Cheapest Online Colleges in Michigan [2025 Guide]
Michigan boasts a wide array of colleges and universities offering outstanding online programs that are both affordable and flexible enough to fit any schedule.
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With a robust higher education system, Michigan ranks among the top states in the number of degree-granting institutions, ensuring that students have ample choices for their academic pursuits.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), tuition at Michigan public colleges is competitive and often below the national average, making it an attractive option for cost-conscious students.
Thanks to this extensive and high-quality college network, students in Michigan have easy access to a variety of online learning opportunities. Looking for an affordable online college in Michigan? Our carefully curated list has you covered.
Methodology
EDsmart rankings are based on data provided by NCES IPEDS reports via College Scorecard. All schools must provide four data points that EDsmart relies on to rank higher education institutions:
- Average Net Price
- Graduation Rate
- Retention Rate
- Median Earnings
Any school missing any one of the data points was not considered in our ranking. Only 4-year schools were considered for this ranking.
The rankings below are based solely on their average net prices.
EDsmart ranks colleges by Net Price, not just tuition, to show real costs. Net Price includes grants and scholarships, giving a more accurate picture of affordability.
Popular Online Colleges
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.Most Affordable Online Colleges in Michigan
1. University of Michigan-Flint
Average Net Price: $10,658
Graduation Rate: 49%
Retention Rate: 73%
Median Earnings: $53,230
The University of Michigan-Flint has an admission rate of 66.35%, making it moderately selective. The average cost of attendance for academic year institutions is $23,278. In-state tuition and fees are $13,242, while out-of-state students pay $25,506. The median debt for students who have completed their studies is $25,000.
2. Saginaw Valley State University
Average Net Price: $11,561
Graduation Rate: 51%
Retention Rate: 73%
Median Earnings: $51,955
Saginaw Valley State University has an admission rate of 76.37%, indicating a relatively accessible admission process. The average cost of attendance is $22,866. In-state tuition and fees are $11,565, and out-of-state tuition and fees are $27,164. Students who have completed their studies have a median debt of $25,000.
3. University of Michigan-Dearborn
Average Net Price: $12,102
Graduation Rate: 58%
Retention Rate: 83%
Median Earnings: $59,649
At the University of Michigan-Dearborn, the admission rate is 54.10%, making it fairly selective. The average cost of attendance is $22,327. In-state tuition and fees are $14,320, while out-of-state tuition and fees are $29,584. The median debt for graduates is $22,500.
4. Oakland University
Average Net Price: $12,614
Graduation Rate: 60%
Retention Rate: 74%
Median Earnings: $58,612
Oakland University has an admission rate of 90.05%, suggesting a high acceptance rate. The average cost of attendance is $23,669. In-state tuition and fees are $14,476, and out-of-state tuition and fees are $23,730. Graduates carry a median debt of $22,750.
5. Ferris State University
Average Net Price: $12,812
Graduation Rate: 59%
Retention Rate: 77%
Median Earnings: $54,735
Ferris State University has an admission rate of 87.88%, indicating it is relatively easy to get into. The average cost of attendance is $25,135. Both in-state and out-of-state tuition and fees are $13,076. The median debt for graduates is $21,000.
6. Baker College
Average Net Price: $12,920
Graduation Rate: 24%
Retention Rate: 63%
Median Earnings: $35,833
Baker College has an admission rate of 36.65%, making it somewhat selective. The average cost of attendance is $22,902. In-state and out-of-state tuition and fees are both $12,710. The median debt for students who have completed their studies is $25,000.
7. Wayne State College
Average Net Price: $14,077
Graduation Rate: 55%
Retention Rate: 72%
Median Earnings: $47,075
Wayne State College's average cost of attendance is $20,752, with both in-state and out-of-state tuition and fees at $7,786. Graduates have a median debt of $19,000. The admission rate is not available.
8. Central Michigan University
Average Net Price: $14,630
Graduation Rate: 62%
Retention Rate: 75%
Median Earnings: $55,874
Central Michigan University has an admission rate of 78.95%, making it fairly accessible. The average cost of attendance is $26,077. In-state and out-of-state tuition and fees are both $13,650. The median debt for graduates is $27,000.
9. Eastern Michigan University
Average Net Price: $15,472
Graduation Rate: 54%
Retention Rate: 68%
Median Earnings: $51,793
Eastern Michigan University has an admission rate of 83.23%, indicating a relatively open admission policy. The average cost of attendance is $26,085. In-state and out-of-state tuition and fees are both $16,410. Graduates have a median debt of $25,000.
10. University of Detroit Mercy
Average Net Price: $16,196
Graduation Rate: 70%
Retention Rate: 84%
Median Earnings: $71,030
The University of Detroit Mercy has a high admission rate of 90.53%. The average cost of attendance is $39,217. In-state and out-of-state tuition and fees are both $31,058. The median debt for graduates is $23,250.
11. Northern Michigan University
Average Net Price: $16,723
Graduation Rate: 53%
Retention Rate: 73%
Median Earnings: $47,107
Northern Michigan University has an admission rate of 70.55%, indicating moderate selectivity. The average cost of attendance is $25,294. In-state tuition and fees are $12,648, while out-of-state tuition and fees are $18,144. The median debt for graduates is $21,474.
12. Davenport University
Average Net Price: $17,760
Graduation Rate: 42%
Retention Rate: 76%
Median Earnings: $45,099
Davenport University has a very high admission rate of 98.91%. The average cost of attendance is $34,159. In-state and out-of-state tuition and fees are both $22,244. The median debt for graduates is $26,000.
13. Madonna University
Average Net Price: $17,921
Graduation Rate: 69%
Retention Rate: 72%
Median Earnings: $59,058
Madonna University has an admission rate of 64.84%. The average cost of attendance is $38,500. In-state and out-of-state tuition and fees are both $26,100. Graduates have a median debt of $23,000.
14. Walsh University
Average Net Price: $18,494
Graduation Rate: 61%
Retention Rate: 73%
Median Earnings: $59,764
Walsh University has an admission rate of 72.51%. The average cost of attendance is $44,935. In-state and out-of-state tuition and fees are both $33,235. The median debt for graduates is $27,000.
15. Michigan State University
Average Net Price: $19,449
Graduation Rate: 83%
Retention Rate: 90%
Median Earnings: $67,253
Michigan State University has an admission rate of 87.95%, making it fairly accessible. The average cost of attendance is $29,204. In-state tuition and fees are $15,372, while out-of-state tuition and fees are $41,958. The median debt for graduates is $23,250.
16. Western Michigan University
Average Net Price: $19,884
Graduation Rate: 61%
Retention Rate: 77%
Median Earnings: $53,562
Western Michigan University has an admission rate of 84.55%. The average cost of attendance is $27,150. In-state tuition and fees are $14,623, while out-of-state tuition and fees are $18,254. Graduates have a median debt of $26,188.
17. Cornerstone University
Average Net Price: $20,959
Graduation Rate: 64%
Retention Rate: 88%
Median Earnings: $47,314
Cornerstone University has an admission rate of 81.78%. The average cost of attendance is $39,524. In-state and out-of-state tuition and fees are both $27,880. The median debt for graduates is $25,000.
18. Spring Arbor University
Average Net Price: $22,351
Graduation Rate: 63%
Retention Rate: 74%
Median Earnings: $51,732
Spring Arbor University has an admission rate of 47.32%. The average cost of attendance is $42,903. In-state and out-of-state tuition and fees are both $31,660. Graduates have a median debt of $26,375.
19. Siena Heights University
Average Net Price: $22,724
Graduation Rate: 67%
Retention Rate: 70%
Median Earnings: $57,529
Siena Heights University has an admission rate of 64.98%. The average cost of attendance is $41,236. In-state and out-of-state tuition and fees are both $29,044. The median debt for graduates is $18,750.
20. Andrews University
Average Net Price: $23,876
Graduation Rate: 60%
Retention Rate: 84%
Median Earnings: $53,187
Andrews University has an admission rate of 91.27%. The average cost of attendance is $42,774. In-state and out-of-state tuition and fees are both $32,734. The median debt for graduates is $26,000.
21. Northwood University
Average Net Price: $23,943
Graduation Rate: 62%
Retention Rate: 83%
Median Earnings: $63,075
Northwood University has an admission rate of 79.68%. The average cost of attendance is $45,439. In-state and out-of-state tuition and fees are both $31,600. The median debt for graduates is $20,842.
22. Adrian College
Average Net Price: $24,805
Graduation Rate: 53%
Retention Rate: 67%
Median Earnings: $55,504
Adrian College has an admission rate of 69.06%. The average cost of attendance is $56,391. In-state and out-of-state tuition and fees are both $39,596. The median debt for graduates is $27,000.
Popular Online Colleges
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.Insights and Analysis
The rankings of the most affordable online colleges in MI reveal a diverse landscape of higher education in terms of affordability, graduation outcomes, and post-graduation earnings. Here are some key insights and comparisons:
Net Price vs. Graduation Rates
Analyzing the net prices alongside graduation rates reveals some notable trends. University of Michigan-Flint, with the lowest average net price of $10,658, has a moderate graduation rate of 49%. In contrast, Michigan State University, with a higher net price of $19,449, boasts a graduation rate of 83%. This suggests that higher net prices might be associated with better student outcomes, potentially due to greater institutional resources or student support services.
Net Price vs. Median Earnings
A comparison of net prices to median earnings indicates that institutions with higher net prices tend to report higher median earnings for graduates. For instance, University of Detroit Mercy, with a net price of $16,196, has median earnings of $71,030, the highest among the listed institutions. Conversely, Baker College, despite having a lower net price of $12,920, reports significantly lower median earnings at $35,833. This suggests that investing in higher-priced institutions may lead to better financial outcomes for graduates.
In-State vs. Out-of-State Tuition
Examining the tuition fees for in-state versus out-of-state students highlights significant differences. For example, University of Michigan-Flint charges $13,242 for in-state students and $25,506 for out-of-state students. This trend is consistent across many institutions, such as the University of Michigan-Dearborn and Oakland University, reflecting the substantial financial advantage for in-state students.
Median Debt Levels
Considering median debt levels, we observe that Ferris State University graduates have the lowest median debt at $21,000, despite a moderate net price of $12,812. Conversely, Central Michigan University graduates carry the highest median debt of $27,000, correlating with a higher net price of $14,630. This variance in debt levels may influence students' choice of institution based on their financial aid policies and overall affordability.
Selectivity and Retention Rates
Institutions like Michigan State University and University of Detroit Mercy, with higher selectivity and retention rates (90% and 84%, respectively), tend to have better student outcomes. Their high retention rates indicate effective student support systems, likely contributing to higher graduation rates and post-graduation earnings.
Comparisons and Callouts
- University of Michigan-Dearborn stands out with a relatively low net price of $12,102 and impressive median earnings of $59,649, making it a cost-effective choice with strong financial returns.
- Wayne State College offers the lowest tuition fees for both in-state and out-of-state students at $7,786, paired with a reasonable median debt of $19,000.
- Adrian College has the highest net price of $24,805, but offers median earnings of $55,504, indicating a significant investment but with a decent return.
- Madonna University presents a balanced profile with a net price of $17,921 and high median earnings of $59,058, reflecting good value for investment.
Key Takeaways
- Investment vs. Return: Higher net prices generally correlate with higher median earnings and better graduation rates, suggesting a positive return on investment.
- Debt Management: Institutions with lower median debts, like Ferris State University, may be more attractive to cost-conscious students.
- Tuition Disparities: Significant differences in in-state versus out-of-state tuition underscore the importance of residency in financial planning for college education.
- Institutional Support: High retention rates are a strong indicator of effective student support and likely contribute to better overall student success.
These insights provide a comprehensive understanding of the financial and academic landscapes across these institutions, aiding prospective students and their families in making informed decisions.