferring to one of the schools above to finish their bachelor’s degrees.
10 Fast-Growing Careers in Michigan
Like other states across the country, many of Michigan’s fastest-growing careers fall under the healthcare and data umbrellas. Growth in the healthcare sector results from a growing and aging population that needs more medical services and healthcare providers. In the data field, the growth stems from an increasing reliance on statistical analysis to solve organizational problems and inform decisions.
The following chart highlights the careers with the highest growth projection rates.
| Job | Projected Growth (2022-2032) | Annual Mean Wage in Michigan (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse Practitioners | 41.2% | $127,200 |
| Statisticians | 30.4% | $104,340 |
| Epidemiologists | 25% | $80,580 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers | 12.9% | $66,690 |
| Physician Assistants | 26.1% | $129,290 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 26.8% | $125,430 |
| Logisticians | 16.7% | $85,950 |
| Data Scientists | 34.8% | $102,030 |
| Information Security Analysts | 25.6% | $107,630 |
| Athletic Trainer | 13.5% | $60,900 |
Majors to Consider to Prepare for Michigan’s Job Market
Break into Michigan’s job market strategically by choosing a major that fills a state need. Here are some choices that will prepare you to pursue one of Michigan’s most in-demand careers.
Nursing
Michigan has an aging population and nursing workforce, creating a major demand for new nurses. A nursing degree can qualify you for registered nursing licensure and lay the groundwork for a nurse practitioner license and career. With experience, you might even gain access to a medical and health services management position in a nursing department.Business Administration
Business administration programs can equip you with widely applicable problem-solving and decision-making skills. In Michigan, majoring in business could lead you to several fast-growing careers, such as medical and health services management, logistics, data science, and information security analysis.Mathematics
Majoring in mathematics gives you the foundation required for many data-driven career paths, including statistics, data science, and logistics. Medical and health services managers can come from mathematics backgrounds as data-driven decision-making becomes critical in many industries, including healthcare.Computer Science
Nearly 90% of Michigan’s jobs require digital skills, and a computer science major provides a strong foundation in this area. The versatile discipline can prepare you for careers in information security analysis, computer numerically controlled tool programming, and data science. Depending on how you fill out your education, you could even pursue statistician or logistician careers.
What Is the Cost of College in Michigan?
The cost of college in Michigan varies widely by institution type. Tuition is higher for both in-state and out-of-state students at public and private four-year schools than the national averages. However, online students can save money or reduce the burden of their investment by pursuing scholarships, grants, and student loans, as well as saving on travel costs by attending classes from home.
| Institution Type | Average Tuition and Required Fees in MI | Average Tuition and Required Fees in the U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Public Four-Year (In-State) | $14,718 | $9,750 |
| Public Four-Year (Out-of-State) | $41,324 | $28,297 |
| Private Four-Year | $33,385 | $35,248 |
Scholarships and Cost Savings for Online Colleges in Michigan
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Michigan has some of the highest tuition costs in the country. However, you might find savings through online learning, tuition reciprocity benefits, and scholarships. Along with the state scholarships detailed below, you can seek national scholarships.
Fostering Futures Scholarship
This scholarship is available to Michigan residents who lived in foster care at 13 years of age or older. Eligible applicants must attend participating schools with at least half-time status and demonstrate financial need. The scholarship awards up to $3,000 for the year, and the priority deadline is Aug. 1, 2024.
FlMI Future Educator Fellowship
This scholarship is available to Michigan residents who are full-time education students working toward initial teacher certification. An applicant must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and have reached the junior grade level to qualify. The scholarship awards up to $10,000, and the application deadline is July 15, 2024.
Michigan Achievement Scholarship
This scholarship is available to recent Michigan high school graduates who demonstrate financial need and attend eligible schools on a full-time basis. The renewable scholarship awards up to $5,500 per year at Michigan public schools, and candidates automatically apply by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
Michigan Tuition Grant
This award is available to Michigan residents with at least half-time enrollment status at state schools. Eligible applicants must also demonstrate financial need and not be in pursuit of a religious education. The grant awards up to $3,000 per year, and applicants must file FAFSA forms by July 1, 2024, for consideration.
Tuition Reciprocity Benefits for Out-of-State Students in Michigan
If you hope to study in Michigan from out of state, a tuition reciprocity agreement like the Midwest Student Exchange Program (MSEP) can help you save on the pricey out-of-state tuition rates.
Under the MSEP, public schools agree to increase the in-state tuition rates to no more than 50% for out-of-state students from other member states. Participating private schools with the appropriate accreditation status agree to decrease tuition rates by 10%.
Frequently Asked Questions About Online College in Michigan
You do not need to live in Michigan to attend most online colleges in Michigan. However, many Michigan online colleges offer discounted tuition rates to in-state residents. Some local and community colleges require local residency. Check with your school if you doubt you’ll be able to attend, but in most cases, non-residents can attend an online college in Michigan.
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