- Avg net price
- $660
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $46
- Median debt
- $14,250
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $28,100
- Enrollment
- 11,410
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
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
- 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
- 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
- Avg net price
- $2,260
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $1,083
- Median debt
- $10,500
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $34,749
- Enrollment
- 8,587
- Avg net price
- $2,979
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $1,290
- Median debt
- $9,699
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $33,553
- Enrollment
- 6,334
- Avg net price
- $3,073
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $1,549
- Median debt
- -
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $28,213
- Enrollment
- 698
- Avg net price
- $3,249
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $1,940
- Median debt
- $13,310
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $33,799
- Enrollment
- 11,133
- Avg net price
- $3,320
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $590
- Median debt
- $9,024
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $35,275
- Enrollment
- 1,581
- Avg net price
- $3,513
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $3,248
- Median debt
- -
- Median earnings, 6yr
- -
- Enrollment
- 243
- Avg net price
- $4,005
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $3,708
- Median debt
- $9,125
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $31,662
- Enrollment
- 3,617
- Avg net price
- $4,547
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $2,819
- Median debt
- $10,978
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $31,651
- Enrollment
- 8,397
- Avg net price
- $4,586
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $2,974
- Median debt
- $12,296
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $36,394
- Enrollment
- 2,210
- Avg net price
- $4,858
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $1,924
- Median debt
- $17,000
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $34,047
- Enrollment
- 4,036
- Avg net price
- $5,397
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $2,212
- Median debt
- $10,925
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $32,998
- Enrollment
- 882
- Avg net price
- $5,437
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $4,961
- Median debt
- $12,700
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $35,174
- Enrollment
- 9,821
- Avg net price
- $5,446
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $4,824
- Median debt
- -
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $16,906
- Enrollment
- 50
- Avg net price
- $5,571
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $3,849
- Median debt
- $11,750
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $33,990
- Enrollment
- 3,317
- Avg net price
- $5,687
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $3,748
- Median debt
- $13,000
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $27,146
- Enrollment
- 6,718
- Avg net price
- $5,777
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $3,590
- Median debt
- $9,105
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $29,877
- Enrollment
- 15,287
- Avg net price
- $5,978
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $5,134
- Median debt
- $10,959
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $33,204
- Enrollment
- 2,000
- Avg net price
- $6,231
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $5,237
- Median debt
- $12,500
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $34,918
- Enrollment
- 3,253
- Avg net price
- $6,680
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $5,580
- Median debt
- $9,000
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $30,846
- Enrollment
- 2,937
- Avg net price
- $7,007
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $1,517
- Median debt
- $25,000
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $45,453
- Enrollment
- 6,529
- Avg net price
- $7,280
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $7,280
- Median debt
- $16,500
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $32,490
- Enrollment
- 1,751
- Avg net price
- $7,456
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $7,396
- Median debt
- $13,067
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $31,761
- Enrollment
- 1,905
| # | College | Avg net price | Net price (<$30K income) | Median debt | Median earnings, 6yr | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Henry Ford CollegeDearborn, MI · Public | $66098% of the leader · rank #1 | $46 | $14,250 | $28,100 | 11,410 |
| 2 | West Shore Community CollegeScottville, MI · Public | $1,52796% of the leader · rank #2 | Aid covers full cost | $9,089 | $34,841 | 1,120 |
| 3 | Macomb Community CollegeWarren, MI · Public | $1,61896% of the leader · rank #3 | Aid covers full cost | $6,000 | $33,875 | 16,300 |
| 4 | Schoolcraft Community College DistrictLivonia, MI · Public | $2,26094% of the leader · rank #4 | $1,083 | $10,500 | $34,749 | 8,587 |
| 5 | Kalamazoo Valley Community CollegeKalamazoo, MI · Public | $2,97992% of the leader · rank #5 | $1,290 | $9,699 | $33,553 | 6,334 |
| 6 | Bay Mills Community CollegeBrimley, MI · Public | $3,07392% of the leader · rank #6 | $1,549 | - | $28,213 | 698 |
| 7 | Washtenaw Community CollegeAnn Arbor, MI · Public | $3,24992% of the leader · rank #7 | $1,940 | $13,310 | $33,799 | 11,133 |
| 8 | Alpena Community CollegeAlpena, MI · Public | $3,32091% of the leader · rank #8 | $590 | $9,024 | $35,275 | 1,581 |
| 9 | Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community CollegeBaraga, MI · Public | $3,51391% of the leader · rank #9 | $3,248 | - | - | 243 |
| 10 | Muskegon Community CollegeMuskegon, MI · Public | $4,00590% of the leader · rank #10 | $3,708 | $9,125 | $31,662 | 3,617 |
| 11 | Delta CollegeUniversity Center, MI · Public | $4,54788% of the leader · rank #11 | $2,819 | $10,978 | $31,651 | 8,397 |
| 12 | Monroe County Community CollegeMonroe, MI · Public | $4,58688% of the leader · rank #12 | $2,974 | $12,296 | $36,394 | 2,210 |
| 13 | Kellogg Community CollegeBattle Creek, MI · Public | $4,85887% of the leader · rank #13 | $1,924 | $17,000 | $34,047 | 4,036 |
| 14 | Gogebic Community CollegeIronwood, MI · Public | $5,39786% of the leader · rank #14 | $2,212 | $10,925 | $32,998 | 882 |
| 15 | Lansing Community CollegeLansing, MI · Public | $5,43786% of the leader · rank #15 | $4,961 | $12,700 | $35,174 | 9,821 |
| 16 | M J Murphy Beauty College of Mount PleasantMount Pleasant, MI · Private for-profit | $5,44686% of the leader · rank #16 | $4,824 | - | $16,906 | 50 |
| 17 | St Clair County Community CollegePort Huron, MI · Public | $5,57186% of the leader · rank #17 | $3,849 | $11,750 | $33,990 | 3,317 |
| 18 | Mott Community CollegeFlint, MI · Public | $5,68785% of the leader · rank #18 | $3,748 | $13,000 | $27,146 | 6,718 |
| 19 | Oakland Community CollegeAuburn Hills, MI · Public | $5,77785% of the leader · rank #19 | $3,590 | $9,105 | $29,877 | 15,287 |
| 20 | Southwestern Michigan CollegeDowagiac, MI · Public | $5,97885% of the leader · rank #20 | $5,134 | $10,959 | $33,204 | 2,000 |
| 21 | Northwestern Michigan CollegeTraverse City, MI · Public | $6,23184% of the leader · rank #21 | $5,237 | $12,500 | $34,918 | 3,253 |
| 22 | Lake Michigan CollegeBenton Harbor, MI · Public | $6,68083% of the leader · rank #22 | $5,580 | $9,000 | $30,846 | 2,937 |
| 23 | University of Michigan-FlintFlint, MI · Public | $7,00782% of the leader · rank #23 | $1,517 | $25,000 | $45,453 | 6,529 |
| 24 | Montcalm Community CollegeSidney, MI · Public | $7,28081% of the leader · rank #24 | $7,280 | $16,500 | $32,490 | 1,751 |
| 25 | Kirtland Community CollegeGrayling, MI · Public | $7,45681% of the leader · rank #25 | $7,396 | $13,067 | $31,761 | 1,905 |
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.