2017 RANKING & REVIEWS
TOP RANKING BEST COLLEGES IN MICHIGAN
Finding Small Colleges in Michigan for the Best Education in 2017
Your professional life seems to have hit a brick wall based on your education and experience. The best way to give yourself an advantage over competitors in your industry is to further your education, giving you more knowledge and skills to improve your performance. Whether you’re new to the workforce or just need additional skills in your toolbox, there are plenty of colleges in Michigan that can help you adjust professionally.
Award Emblem: Top 6 Best Colleges in Michigan
Students all prefer a different experience, with many choosing to attend some of the excellent small colleges in Michigan. Many of the schools featuring lower enrollment will be private colleges in Michigan, which can come at a significant cost to students. How do you balance finding the right colleges in MI with what you want and what you want to pay?
AdvisoryHQ understands that selecting the right college to enhance your career and lifestyle is a challenge. You want to make the right decision and enroll in the best Michigan colleges because it has a real impact on your future and financial stability.
Our ranking of the best colleges in Michigan should give you a great starting point. If you want to find Michigan colleges that feature rigorous academics and relatively reasonable tuition, you’ll find what you need on the detailed review sections of our top colleges in Michigan below.
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AdvisoryHQ’s List of the Top 6 Best Colleges in Michigan
List is sorted alphabetically (click any of the schools below to go directly to the detailed review section for that Michigan college):
Top 6 Best Colleges in Michigan | Brief Comparison & Ranking
Good Colleges in Michigan | City | Student-Faculty Ratio | Tuition per Year |
| Albion College | Albion | 11:1 | $42,560 |
| Alma College | Alma | 12:1 | $38,348 |
| Calvin College | Grand Rapids | 13:1 | $33,100 |
| College for Creative Studies | Detroit | 9:1 | $41,040 |
| Hope College | Holland | 11:1 | $32,490 |
| Kalamazoo College | Kalamazoo | 13:1 | $46,350 |
Table: Top 6 Best Colleges in Michigan | Above list is sorted alphabetically
Why Choose Small Colleges in Michigan?
The issue of whether you should attend one of the large or small colleges in Michigan is a common one. Without experiencing college life for themselves yet, prospective students often wonder what the benefits of selecting small colleges in Michigan are, compared to their larger counterparts.
What are the advantages to having a smaller student body surrounding you while you try to earn your degree?
The first major difference that gives small colleges in Michigan the advantage is class size. With fewer students enrolled in these smaller colleges in MI, the class sizes are generally small with lower student-faculty ratios. Larger schools often have class sizes that could reach well over fifty students each.
In combination with this fact, there is an opportunity for you to develop a deeper understanding of the material at hand. Professors and teachers will have fewer papers to grade, giving more individual attention to your specific work. You’ll also be able to have more contact with your professors because their workload won’t be as great when they teach at small colleges in Michigan compared to other larger but still good colleges in Michigan.
One source points out that small colleges in Michigan are more likely to have courses taught by professors instead of teaching assistants.
The disadvantage to enrolling at one of the small colleges in Michigan is that you may encounter less selection in their academic programs. Smaller schools may offer just a handful of academic programs and studies.
Social lives may suffer when you’re attending one of the small colleges in Michigan as well. Sporting events won’t be as loud and rowdy as some of the larger schools. Even extracurricular activities may be sparser in comparison.
Keep in mind that many schools with smaller enrollments will also be private colleges in Michigan. These types of schools tend to offer very few discounts on tuition, leaving you with a higher overall cost. Consider whether you can afford the student debt that could accompany attending one of these small, private colleges in Michigan before you apply.
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Detailed Review-Top Ranking Best Colleges in Michigan
Below, please find the detailed review of each school on our list of good colleges in Michigan. We have highlighted some of the factors that allowed these top colleges in Michigan to score so high in our selection ranking.
Albion College Review
Albion College offers a small school experience for students who prefer to enroll in one of the prestigious private colleges in Michigan. This school offers excellent extracurricular activities and extensive academics, countered only by their high tuition fees. Named for the same city in which it’s located, Albion College may be one of the best Michigan colleges for prospective students who want a small-town experience.
Key Factors that Led to Our Ranking of This as One of the Best Colleges in Michigan
The compelling factors that allowed us to rank Albion College on our list of the best colleges in Michigan are listed in the review section that follows.
Academics
The list of majors available for study at Albion College is impressive, beaten only by their list of minors available. More than forty majors are available with separate courses for students who are in the pre-medical or health services tracks, including:
- Pre-dentistry
- Pre-medicine
- Pre-veterinary medicine
- Pre-physical therapy
Albion prides itself on being one of the best Michigan colleges available for a low student-faculty ratio. There are just eleven students to each faculty member, spread out across their 90-acre campus. Overall, these best colleges in Michigan are relatively small, with only 1,382 students enrolled in their academic programs.
These good colleges in Michigan have numerous accreditations apart from the Higher Learning Committee, including the American Chemical Society, National Association of Schools of Music, Teacher Education Accreditation Council, and more.
Tuition
Albion College is one of the private colleges in Michigan, meaning that it doesn’t offer in-state tuition rates to students. You can expect for these Michigan colleges to have some of the highest tuition rates of all the top schools in Michigan.
For the 2017 to 2018 academic year, students can expect to pay $42,560 in tuition alone. With housing and activities fees included, there is an estimated fee of $55,260 per year for each enrolled student.
Alma College Review
Alma College is dedicated to the success of its students through the academics offered at these private colleges in Michigan. They’re considered to be one of the fifty best affordable colleges in Michigan (and the Midwest overall), even though they do have a fairly high tuition rate. Located in Alma, these best schools in Michigan have a large 128-acre campus with roughly 1,400 students currently enrolled.
Key Factors that Led to Our Ranking of This as One of the Best Colleges in Michigan
For the detailed breakdown of the academics and tuition costs associated with these good colleges in Michigan, you can see the review sections below.
Academic
One of a handful of private colleges in Michigan that made it onto our ranking, Alma College does offer a wide selection of rigorous academic programs. More than fifty academic programs are available, ensuring that you can study anything you desire from accounting to art to education.
Their class sizes are small, with a low 12:1 student-faculty ratio. Academics are focused on experiential learning, giving every student the opportunity to experience their education through internships, fellowships, or studying abroad. Each student is guaranteed up to a $2,500 grant to encourage them to make use of this feature.
One of the major advantages is their Alma Commitment, which guarantees that you can complete a 136-credit major in just four years, or these good colleges in Michigan will cover the extra term in your fifth year for free.
Tuition
Attending private colleges in Michigan certainly comes with a price. Where many of the best colleges in Michigan offer in-state tuition rates to residents, Alma College doesn’t have this same opportunity for reduced costs. Like many of the other private Michigan colleges, this does result in higher tuition and fees for students.
For the 2017 to 2018 academic year, students can expect tuition to cost them $38,348 with an additional $10,642 spent on room and board. This does not include any money for books, supplies, or other personal expenses at these best Michigan colleges.
Image Source: Alma College
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Calvin College Review
Named one of the best colleges in Michigan by U.S. News & World Reports, Calvin College is a Christian college that allows you to choose a faith-based higher education. With a relatively small campus and enrollment, they still manage to offer one of the largest selections of academic programs of all the good colleges in Michigan on our ranking.
Key Factors that Led to Our Ranking of This as One of the Best Colleges in Michigan
Beyond just their unique approach to education with the connection to religion, what else does Calvin College have to offer in terms of their studies and tuition?
Academics
One of the best parts of this Grand Rapids-based campus is their extensive list of majors, minors, and programs. With more than 100 options to choose from, these Michigan state colleges offer an intensive educational experience with small class sizes and low student-faculty ratios. There are just thirteen students to each faculty member, with the average class size being 24 students.
The top majors and programs that students tend to select at these best Michigan colleges are:
- Education
- Engineering
- Business
- Nursing
- Psychology
- Biology
- English
- Communications
They even boast a high success rate after graduation with 98% of all 2015 graduates either employed or enrolled in further education.
Tuition
The expected cost is a major concern for prospective students who are interested in private colleges in Michigan. Tuition for the entire year (2017–2018) is estimated to be $33,100 with an additional $9,900 in room and board.
It should be noted that approximately 99% of their total 3,918 students receive some form of financial aid from these Michigan state colleges.
College for Creative Studies Review
Another selection among private colleges in Michigan, the College for Creative Studies helps prospective students in their artistic journeys. Only offering programs for a Bachelor of Fine Arts, students who were hoping to get the full college experience in their undergraduate program will enjoy the atmosphere, academics, and reasonable tuition associated with these Michigan state colleges.
Key Factors that Led to Our Ranking of This as One of the Best Colleges in Michigan
You’ll understand more reasons why this Detroit-based school earned a position on our ranking as one of the top schools in Michigan in the comprehensive overview below.
Academics
Academics are rather limited at these top colleges in Michigan. The College for Creative Studies offers only thirteen undergraduate study programs compared to hundreds of programs available at other top schools in Michigan. When it comes to enrollment in their various programs, the most popular choices are:
- Illustration
- Transportation Design
- Product Design
- Entertainment Arts
- Graphic Design
Class sizes are relatively small, with only 1,400 students enrolled during their 2015 count. The average age of a student was 22 years old, with the majority of the enrollment coming from Michigan residents. There is an extremely low student-faculty ratio of nine to one at these good colleges in Michigan for art.
Tuition
While many prospective students may anticipate that the top colleges in Michigan to study the arts would have high tuition, the College for Creative Studies may be a pleasant surprise. In addition to their extensive academics, they also have reasonable tuition. One year of studies here will cost just $41,040.
They also note that approximately 98% of all students receive some type of financial aid through these good colleges in Michigan.
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Hope College Review
Another of the top-ranking Christian private colleges in Michigan, Hope College offers a scenic campus right outside of Lake Michigan in the city of Holland. These top schools in Michigan have a long history spanning more than 150 years. Over time, they’ve attracted significant growth on their campus with close to 3,300 students currently enrolled.
Key Factors that Led to Our Ranking of This as One of the Best Colleges in Michigan
Beyond the beauty of the campus itself, you can see more of the factors we considered when placing Hope College on our list of good colleges in Michigan.
Academics
Committed to academic excellence, Hope College offers 91 different majors, minors, and pre-professional programs to their students. When they graduate, the majority of students can add participation in some sort of experiential learning experience related to their major (92%).
They even offer plenty of opportunities for internships with 57% claiming at least one and 23% boasting multiple internships.
They tied for the 11th position with Stanford University on the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education ranking based on the question, “If you could start over, would you choose this college?” Additionally, they also ranked 64th on Kiplinger’s Best Value Liberal Arts Colleges and 135th among all schools.
You’re guaranteed to find the attention from faculty that you need in order to learn successfully. Class sizes are small and the student faculty ratio is just eleven to one.
Tuition
Tuition for these colleges in MI are one of the least expensive schools on our ranking. The 2017 to 2018 year costs students just $32,490 per year in tuition plus $4,590 in room and $5,410 in board. The full direct costs of these colleges in Michigan are $42,780 including those items and activity fees.
They do offer a monthly payment plan for prospective students.
Image Source: Hope College
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Kalamazoo College Review
Situated as one of the oldest 100 institutions in the nation, the Kalamazoo College is home to a flexible academic experience. A scenic campus located in the city of Kalamazoo, these colleges in MI have been dubbed one of the Colleges that Change Lives according to author Loren Pope. Consider the small class sizes of these private colleges in Michigan to determine if they could be right for your academic future.
Key Factors that Led to Our Ranking of This as One of the Best Colleges in Michigan
Understand what allowed us to rank Kalamazoo College as one of the best schools in Michigan in our review of their academics and tuition below.
Academics
Kalamazoo College offers a moderate number of academic programs for prospective students. They offer 26 majors, 23 minors, and 12 concentrations. One of the most unique features about their academic programs is the customized experience for each individual student.
Instead of giving students a rigid and required list of courses, they have what is called “open curriculum.” This allows you to shape your academic path by selecting courses that support your major or minor with tailored advice from faculty members.
More than 1,400 students are enrolled here, with a 13-to-1 student-faculty ratio. An impressive 81.5% of all students graduate in four years, with 92% of graduates employed six months post-graduation.
Tuition
It should be noted up front that close to 98% of all students receive some form of financial aid or scholarship when they attend these good colleges in Michigan.
The major disadvantage to these private colleges in Michigan is the overall cost of education. They have the highest tuition of all the schools listed on our ranking at $46,350 per academic year. Including room, board, and an activity fee, the yearly total comes to an estimated $56,082.
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Conclusion—Top 6 Best Colleges in Michigan
The best schools in Michigan have a lot to offer prospective students, especially when it comes to private colleges in Michigan. While most of these are definitely small colleges in Michigan, they still manage to offer extensive options when it comes to academic programs, extracurricular activities, and more.
Like many private and small colleges in Michigan, the tuition fees tend to be higher among those schools with lower enrollment fees. The schools on our ranking don’t offer discounts for in-state residents, as is common in some states for their public universities and colleges.
Image Source: Pexels
Consider the overall cost of these best colleges in Michigan to determine if you can afford to earn a degree from their study programs. If you can, you’ll have plenty of rigorous academic options to keep your future ready for whatever comes next.
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