State cost ranking · DOE College Scorecard

Cheapest Colleges in Michigan

Private campuses outnumber public ones on this Michigan list (92 vs 46); Henry Ford College still leads on average net price at $660.

$660
Cheapest net price
$17,263
Michigan median
138
Schools ranked

Henry Ford College has the lowest average net price in Michigan among Scorecard reporters

According to the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, Henry Ford College posts the lowest average net price in Michigan at $660 among 138 ranked schools, with the state median 1% above the $17,124 national median. Net price is what students paid after grant aid, not sticker tuition, and can reflect a narrow enrollment mix at specialty schools.

Data source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard

Cheapest net price
$660
Michigan median
$17,263
Schools ranked
138
National median
$17,124

Data updated August 2026 · IPEDS 2022–23 vintage

The list in one line

Henry Ford College has the lowest average net price in Michigan at $660/year, and the state's median net price is 1% above the $17,124 national median across 4,965 schools.

$660
cheapest ranked net price
$17,263
Michigan median net price
46 public / 92 private
schools in this ranking
$14,483
avg net price, <$30K income families

Average net price blends every income bracket; families under $30k average $14,483 here. Loans are excluded, open a school profile for the bracket table before treating one average as a personal cost.

Sticker tuition and real net price diverge most at Albion College, where in-state published tuition of $56,950 falls to an average net price of $14,301 after aid, a $42,649 gap, the widest sticker-to-net gap among ranked Michigan schools.

Private campuses outnumber public ones here (92 vs 46). A low figure at a small religious or specialty school can reflect a narrow enrollment mix, check sector and enrollment beside the price.

The bar to make this top-25 list is $7,456. Here is where that cutoff sits among all 138 Scorecard-reporting Michigan schools:

The bar to make Michigan's top-25 cheapest list

Average net price after aid · 138 Scorecard-reporting schools

$7,456 Among the most affordable more affordable than 82% of 138 Michigan colleges

Show national distribution $0–$4,000: 9 Michigan colleges (7%). Below this entry. $4,000–$8,000: 19 Michigan colleges (14%). This entry sits in this band. $8,000–$12,000: 14 Michigan colleges (10%). Above this entry. $12,000–$16,000: 21 Michigan colleges (15%). Above this entry. $16,000–$20,000: 35 Michigan colleges (25%). Above this entry. $20,000–$24,000: 18 Michigan colleges (13%). Above this entry. $24,000–$28,000: 7 Michigan colleges (5%). Above this entry. $28,000–$32,000: 8 Michigan colleges (6%). Above this entry. $32,000–$36,000: 6 Michigan colleges (4%). Above this entry. $36,000–$40,000: 1 Michigan colleges (1%). Above this entry. #25 cutoff $0 $40,000 every ranked Michigan college, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $4K-wide band; taller bars hold more Michigan colleges. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · 2022–23

Michigan's 25 cheapest colleges by real net price

1
Henry Ford CollegeDearborn, MI · Public
Avg net price
$660
Net price (<$30K income)
$46
Median debt
$14,250
Median earnings, 6yr
$28,100
Enrollment
11,410
2
West Shore Community CollegeScottville, MI · Public
Avg net price
$1,527
Net price (<$30K income)
Aid covers full cost
Median debt
$9,089
Median earnings, 6yr
$34,841
Enrollment
1,120
3
Macomb Community CollegeWarren, MI · Public
Avg net price
$1,618
Net price (<$30K income)
Aid covers full cost
Median debt
$6,000
Median earnings, 6yr
$33,875
Enrollment
16,300
6
Bay Mills Community CollegeBrimley, MI · Public
Avg net price
$3,073
Net price (<$30K income)
$1,549
Median debt
-
Median earnings, 6yr
$28,213
Enrollment
698
7
Washtenaw Community CollegeAnn Arbor, MI · Public
Avg net price
$3,249
Net price (<$30K income)
$1,940
Median debt
$13,310
Median earnings, 6yr
$33,799
Enrollment
11,133
8
Alpena Community CollegeAlpena, MI · Public
Avg net price
$3,320
Net price (<$30K income)
$590
Median debt
$9,024
Median earnings, 6yr
$35,275
Enrollment
1,581
10
Muskegon Community CollegeMuskegon, MI · Public
Avg net price
$4,005
Net price (<$30K income)
$3,708
Median debt
$9,125
Median earnings, 6yr
$31,662
Enrollment
3,617
11
Delta CollegeUniversity Center, MI · Public
Avg net price
$4,547
Net price (<$30K income)
$2,819
Median debt
$10,978
Median earnings, 6yr
$31,651
Enrollment
8,397
12
Avg net price
$4,586
Net price (<$30K income)
$2,974
Median debt
$12,296
Median earnings, 6yr
$36,394
Enrollment
2,210
13
Kellogg Community CollegeBattle Creek, MI · Public
Avg net price
$4,858
Net price (<$30K income)
$1,924
Median debt
$17,000
Median earnings, 6yr
$34,047
Enrollment
4,036
14
Gogebic Community CollegeIronwood, MI · Public
Avg net price
$5,397
Net price (<$30K income)
$2,212
Median debt
$10,925
Median earnings, 6yr
$32,998
Enrollment
882
15
Lansing Community CollegeLansing, MI · Public
Avg net price
$5,437
Net price (<$30K income)
$4,961
Median debt
$12,700
Median earnings, 6yr
$35,174
Enrollment
9,821
17
St Clair County Community CollegePort Huron, MI · Public
Avg net price
$5,571
Net price (<$30K income)
$3,849
Median debt
$11,750
Median earnings, 6yr
$33,990
Enrollment
3,317
18
Mott Community CollegeFlint, MI · Public
Avg net price
$5,687
Net price (<$30K income)
$3,748
Median debt
$13,000
Median earnings, 6yr
$27,146
Enrollment
6,718
19
Oakland Community CollegeAuburn Hills, MI · Public
Avg net price
$5,777
Net price (<$30K income)
$3,590
Median debt
$9,105
Median earnings, 6yr
$29,877
Enrollment
15,287
20
Southwestern Michigan CollegeDowagiac, MI · Public
Avg net price
$5,978
Net price (<$30K income)
$5,134
Median debt
$10,959
Median earnings, 6yr
$33,204
Enrollment
2,000
21
Northwestern Michigan CollegeTraverse City, MI · Public
Avg net price
$6,231
Net price (<$30K income)
$5,237
Median debt
$12,500
Median earnings, 6yr
$34,918
Enrollment
3,253
22
Lake Michigan CollegeBenton Harbor, MI · Public
Avg net price
$6,680
Net price (<$30K income)
$5,580
Median debt
$9,000
Median earnings, 6yr
$30,846
Enrollment
2,937
23
University of Michigan-FlintFlint, MI · Public
Avg net price
$7,007
Net price (<$30K income)
$1,517
Median debt
$25,000
Median earnings, 6yr
$45,453
Enrollment
6,529
24
Montcalm Community CollegeSidney, MI · Public
Avg net price
$7,280
Net price (<$30K income)
$7,280
Median debt
$16,500
Median earnings, 6yr
$32,490
Enrollment
1,751
25
Kirtland Community CollegeGrayling, MI · Public
Avg net price
$7,456
Net price (<$30K income)
$7,396
Median debt
$13,067
Median earnings, 6yr
$31,761
Enrollment
1,905
#CollegeAvg net priceNet price (<$30K income)Median debtMedian earnings, 6yrEnrollment
1Henry Ford CollegeDearborn, MI · Public$66098% of the leader · rank #1$46$14,250$28,10011,410
2West Shore Community CollegeScottville, MI · Public$1,52796% of the leader · rank #2Aid covers full cost$9,089$34,8411,120
3Macomb Community CollegeWarren, MI · Public$1,61896% of the leader · rank #3Aid covers full cost$6,000$33,87516,300
4Schoolcraft Community College DistrictLivonia, MI · Public$2,26094% of the leader · rank #4$1,083$10,500$34,7498,587
5Kalamazoo Valley Community CollegeKalamazoo, MI · Public$2,97992% of the leader · rank #5$1,290$9,699$33,5536,334
6Bay Mills Community CollegeBrimley, MI · Public$3,07392% of the leader · rank #6$1,549-$28,213698
7Washtenaw Community CollegeAnn Arbor, MI · Public$3,24992% of the leader · rank #7$1,940$13,310$33,79911,133
8Alpena Community CollegeAlpena, MI · Public$3,32091% of the leader · rank #8$590$9,024$35,2751,581
9Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community CollegeBaraga, MI · Public$3,51391% of the leader · rank #9$3,248--243
10Muskegon Community CollegeMuskegon, MI · Public$4,00590% of the leader · rank #10$3,708$9,125$31,6623,617
11Delta CollegeUniversity Center, MI · Public$4,54788% of the leader · rank #11$2,819$10,978$31,6518,397
12Monroe County Community CollegeMonroe, MI · Public$4,58688% of the leader · rank #12$2,974$12,296$36,3942,210
13Kellogg Community CollegeBattle Creek, MI · Public$4,85887% of the leader · rank #13$1,924$17,000$34,0474,036
14Gogebic Community CollegeIronwood, MI · Public$5,39786% of the leader · rank #14$2,212$10,925$32,998882
15Lansing Community CollegeLansing, MI · Public$5,43786% of the leader · rank #15$4,961$12,700$35,1749,821
16M J Murphy Beauty College of Mount PleasantMount Pleasant, MI · Private for-profit$5,44686% of the leader · rank #16$4,824-$16,90650
17St Clair County Community CollegePort Huron, MI · Public$5,57186% of the leader · rank #17$3,849$11,750$33,9903,317
18Mott Community CollegeFlint, MI · Public$5,68785% of the leader · rank #18$3,748$13,000$27,1466,718
19Oakland Community CollegeAuburn Hills, MI · Public$5,77785% of the leader · rank #19$3,590$9,105$29,87715,287
20Southwestern Michigan CollegeDowagiac, MI · Public$5,97885% of the leader · rank #20$5,134$10,959$33,2042,000
21Northwestern Michigan CollegeTraverse City, MI · Public$6,23184% of the leader · rank #21$5,237$12,500$34,9183,253
22Lake Michigan CollegeBenton Harbor, MI · Public$6,68083% of the leader · rank #22$5,580$9,000$30,8462,937
23University of Michigan-FlintFlint, MI · Public$7,00782% of the leader · rank #23$1,517$25,000$45,4536,529
24Montcalm Community CollegeSidney, MI · Public$7,28081% of the leader · rank #24$7,280$16,500$32,4901,751
25Kirtland Community CollegeGrayling, MI · Public$7,45681% of the leader · rank #25$7,396$13,067$31,7611,905

Showing the 25 cheapest of 138 Scorecard-reporting Michigan schools. The remaining 113 are ranked in the same net-price order but omitted from this HTML table so the page stays crawlable.

Look up any institution's exact rank via My School Profile, or open its school page for income-bracket net price, debt, and earnings.

What this means for you

Use Michigan's ranking as a starting point, real net price depends on your specific financial-aid package.

  • Henry Ford College reports the lowest average net price in Michigan, but "average" blends every income bracket, check your bracket's figure before assuming it applies to you. View Henry Ford College
  • See your specific school's in-state cost rank and nearest-price peers. My School Profile
  • Compare campus safety alongside cost before deciding. Michigan safety

Figures reflect the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard IPEDS 2022–23 release.

Average net price = the institution-reported average amount students actually paid after all grant and scholarship aid, excluding loans. Only schools with a reported average net price in the DOE College Scorecard dataset are ranked. This page lists the 25 cheapest; the title count is the full Scorecard-reporting cohort for Michigan. Schools with fewer than 10 net-price-reporting institutions in a state or territory are not given a dedicated ranking page.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard IPEDS 2022–23

Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. Every ranked figure on this page is queried directly from the DOE College Scorecard dataset at request time; no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.