State cost ranking · DOE College Scorecard

Cheapest Colleges in Michigan

According to U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data, 136 Michigan colleges ranked by average net price, what students actually paid after grant and scholarship aid, not the published sticker price.

$660
Cheapest net price
$17,124
Michigan median
136
Schools ranked

Data updated June 2026 · IPEDS 2022–23 vintage

The list in one line

Henry Ford College has the lowest average net price in Michigan at $660/year.

$660
cheapest ranked net price
$17,124
Michigan median net price
46 public / 90 private
schools in this ranking
$14,334
avg net price, <$30K income families

Average net price is the institution-reported average amount students actually paid after all grant and scholarship aid, not counting loans that must be repaid. A very low figure at a specialty or religious institution can reflect a narrow enrollment mix rather than typical affordability, check the sector label and enrollment before comparing.

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. This is the widest sticker-to-net-price gap among ranked Michigan schools, and a reminder that published tuition alone is a poor guide to what most admitted students actually pay.

Across all 136 ranked Michigan schools, 46 are public institutions and 90 are private (nonprofit or for-profit). Sector is shown next to every school below because a low sticker-adjacent price at a small religious, seminary, or specialty school can reflect an unusual enrollment mix rather than broad affordability, check enrollment and sector before drawing conclusions from rank alone.

Average net price also blends every income bracket into one figure, so a family's own bracket can land well above or below the number shown here. Federal reporting requires an institution to have enough surveyed aid recipients in a bracket before that bracket is published, so a very small school can show only a partial income-bracket breakdown even when its overall average net price is fully reported. Use the school's own profile page for the full income-bracket table before treating a single average as a personal cost estimate.

Michigan's 25 cheapest colleges by real net price

# College Avg net priceNet price (<$30K income)Median debtMedian earnings, 6yrEnrollment
1 Henry Ford College Dearborn, MI · Public $660 98% of the leader · rank #1 $46 $14,250 $28,100 11,239
2 West Shore Community College Scottville, MI · Public $1,527 96% of the leader · rank #2 Aid covers full cost $9,089 $34,841 1,028
3 Macomb Community College Warren, MI · Public $1,618 96% of the leader · rank #3 Aid covers full cost $6,000 $33,875 15,983
4 Schoolcraft Community College District Livonia, MI · Public $2,260 94% of the leader · rank #4 $1,083 $10,500 $34,749 7,596
5 Kalamazoo Valley Community College Kalamazoo, MI · Public $2,979 92% of the leader · rank #5 $1,290 $9,699 $33,553 6,320
6 Bay Mills Community College Brimley, MI · Public $3,073 92% of the leader · rank #6 $1,549 - $28,213 577
7 Washtenaw Community College Ann Arbor, MI · Public $3,249 92% of the leader · rank #7 $1,940 $13,310 $33,799 10,756
8 Alpena Community College Alpena, MI · Public $3,320 91% of the leader · rank #8 $590 $9,024 $35,275 1,530
9 Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College Lanse, MI · Public $3,513 91% of the leader · rank #9 $3,248 - - 222
10 Muskegon Community College Muskegon, MI · Public $4,005 90% of the leader · rank #10 $3,708 $9,125 $31,662 3,518
11 Delta College University Center, MI · Public $4,547 88% of the leader · rank #11 $2,819 $10,978 $31,651 7,646
12 Monroe County Community College Monroe, MI · Public $4,586 88% of the leader · rank #12 $2,974 $12,296 $36,394 2,250
13 Kellogg Community College Battle Creek, MI · Public $4,858 87% of the leader · rank #13 $1,924 $17,000 $34,047 3,734
14 Gogebic Community College Ironwood, MI · Public $5,397 86% of the leader · rank #14 $2,212 $10,925 $32,998 844
15 Lansing Community College Lansing, MI · Public $5,437 86% of the leader · rank #15 $4,961 $12,700 $35,174 9,207
16 M J Murphy Beauty College of Mount Pleasant Mount Pleasant, MI · Private for-profit $5,446 86% of the leader · rank #16 $4,824 - $16,906 35
17 St Clair County Community College Port Huron, MI · Public $5,571 86% of the leader · rank #17 $3,849 $11,750 $33,990 3,105
18 Mott Community College Flint, MI · Public $5,687 85% of the leader · rank #18 $3,748 $13,000 $27,146 6,482
19 Oakland Community College Auburn Hills, MI · Public $5,777 85% of the leader · rank #19 $3,590 $9,105 $29,877 13,831
20 Southwestern Michigan College Dowagiac, MI · Public $5,978 85% of the leader · rank #20 $5,134 $10,959 $33,204 1,953
21 Northwestern Michigan College Traverse City, MI · Public $6,231 84% of the leader · rank #21 $5,237 $12,500 $34,918 3,146
22 Lake Michigan College Benton Harbor, MI · Public $6,680 83% of the leader · rank #22 $5,580 $9,000 $30,846 2,904
23 University of Michigan-Flint Flint, MI · Public $7,007 82% of the leader · rank #23 $1,517 $25,000 $45,453 6,130
24 Montcalm Community College Sidney, MI · Public $7,280 81% of the leader · rank #24 $7,280 $16,500 $32,490 1,587
25 Kirtland Community College Grayling, MI · Public $7,456 81% of the leader · rank #25 $7,396 $13,067 $31,761 1,538
See all 136 ranked Michigan schools →
# College Avg net priceNet price (<$30K income)Median debtMedian earnings, 6yrEnrollment
26 Bayshire Academy of Beauty Craft Inc Bay City, MI · Private for-profit $7,507 81% of the leader · rank #26 $7,513 - $15,559 104
27 Wayne County Community College District Detroit, MI · Public $7,656 80% of the leader · rank #27 $7,641 $12,062 $21,336 12,554
28 Jackson College Jackson, MI · Public $7,761 80% of the leader · rank #28 $5,227 $13,875 $31,956 4,975
29 Mid Michigan College Harrison, MI · Public $8,370 78% of the leader · rank #29 $7,338 $13,750 $32,868 3,416
30 Grand Rapids Community College Grand Rapids, MI · Public $8,621 78% of the leader · rank #30 $7,373 $9,000 $35,623 12,142
31 Ferris State University Big Rapids, MI · Public $8,624 78% of the leader · rank #31 $2,556 $21,000 $47,339 9,918
32 Glen Oaks Community College Centreville, MI · Public $8,918 77% of the leader · rank #32 $5,282 $10,794 $35,385 1,215
33 Oakland University Rochester, MI · Public $9,120 76% of the leader · rank #33 $4,422 $22,750 $49,017 15,922
34 University of Michigan-Dearborn Dearborn, MI · Public $9,492 76% of the leader · rank #34 $7,211 $22,500 $50,389 8,035
35 P&A Scholars Beauty School Detroit, MI · Private for-profit $10,068 74% of the leader · rank #35 $10,068 $6,333 $16,883 135
36 North Central Michigan College Petoskey, MI · Public $10,083 74% of the leader · rank #36 $9,819 $14,000 $31,314 1,540
37 Saginaw Valley State University University Center, MI · Public $10,775 72% of the leader · rank #37 $9,844 $25,000 $43,530 6,889
38 Protege Academy Mt. Pleasant, MI · Private for-profit $11,619 70% of the leader · rank #38 $11,619 $9,833 $21,793 33
39 Yeshiva Gedolah of Greater Detroit Oak Park, MI · Private nonprofit $11,746 70% of the leader · rank #39 - - - 71
40 Sacred Heart Major Seminary Detroit, MI · Private nonprofit $11,916 69% of the leader · rank #40 $11,916 - - 357
41 Bay de Noc Community College Escanaba, MI · Public $11,949 69% of the leader · rank #41 $9,204 $12,618 $33,829 1,996
42 Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College Mount Pleasant, MI · Public $11,949 69% of the leader · rank #42 $11,949 - $27,389 147
43 Protege Academy East Lansing, MI · Private for-profit $12,179 69% of the leader · rank #43 $12,179 $9,833 $21,793 68
44 Grace Christian University Wyoming, MI · Private nonprofit $12,404 68% of the leader · rank #44 $9,538 $24,375 $31,450 954
45 Andrews University Berrien Springs, MI · Private nonprofit $12,547 68% of the leader · rank #45 $13,406 $26,000 $43,254 2,837
46 Michigan College of Beauty-Monroe Monroe, MI · Private for-profit $12,564 68% of the leader · rank #46 $12,309 $6,333 $21,810 100
47 Paul Mitchell the School-Michigan Sterling Heights, MI · Private for-profit $12,625 67% of the leader · rank #47 $12,625 $13,000 $23,724 162
48 Wayne State University Detroit, MI · Public $12,766 67% of the leader · rank #48 $11,090 $21,250 $45,207 23,553
49 Lake Superior State University Sault Sainte Marie, MI · Public $12,822 67% of the leader · rank #49 $3,516 $23,250 $42,767 1,669
50 University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI · Public $13,138 66% of the leader · rank #50 $1,043 $19,500 $73,762 52,065
51 Baker College Owosso, MI · Private nonprofit $13,157 66% of the leader · rank #51 $11,976 $25,000 $33,619 3,898
52 Northern Michigan University Marquette, MI · Public $14,085 64% of the leader · rank #52 $7,697 $21,474 $37,996 7,197
53 Michigan Technological University Houghton, MI · Public $14,182 63% of the leader · rank #53 $2,045 $24,990 $69,672 7,313
54 Albion College Albion, MI · Private nonprofit $14,301 63% of the leader · rank #54 $10,036 $27,000 $48,203 1,354
55 Creative Hair School of Cosmetology Flint, MI · Private for-profit $14,344 63% of the leader · rank #55 $14,344 $15,406 - 48
56 The Salon Professional Academy of Holland Holland, MI · Private for-profit $14,387 63% of the leader · rank #56 $10,560 - - 72
57 Hillsdale Beauty College Hillsdale, MI · Private for-profit $15,015 61% of the leader · rank #57 - $9,377 - 32
58 University of Detroit Mercy Detroit, MI · Private nonprofit $15,232 61% of the leader · rank #58 $13,088 $23,250 $64,534 5,528
59 Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MI · Public $15,273 61% of the leader · rank #59 $5,263 $26,188 $45,356 16,693
60 Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, MI · Public $15,407 60% of the leader · rank #60 $13,250 $25,000 $43,148 13,324
61 Great Lakes Christian College Lansing, MI · Private nonprofit $15,524 60% of the leader · rank #61 $12,510 $18,779 $28,240 130
62 Kuyper College Grand Rapids, MI · Private nonprofit $15,644 60% of the leader · rank #62 $14,024 $21,389 $33,956 153
63 French Academy of Cosmetology Spring Lake, MI · Private for-profit $15,806 59% of the leader · rank #63 $15,806 $4,223 $13,626 39
64 Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI · Public $16,317 58% of the leader · rank #64 $12,272 $24,500 $47,840 22,269
65 Dymond Designs Beauty School Detroit, MI · Private for-profit $16,563 57% of the leader · rank #65 $16,563 - - 69
66 Aquinas College Grand Rapids, MI · Private nonprofit $16,626 57% of the leader · rank #66 $10,725 $23,000 $40,161 1,295
67 Empire Beauty School-Michigan Grand Rapids, MI · Private for-profit $17,021 56% of the leader · rank #67 $16,158 $10,667 $18,493 285
68 Carnegie Institute Troy, MI · Private for-profit $17,042 56% of the leader · rank #68 - $9,336 $36,364 103
69 Siena Heights University Adrian, MI · Private nonprofit $17,124 56% of the leader · rank #69 $15,624 $18,750 $49,913 1,832
70 Paul Mitchell the School-Great Lakes Port Huron, MI · Private for-profit $17,263 55% of the leader · rank #70 $16,914 $9,667 $23,173 64
71 Cadillac Institute of Cosmetology Cadillac, MI · Private for-profit $17,394 55% of the leader · rank #71 $17,394 - $15,314 48
72 School of Missionary Aviation Technology Ionia, MI · Private nonprofit $17,511 55% of the leader · rank #72 $17,240 - - 36
73 Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MI · Public $17,597 55% of the leader · rank #73 $12,185 $27,000 $46,567 14,399
74 Detroit Business Institute-Downriver Riverview, MI · Private for-profit $17,687 54% of the leader · rank #74 $17,687 - $44,270 141
75 Davenport University Grand Rapids, MI · Private nonprofit $17,707 54% of the leader · rank #75 $16,700 $26,000 $47,041 4,848
76 Madonna University Livonia, MI · Private nonprofit $17,755 54% of the leader · rank #76 $14,759 $23,000 $49,871 2,054
77 Michigan College of Beauty-Troy Troy, MI · Private for-profit $18,013 54% of the leader · rank #77 $18,075 $6,333 $19,608 220
78 Ross Medical Education Center-Kentwood Kentwood, MI · Private for-profit $18,071 53% of the leader · rank #78 $18,173 $9,500 $27,583 112
79 Twin City Beauty College Saint Joseph, MI · Private for-profit $18,125 53% of the leader · rank #79 $16,745 $9,320 $22,381 269
80 Metro Detroit Barber College Detroit, MI · Private nonprofit $18,217 53% of the leader · rank #80 $17,111 - - 30
81 Taylor Andrews Academy of Hair Design-Hair Lab Detroit Barber School Southgate, MI · Private for-profit $18,242 53% of the leader · rank #81 $17,496 $10,556 $24,619 53
82 Ross Medical Education Center-Canton Canton, MI · Private for-profit $18,556 52% of the leader · rank #82 $18,227 $9,500 $26,485 90
83 Ross Medical Education Center-Davison Davison, MI · Private for-profit $18,616 52% of the leader · rank #83 $18,805 $9,500 $28,207 39
84 Ross Medical Education Center-Saginaw Saginaw, MI · Private for-profit $18,831 51% of the leader · rank #84 $18,747 $9,500 $26,485 73
85 Ross Medical Education Center-Flint Flint, MI · Private for-profit $18,996 51% of the leader · rank #85 $18,987 $9,500 $26,485 87
86 Kalamazoo College Kalamazoo, MI · Private nonprofit $19,072 51% of the leader · rank #86 $12,019 $26,077 $46,137 1,196
87 Spring Arbor University Spring Arbor, MI · Private nonprofit $19,353 50% of the leader · rank #87 $14,530 $26,375 $45,592 2,390
88 Elevate Salon Institute Royal Oak, MI · Private for-profit $19,409 50% of the leader · rank #88 $19,409 $6,333 $17,197 169
89 Nuvo College of Cosmetology Norton Shores, MI · Private for-profit $19,413 50% of the leader · rank #89 $18,223 $5,500 $11,598 87
90 Ross Medical Education Center-Warren Warren, MI · Private for-profit $19,427 50% of the leader · rank #90 $19,314 $9,500 $27,138 153
91 Ross Medical Education Center-Lansing Lansing, MI · Private for-profit $19,501 50% of the leader · rank #91 $19,444 $9,500 $27,583 96
92 Ross Medical Education Center-Roosevelt Park Roosevelt Park, MI · Private for-profit $19,544 50% of the leader · rank #92 $19,394 $9,500 $26,485 109
93 Ross Medical Education Center-New Baltimore New Baltimore, MI · Private for-profit $19,604 49% of the leader · rank #93 $19,189 $9,500 $27,138 39
94 Ross Medical Education Center-Port Huron Port Huron, MI · Private for-profit $19,659 49% of the leader · rank #94 $19,445 $9,500 $26,485 28
95 Michigan State University East Lansing, MI · Public $19,680 49% of the leader · rank #95 $7,068 $23,250 $55,084 51,316
96 Ross Medical Education Center-Midland Midland, MI · Private for-profit $19,817 49% of the leader · rank #96 $19,817 $9,500 $28,207 36
97 Ross Medical Education Center-Portage Portage, MI · Private for-profit $19,920 49% of the leader · rank #97 $19,996 $9,500 $26,485 94
98 Ross Medical Education Center-Taylor Taylor, MI · Private for-profit $19,987 48% of the leader · rank #98 $19,710 $9,500 $27,138 57
99 Ross College-Grand Rapids North Grand Rapids, MI · Private for-profit $20,033 48% of the leader · rank #99 $19,911 $9,500 $27,583 267
100 Paul Mitchell the School-Farmington Hills Farmington Hills, MI · Private for-profit $20,192 48% of the leader · rank #100 $20,192 $9,833 $23,132 105
101 Ross Medical Education Center-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI · Private for-profit $20,250 48% of the leader · rank #101 $20,238 $9,500 $28,207 33
102 Cornerstone University Grand Rapids, MI · Private nonprofit $20,301 48% of the leader · rank #102 $20,177 $25,000 $42,598 1,735
103 Ross Medical Education Center-Battle Creek Battle Creek, MI · Private for-profit $20,440 47% of the leader · rank #103 $20,616 $9,500 $26,485 46
104 David Pressley School of Cosmetology Royal Oak, MI · Private for-profit $20,598 47% of the leader · rank #104 $19,631 $6,333 $21,182 263
105 Ross Medical Education Center-Brighton Brighton, MI · Private for-profit $20,607 47% of the leader · rank #105 $20,319 $9,500 $28,207 26
106 Alma College Alma, MI · Private nonprofit $20,694 47% of the leader · rank #106 $17,162 $27,000 $45,720 1,273
107 Brighton Institute of Cosmetology Brighton, MI · Private for-profit $20,810 46% of the leader · rank #107 $20,810 - $31,229 44
108 The Salon Professional Academy-Battle Creek Battle Creek, MI · Private for-profit $21,073 46% of the leader · rank #108 $19,225 $6,333 $17,593 44
109 The University of Olivet Olivet, MI · Private nonprofit $21,393 45% of the leader · rank #109 $19,656 $27,000 $42,637 973
110 Rochester University Rochester Hills, MI · Private nonprofit $21,456 45% of the leader · rank #110 $18,463 $24,475 $40,813 1,173
111 Cleary University Detorit, MI · Private nonprofit $22,143 43% of the leader · rank #111 $18,046 $19,500 $55,077 1,040
112 L'esprit Academy Canton, MI · Private for-profit $22,279 43% of the leader · rank #112 $21,711 $6,333 $19,478 273
113 Paul Mitchell the School-Grand Rapids Kentwood, MI · Private for-profit $22,902 41% of the leader · rank #113 $22,902 $9,833 $24,062 84
114 MIAT College of Technology Canton, MI · Private for-profit $22,985 41% of the leader · rank #114 $20,490 $12,801 $49,665 1,645
115 Calvin University Grand Rapids, MI · Private nonprofit $22,992 41% of the leader · rank #115 $19,281 $23,250 $48,039 3,364
116 Douglas J Aveda Institute East Lansing, MI · Private for-profit $25,357 35% of the leader · rank #116 $22,881 $6,333 $24,836 822
117 Adrian College Adrian, MI · Private nonprofit $25,368 35% of the leader · rank #117 $19,542 $27,000 $42,805 1,760
118 Great Lakes Boat Building School Cedarville, MI · Private nonprofit $25,522 34% of the leader · rank #118 $21,494 - - 28
119 Dorsey College-Dearborn Detroit, MI · Private for-profit $25,615 34% of the leader · rank #119 $25,486 $13,000 $21,514 450
120 Hope College Holland, MI · Private nonprofit $27,182 30% of the leader · rank #120 $17,606 $26,800 $49,727 3,368
121 Northwood University Midland, MI · Private nonprofit $27,232 30% of the leader · rank #121 $25,700 $20,842 $54,058 2,360
122 Abcott Institute Southfield, MI · Private for-profit $27,679 29% of the leader · rank #122 $27,442 $10,411 $20,788 166
123 Chamberlain University-Michigan Troy, MI · Private for-profit $28,045 28% of the leader · rank #123 $27,832 $20,919 $84,533 643
124 Dorsey College Madison Heights, MI · Private for-profit $28,525 26% of the leader · rank #124 $28,326 $13,000 $21,514 547
125 Dorsey College-Roseville Roseville, MI · Private for-profit $29,232 25% of the leader · rank #125 $29,216 $13,000 $21,514 443
126 Dorsey School of Beauty Taylor, MI · Private for-profit $30,126 22% of the leader · rank #126 $29,862 $16,500 $15,237 205
127 Dorsey College-Woodhaven Woodhaven, MI · Private for-profit $30,698 21% of the leader · rank #127 $30,379 $13,000 $21,514 212
128 Dorsey College-Saginaw Saginaw, MI · Private for-profit $31,424 19% of the leader · rank #128 $31,302 $13,000 $21,514 199
129 Dorsey College-Wayne Wayne, MI · Private for-profit $31,930 18% of the leader · rank #129 $31,774 $13,000 $21,514 203
130 Irene's Myomassology Institute Southfield, MI · Private for-profit $32,665 16% of the leader · rank #130 $32,314 $7,389 $22,568 263
131 Concordia University Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI · Private nonprofit $32,811 15% of the leader · rank #131 $28,829 $25,750 $49,761 1,351
132 Lawrence Technological University Southfield, MI · Private nonprofit $32,918 15% of the leader · rank #132 $25,980 $27,000 $58,827 3,260
133 Northwestern Technological Institute Southfield, MI · Private for-profit $34,423 11% of the leader · rank #133 $34,098 $9,500 $33,480 689
134 College for Creative Studies Detroit, MI · Private nonprofit $34,617 11% of the leader · rank #134 $30,267 $26,000 $33,691 1,459
135 Kettering University Flint, MI · Private nonprofit $34,660 11% of the leader · rank #135 $24,910 $27,000 $80,275 1,605
136 Arizona College of Nursing-Southfield Southfield, MI · Private for-profit $38,786 4% of the leader · rank #136 $36,842 $9,500 $32,840 415

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. 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.