Top 6 Cheapest Colleges in Michigan (2025)

Picking the right college is hard, and picking the right college that is also affordable is especially hard. There are many colleges to choose from in Michigan, both in person and online.

Luckily, some options are more affordable than others.

In this article, we will list some of the cheapest colleges in Michigan.

Additionally, we'll break down some of the things to keep in mind while picking a college, and the best ways to make sure college is affordable.

Read on to learn more.

Featured Cheap Colleges in Michigan

Here are some of the best and cheapest colleges in Michigan.

1. Baker College

Baker College is a private school with several campuses across the state of Michigan. Its main campus is located in Owosso, and it has five campuses in total, as well as online programs.

Baker College offers associate's, bachelor's, and master's degrees, as well as doctoral programs and certificates. They offer many bachelor's degrees in areas of study like:

• Health Science
• Business
• IT & Engineering
• Nursing
• And more

Tuition at Baker College is $435 per credit hour for both in-state and out-of-state students.

2. Lake Michigan College

Lake Michigan College is a public community college with three campuses in the state. It is a nonprofit, accredited, two-year college.

The college offers mainly associate's degrees in a variety of fields of study.

A community college like this one can also be a great option for students pursuing bachelor's degrees because they can complete classes more cheaply before transferring.

Tuition at Lake Michigan College is separated into in-district and out-of-district tuition. In- district is $168 per credit hour. Out-of-district is $238 per credit hour.

3. Northwestern Michigan College

Northwestern Michigan College is another public community college in Michigan. It is located in Traverse City and has been in operation since the early 11950s

This community college focuses primarily on associate's degrees, but it also offers some bachelor's degrees and certificate programs. In total, there are over 60 programs available.

In-state tuition is $261 per credit hour. Additionally, Grand Traverse County residents ('in-district' students) qualify for even cheaper tuition at $122 per credit hour. Out-of-state tuition is $340 per credit hour.

4. Jackson College

Jackson College is a public institution, located in Jackson County, Michigan, that focuses on allowing students to complete associate's degrees or prepares them to transfer to a university.

The school offers some bachelor's programs, but it primarily focuses on associate's degrees, certificates, and transfer pathways. They offer a wide variety of programs, both in-person and online, in the areas of:

• Business & Computer Technology
• Health Sciences
• Human Services
• Liberal Arts
• Science, Engineering & Mathematics
• Professional Trades & Agriculture

In-district residents of Jackson County will pay $185 per credit hour at Jackson College, while out-of-county residents will pay $209. Out-of-state and international students' tuition rate is $277 per credit hour.

5. Northern Michigan University

Northern Michigan University is a public four-year university located in the city of Marquette. The school has over 7,000 students including both undergraduate and graduate students and offers over 170 programs.

NMU offers bachelor's degree programs in dozens of departments. Just some of the university's academic departments include:

• Communication & Media Studies
• English
• Biology
• Military Science
• Nursing
• Philosophy

For full-time students who are in-state residents, the tuition cost per semester at NMU is $6,615. For out-of-state students, the cost is $9,363.

6. Wayne State University

Wayne State University was first established in 1868 and is located in Detroit. The university's objective is to produce graduates who go on to have positive impacts on various kinds of communities.

Wayne State offers a total of 126 bachelor's degree programs. These include both B.A. and B.S. degrees. Just some of their programs include:

• Information Technology
• Computer Science
• Marketing
• Social Work
• Nursing

The tuition at Wayne State University varies by department, so prospective students should consult their website for full details.

However, for in-state undergraduate students with full-time schedules, the tuition tends to be between $6,000 and $7,000 per semester.

The rates are much higher for out-of-state students (over $14,000 a semester).

Other Cheap Colleges

There are some excellent nationwide options for online education with affordable tuition rates. These are a great option, especially if in-state schools don't fit your needs.

Check out some of the best online colleges below.

University of Phoenix

The University of Phoenix is one of the most well-known online colleges for a reason.

It is designed to provide high-quality, accessible education for working adults. The university has been accredited for nearly fifty years and offers many programs of study.

The University of Phoenix offers bachelor's and master's degrees, as well as the option to take a single course, in high-demand areas of study like business, nursing, education, information technology, and more.

Undergraduate tuition at the University of Phoenix has a flat rate of $398 per credit hour.

Western Governors University

Western Governors University brands itself as 'the most student-centric university in the world.'

The university is focused on providing high-quality online education and also offers many accelerated pathways for completing degrees quickly.

WGU offers many bachelor's and master's degrees, as well as certificate programs. The college's programs of study fall into four main areas: business, education, information technology, and health and nursing.

Tuition at WGU may vary by program, but the average cost of undergraduate tuition at the university is $8,010. Assuming two semesters per year, that comes out to an estimate of $4,005 per semester.

Southern New Hampshire University

Southern New Hampshire University is a private university that offers on-campus classes but has an increasingly strong focus on online education.

The university's online student body numbers are over 170,000.

SNHU offers associate's, bachelor's, and master's degrees, as well as certificate and some doctoral programs. Their broad degree offerings cover subject areas like:

• Business
• Technology
• Healthcare
• Liberal Arts

Online tuition rates for undergraduate programs at SNHU are $330 per credit hour.

Weber State University

Weber State University is a public institution based in the state of Utah and has been in operation since the late 11800s The university offers many online degrees through eWeber.

WSU was ranked by U.S. News & World Report as a Best Online Accredited College. The top five most popular degree programs offered at WSU are:

• Nursing
• School of Computing
• School of Radiologic Science
• Professional Sales
• Medical Laboratory Sciences

Online tuition for students outside of Utah is a flat rate of $291 per credit hour for undergraduate programs.

How Much Will a College Degree Cost?

According to the Education Data Initiative, the average annual tuition at a public, four-year school is $9,678.

Tuition costs increase at private universities and can be affected by other factors. There are also additional costs that must be considered.

For a detailed breakdown of the average costs of school depending on a variety of factors, view the Education Data Initiative's website.

How to Make College Affordable

There are many strategies for making college affordable. Check out our must-do steps and options below.

Community Colleges and Technical Colleges

Attending a community college or technical college can be a fantastic way to save on college.

Many of these types of schools offer 'transfer pathways.'

These programs are designed for students to transfer to a university after completing classes at a low tuition rate.

Getting some required classes completed at a more affordable institution can have a positive impact on the overall cost of completing a degree.

Financial Aid

This is the most important item listed here. Students should complete a FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, as quickly as possible.

This will let them know what kinds of federal aid they qualify for, like grants, scholarships, and federal student loans.

Scholarships

There are an enormous amount of scholarships for which students may be eligible.

They are an indispensable resource for making college affordable because they do not have to be paid back.

They are typically merit-based, but the eligibility criteria vary by scholarship.

Students should work with their institutions to find as many scholarships to apply for as possible.

Grants

Similar to scholarships, college grants do not have to be repaid. However, they are often need-based rather than merit-based.

This may make them easier to access for some students.

Tuition Assistance

An often overlooked option for making college affordable is employer tuition assistance. Many companies have programs that help employees pay for college costs.

The list of companies with these programs is long, and may include a company you already work with!

Some notable examples are Target, Starbucks, Best Buy, FedEx, and more.

Do Cheap Colleges in Michigan Offer High-quality Education?

Yes! Despite affordability, these institutions do not make sacrifices to the quality of the education they provide.

As accredited institutions, they are certified to offer educations that meet high-quality standards.

In-State Vs. Out-of-State Tuition Rates

In-state universities are nearly always the best option because of in-state tuition rates.

These rates are typically much, much lower than out-of-state tuition rates, as can be seen in many of the descriptions in this article.

An alternative to this is nationwide online colleges that offer flat-rate tuition regardless of residency.

Find an Affordable College in Michigan Today

We've broken down some of the most affordable colleges in Michigan, as well as some nationwide online options.

Additionally, we have explained some important options for making college affordable, and more.

Find an affordable college in Michigan today!