Best Online Colleges in Michigan

Jennifer Lee
By
Updated on October 3, 2024
Learn more about our editorial process
The higher education experts at BestColleges.com have reviewed top online colleges in Michigan. Start planning your future at BestColleges.com.

The Michigan Department of Technology, Management, and Budget projects employment in the state to increase 8.8% from 2020 to 2030, the equivalent of nearly 374,000 new positions. The field of education and health services will account for nearly a quarter of this expansion, adding more than 97,300 new jobs during this period. Computer, mathematical, and engineering occupations should also experience above-average growth, while the state’s manufacturing industry is projected to see an overall decline in employment opportunities.

The most lucrative jobs in Michigan typically require some kind of postsecondary education. For example, medical and health services managers in the state earned an annual mean wage of $118,870 in 2023, or roughly $58,000 more per year than the average salary for all other occupations. That same year, the average computer and information systems manager in Michigan commanded a salary of $156,340. These careers require at least a bachelor’s degree, though some specific roles may even call for a master’s degree.

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Best Online Colleges in Michigan

#1 Best Online Colleges in Michigan

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

  • Location-markerAnn Arbor, MI
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$16,404
  • Out-of-state$55,326
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$25,894
  • Out-of-state$52,124
  • Retention Rate98%
  • Acceptance Rate18%
  • Students Enrolled52,065
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment14%
  • AccreditationYes
#2 Best Online Colleges in Michigan

Michigan State University

  • Location-markerEast Lansing, MI
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$16,531
  • Out-of-state$42,427
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$20,202
  • Out-of-state$39,696
  • Retention Rate91%
  • Acceptance Rate87%
  • Students Enrolled51,316
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment52%
  • AccreditationYes
#3 Best Online Colleges in Michigan

Madonna University

  • Location-markerLivonia, MI
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$26,100
  • Out-of-state$26,100
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$16,830
  • Out-of-state$16,830
  • Retention Rate72%
  • Acceptance Rate93%
  • Students Enrolled2,066
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online Enrollment76%
  • AccreditationYes
#4 Best Online Colleges in Michigan

Wayne State University

  • Location-markerDetroit, MI
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$13,660
  • Out-of-state$31,354
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$17,682
  • Out-of-state$38,299
  • Retention Rate82%
  • Acceptance Rate82%
  • Students Enrolled23,702
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment58%
  • AccreditationYes
#5 Best Online Colleges in Michigan

Central Michigan University

  • Location-markerMount Pleasant, MI
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$10,992
  • Out-of-state$19,800
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$808
  • Out-of-state$808
  • Retention Rate73%
  • Acceptance Rate91%
  • Students Enrolled14,423
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment52%
  • AccreditationYes
#6 Best Online Colleges in Michigan

University of Michigan-Flint

  • Location-markerFlint, MI
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$12,216
  • Out-of-state$24,456
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$12,740
  • Out-of-state$19,080
  • Retention Rate76%
  • Acceptance Rate69%
  • Students Enrolled6,130
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment81%
  • AccreditationYes
#7 Best Online Colleges in Michigan

Eastern Michigan University

  • Location-markerYpsilanti, MI
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$15,200
  • Out-of-state$15,200
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$937
  • Out-of-state$1,627
  • Retention Rate68%
  • Acceptance Rate81%
  • Students Enrolled13,352
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment67%
  • AccreditationYes
#8 Best Online Colleges in Michigan

Michigan Technological University

  • Location-markerHoughton, MI
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$18,074
  • Out-of-state$41,022
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$25,110
  • Out-of-state$25,110
  • Retention Rate88%
  • Acceptance Rate53%
  • Students Enrolled7,324
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment15%
  • AccreditationYes
#9 Best Online Colleges in Michigan

University of Detroit Mercy

  • Location-markerDetroit, MI
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$31,058
  • Out-of-state$31,058
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$21,626
  • Out-of-state$21,626
  • Retention Rate83%
  • Acceptance Rate80%
  • Students Enrolled5,528
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online Enrollment43%
  • AccreditationYes

badge-check How We Rank Schools

At BestColleges, we believe a college education is one of the most important investments you can make. We help you navigate the college selection process by offering transparent, inclusive, and relevant school rankings.

We use datasets from trusted sources like the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the data for these schools and our methodologies. This ranking is from 2021. To learn more, check out our full ranking methodologies.

Continuing your education is often critical to professional advancement, but it can be difficult for working professionals and full-time caregivers to find the time to earn a degree. Online programs, however, give you the freedom to learn on your own schedule and from the comfort of your own home. In some cases, online education can even prove less expensive than studying on campus, as distance learners can avoid paying for room and board, commuting costs, and certain student fees.

Our ranking of the best online colleges in Michigan can help you determine which program is right for you. For each school, we provide helpful information on common admission requirements, the types of degrees and programs of study available, online delivery formats, and financial aid opportunities. Additionally, all of the colleges and universities profiled below hold regional accreditation.

Click here to see the best campus colleges in Michigan.

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