Best Colleges in Michigan

In addition to programs available at four campus locations, Madonna University offers fully online undergraduate and graduate degrees in areas such as criminal justice leadership and intelligence, higher education administration, and public health. Many online programs at the university allow students to advance through their coursework at their own pace, giving them the chance to graduate faster or fit their studies around personal or professional responsibilities.

On-campus programs prepare graduates for careers in business, social work, and nursing. MU was also the first university in the nation to offer a fully immersive bachelor's degree in sign language interpretation.

To apply as an undergraduate student, you must have a high school diploma or GED certificate and take either the ACT or SAT. MU prefers students with at least a 2.75 high school GPA and looks for applicants with a minimum ACT composite score of 20 or an SAT score of 1000 or above.

Hope College is a private Christian liberal arts school located in Holland that accepts students of all faiths. Formal programs of study at Hope include biochemistry and molecular biology, kinesiology, peace and justice, and theater. More than 90% of students supplement their classroom instruction with an internship or other hands-on learning experience.

The university provides robust support services to help learners prosper academically. Through the college's academic success center, students can access tutoring and academic coaching, participate in group-study opportunities, and join peer learning partnerships. A writing center provides personalized guidance on essays and papers, while the library's research staff offer assistance on finding, using, and citing scholarly sources.

Applicants must submit the Common Application, high school transcripts, and official ACT or SAT scores. Homeschooled students must also submit a letter of recommendation from an adult outside of their family who can speak to their academic achievement.

Kalamazoo College is a highly selective college. Admitted students hold an average high school GPA of 3.9, and more than 90% took at least one college-level class -- such as an Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate course -- during high school. The college holds faculty to similarly high standards, with more than 96% holding a Ph.D. or terminal degree in their field.

Students at Kalamazoo explore subjects such as art history, critical ethnic studies, economics, and Spanish language and literature. All learners follow the K-Plan, which incorporates a rigorous but flexible curriculum, hands-on learning experiences, study abroad or intercultural experiences, and a senior project that requires students to conduct original research or develop a unique piece of creative work.

Although admission requires a high school diploma or GED certificate, Kalamazoo is a test-optional institution, meaning students can choose whether to report results from the ACT or SAT. Entrance exam scores may be required to qualify for certain scholarship opportunities.

The University of Michigan-Flint offers undergraduate and graduate programs to match nearly every academic interest and career path. Students can earn bachelor's degrees in fields such as early childhood studies, music performance, and radiation therapy. The university also features master's and doctoral degrees in areas such as anesthesia and public administration. Additionally, UM-Flint hosts more than 100 online courses and over two dozen fully online programs.

An honors program serves undergraduate learners with exceptional academic potential. Alongside their interdisciplinary coursework, honors students participate in conferences and colloquia, join an off-campus research program for one semester, and complete a thesis or creative project during their senior year.

Standard undergraduate admission requires a high school diploma with a GPA of at least 2.7. Honors program applicants should have a high school GPA of 3.7 or higher and score at least 27 on the ACT (or 1260 on the SAT).

Situated in the heart of Detroit, Wayne State University is one of the most diverse universities in Michigan. Roughly 35% of undergraduates self-identify as students of color, while international learners hail from more than 75 countries around the globe.

Along with technical and graduate certificates, the university offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in disciplines like alternative energy technologies, data science and business analytics, employment and labor relations, and mortuary science. In addition, nine fully online programs give students the flexibility to earn their degree on their own terms.

Undergraduate applicants must have a high school diploma or GED certificate and take the ACT or SAT. Admissions officers conduct a holistic assessment of each candidate's qualifications, but the average admitted student has a high school GPA of 3.37 and a composite ACT score of 24.

WSU administers a variety of scholarship programs. The Discover Detroit Scholarship provides the equivalent of in-state tuition to nonresidents with at least a 3.5 high school GPA, while the Detroit Leadership Award provides up to $5,000 per year to students from Michigan who demonstrate a commitment to public service.

Students at Lawrence Technological University develop engineering skills and an entrepreneurial mindset. Through more than 100 academic programs in fields like aeronautical engineering, industrial design, and technical communication, the university encourages values like curiosity, collaboration, and the creation of value for others.

Since 2006, LTU has offered fully online master's degrees in fields such as business administration, construction engineering management, and information technology. All distance education programs at the university hold accreditation and align with best practices formulated by some of the nation's leading online learning professional organizations.

Undergraduate applicants must submit official copies of their high school transcripts, scores from either the ACT or SAT, and an essay outlining their educational background and academic goals.

All admitted students receive automatic consideration for a host of financial aid awards. The prestigious Donley Scholarship serves students with records of exceptional academic achievement and covers the full cost of tuition, fees, and room and board for four years of undergraduate study.

Central Michigan University reaches more than 8,000 students each year through online education and outreach programs at 30 locations across North America. Additionally, roughly 20% of students at the university's main campus in Mount Pleasant supplement their classroom learning with at least one online class.

CMU offers more than 300 undergraduate and graduate programs in areas of study such as child development, integrative public relations, mechanical engineering technology, and real estate development and finance. The university launched the first undergraduate neuroscience program in Michigan and today offers the state's only bachelor's degrees in meteorology and recreation and event management.

Students at CMU receive more than $300 million annually in financial aid. Undergraduate applicants must have a high school diploma or GED certificate and take either the ACT or SAT.

Founded in 1849 as a local teachers college, Eastern Michigan University now offers more than 200 undergraduate programs and 150 graduate programs in fields such as accounting information systems, health administration, experimental psychology, and urban and regional planning. The school also delivers more than a dozen high-quality and fully online programs to meet the needs of students with full-time jobs or family responsibilities.

EMU provides customized support programs to serve learners with unique needs, such as a mentorship program for those who lived in foster care. Additionally, the Brotherhood and Sisterhood Scholars programs provide both financial aid and academic assistance to students of color.

Undergraduate admission to EMU requires a high school diploma or GED certificate and results from the ACT or SAT. While the university does not set minimum requirements for admission, incoming learners have, on average, a high school GPA of 3.28, an ACT score of 22, and an SAT score of 1100.

Spring Arbor University offers a Christ-centered liberal arts education. Students can pursue associate, bachelor's, and master's programs in subjects such as advertising and public relations, children's ministry, health and exercise science, and political economy. In addition, online graduate programs provide flexible and advanced training in areas such as nursing, social work, and special education.

All undergraduate students at SAU participate in a series of core experiences. Freshmen travel to a camp in northern Michigan for an orientation weekend, while juniors embark on a three-week study abroad trip. A capstone seminar during senior year gives students the opportunity to reflect on their learning and consider next steps in their careers and lives.

Undergraduate applicants must submit high school transcripts or GED test scores. SAU also requires all applicants to take the ACT or SAT. Graduate applicants do not need to take an entrance exam, though they must submit at least two letters of recommendation.

Oakland University is home to more than 20,000 undergraduate and graduate students exploring fields such as art history, homeland security, management information systems, and wellness and health promotion.

OU holds regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission and delivers more than 275 bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. The university also offers more than 100 online classes and 15 fully online degree and certificate programs.

The university's business school is one of only 186 in the world with accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business for both its business and accounting programs.

Freshman applicants must have a high school diploma or GED certificate and submit results from the ACT or SAT. Admitted students generally possess a high school GPA of 3.2 or above, though OU does offer conditional admission to applicants with significant extracurricular achievements and a GPA of at least 2.5.

An exclusively undergraduate institution, Alma College features formal majors in areas such as American studies, economics, and sports communication. The college also allows students to create a self-designed course of study in collaboration with a dedicated academic advisor. The Alma Commitment guarantees that students can earn their bachelor's in just four years, or the college will cover the cost of tuition for an extra term in your fifth year.

More than 90% of students at Alma participate in some kind of service-learning experience. Some learners jointly conduct a research project with a member of the faculty, while others volunteer in their community or spend a semester studying abroad in one of 14 countries. Numerous scholarship programs provide financial support to students pursuing these opportunities.

Admission requires a high school diploma or GED certificate. Beginning in 2020, Alma will adopt a test-optional policy that allows applicants to choose whether to submit results from the ACT or SAT.

Albion College offers 49 undergraduate majors and concentrations that prepare graduates for careers in fields such as biology, human services, integrated marketing communication, and public policy. Though on-campus students can access a variety of online learning resources -- including web-based tutoring -- the college does not currently offer any fully online programs.

Albion's Prentiss M. Brown Honors Program serves undergraduate students with exceptional academic ability and potential. In addition to taking a curated curriculum and regular seminars with fellow honors students, participants in the program conduct original research and complete a senior honors thesis. Honors graduates have won both National Science Foundation research awards and Fulbright fellowships.

To apply to Albion, you must submit high school or GED transcripts, ACT or SAT scores, a letter of recommendation, and a personal essay. Prospective honors students follow a separate application process that includes an interview with an admissions officer and a lengthier essay requirement.

Northern Michigan University provides students with numerous opportunities for experiential learning. Learners can participate in internships at the Goddard Space Flight Center and Intel, while study abroad opportunities give students the chance to explore the cultures and histories of countries such as India, Morocco, Thailand, and Belgium.

NMU offers associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees in areas such as accounting, community health education, fisheries and wildlife management, and secondary education. Students can also pursue a doctorate of nursing practice or enroll in one of more than two dozen distance education programs through the university's global campus.

NMU is one of the most affordable schools in Michigan. In addition to low tuition rates, the university operates numerous merit and need-based aid programs. These include the Wildcat Achievement Scholarship, which provides up to $5,000 each year to incoming students who earn a score of 33 or above on the ACT.

Prospective students earn automatic admission if they have a high school GPA of at least 2.25 and a composite ACT score of at least 19 (or an SAT score of at least 990).

Ferris State University offers the unique Ferris Statewide program, in which learners can take FSU courses at any community college campus in Michigan. Students learn from the same expert faculty who teach at the university's main campus in Big Rapids, and a dedicated advisor helps them navigate the enrollment process and access student resources. The university also offers fully online programs in areas such as business administration, dental hygiene, and HVACR engineering.

While all applicants to FSU must have a high school diploma or GED certificate, the university operates under a test-optional policy that gives prospective students the choice of whether to share results from the ACT or SAT. Homeschooled and international applicants, however, must submit test scores.

In addition to financial aid and scholarship opportunities available to all admitted students, the university's Ferris Youth Initiative provides significant financial support to those who have lived in foster care. Military personnel and veterans also qualify for in-state tuition regardless of where they live.

A Dominication institution, Aquinas College centers student life around prayer, study, service, and community. Learners at the college regularly gather for group prayer, learn both inside and outside of the classroom, and commit themselves to advancing racial and social justice during their studies and after graduation.

Students at AQ pursue degrees in sustainable business, theology, data analytics, and community leadership. The college guarantees that all undergraduate students will earn their degree in four years and covers up to one full year of tuition and fees for those who do not. In addition, through a partnership with Western Michigan University, AQ students can earn both a bachelor's and master's degree in just five years of accelerated study.

Undergraduate applicants must have a high school diploma or GED certificate and ACT or SAT scores. The college does not charge an application fee and encourages applicants to submit letters of recommendation.