2023 Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan
With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. Or you may find the programs at a trade school or bootcamp to be a better alternative for you.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan ranking. Our analysis looked at 34 schools in Michigan to see which associate degree programs offered the best educational experiences for students. The factors used to develop this ranking include those related to how in-demand the school us, the overall quality of the school, and post-graduation wages, and more.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Associate Degree Schools in Michigan
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Macomb Community College the best school in Michigan for students working on their associate degree.
Students from Michigan who attend Macomb Community College full time pay an average of $6,090 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,680. On average, associate degree students take out $11,249 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Macomb Community College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 63% took at least some of their classes online.
Out of the 34 schools in Michigan that were part of this year’s ranking, Grand Rapids Community College landed the # 2 spot on the list.
Students from Michigan who attend Grand Rapids Community College full time pay an average of $7,869 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $11,589. On average, associate degree students take out $17,332 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Grand Rapids Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 96% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
The excellent associate degree programs at Ferris State University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Michigan.
Associate Degree recipients from Ferris accumulate an average of $19,950 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Ferris. During the 2019-2020 year, about 83% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Out of the 34 schools in Michigan that were part of this year’s ranking, Schoolcraft College landed the # 4 spot on the list.
Full-time students from Michigan pay an average of $5,494 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Schoolcraft College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $7,574. On average, associate degree students take out $17,698 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Schoolcraft College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 49% took at least some of their classes online.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Delta College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan list.
Full-time students from Michigan pay an average of $6,860 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Delta College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,100. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,057 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Delta College does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 89% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Oakland Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan ranking.
Oakland Community College does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $5,200. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $20,050 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Oakland Community College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. During the 2019-2020 year, about 27% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Northwestern Michigan College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at NMC is $8,544. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,816. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,859 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at NMC. In 2019-2020 about 64% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Glen Oaks Community College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at GOCC is $5,544. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,408. Associate Degree recipients from GOCC accumulate an average of $13,937 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
GOCC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 59% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
St Clair County Community College landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
In-state students pay an average of $8,950 in tuition and fees if they attend SC4 full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $12,490. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,827 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at SC4. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 67% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Lansing Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan ranking.
Students from Michigan who attend LCC full time pay an average of $7,340 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,760. Associate Degree recipients from LCC accumulate an average of $19,441 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at LCC. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 93% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan list.
Students from Michigan who attend Kalamazoo Valley Community College full time pay an average of $6,432 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,502. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,821 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Kalamazoo Valley Community College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 80% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Lake Superior State University landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
Lake Superior State University does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $13,200. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $16,822 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Lake Superior State University. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 40% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Mott Community College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at MCC is $5,201. Out-of-state students pay an average of $7,091. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,760 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since MCC does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2019-2020 year, about 96% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Bay de Noc Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #14 on the list.
Students from Michigan who attend Bay College full time pay an average of $9,064 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,696. Associate Degree recipients from Bay College accumulate an average of $15,733 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Bay College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 66% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Monroe County Community College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan ranking.
In-state students pay an average of $7,055 in tuition and fees if they attend Monroe County Community College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,760. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,444 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Monroe County Community College. In 2019-2020 about 80% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Jackson College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan ranking.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Jackson College is $7,080. Out-of-state students pay an average of $11,190. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,249 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that Jackson College does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 98% took at least some of their classes online.
Baker College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan list.
If you want to attend Baker College, expect to pay an average of $12,420 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,321 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Baker College. During the 2019-2020 year, about 68% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Davenport University landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
The average tuition and fees at Davenport University is $20,964. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $30,210 in student loans.
Online courses are available at Davenport University, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2019-2020 year, about 91% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Muskegon Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #19 on the list.
In-state students pay an average of $10,750 in tuition and fees if they attend Muskegon Community College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $14,390. Associate Degree recipients from Muskegon Community College accumulate an average of $19,067 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Muskegon Community College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 93% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Kellogg Community College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan list.
Full-time students from Michigan pay an average of $6,878 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Kellogg Community College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $9,450. On average, associate degree students take out $23,175 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Kellogg Community College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 74% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Kirtland Community College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan list.
In-state students pay an average of $6,390 in tuition and fees if they attend Kirtland Community College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,580. Associate Degree recipients from Kirtland Community College accumulate an average of $21,991 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Kirtland Community College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 62% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Henry Ford College landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
Students from Michigan who attend Henry Ford College full time pay an average of $5,200 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,192. Associate Degree recipients from Henry Ford College accumulate an average of $24,961 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Henry Ford College. In fact, around 93% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Alpena Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #23 on the list.
Alpena Community College does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $7,860. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $10,428 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Alpena Community College does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 49% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
North Central Michigan College landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
Students from Michigan who attend NCMC full time pay an average of $6,916 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,736. Associate Degree recipients from NCMC accumulate an average of $12,649 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
NCMC does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. During the 2019-2020 year, about 48% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Wayne County Community College District came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan ranking.
In-state students pay an average of $3,263 in tuition and fees if they attend WCCCD full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $3,998. On average, associate degree students take out $23,369 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since WCCCD does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 32% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
View Best Associate Degree Schools Nationwide >
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- 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%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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