According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there are more than 100 colleges and universities in Michigan that offer Associate’s degrees or higher, and another 80+ school that provide professional certificates. With so many different colleges and universities to choose from, the choice of where to study in Michigan can be quite tricky. For students seeking an online degree in Michigan, the list of schools to choose from is a little shorter, but can still be quite daunting. This guide is designed to help make your decision more comfortable for the best online colleges.
We’ve researched the best online colleges in Michigan to help you find a school that is the right fit for you and your career goals. To help you out we’ll break up our list according to academic primary and emphasis rather than just listing the best overall online schools. In each section, we’ll list the top recommended online classes for that job or career path.
The subjects that we’ve chosen to include are as follows; Business & Management, Computers & Technology, Criminal Justice & Law, Education & Teaching, Nursing & Healthcare, Engineering, and Psychology & Counseling.
Rank | School | Location |
---|---|---|
1 | Business & Management – University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, Michigan |
2 | Computers & Technology – Lawrence Technological University | Southfield, Michigan |
3 | Criminal Justice & Law – Michigan State University | East Lansing, Michigan |
4 | Education & Teaching – Grand Valley State University | Allendale Charter Township, Michigan |
5 | Nursing & Healthcare – Michigan State University | East Lansing, Michigan |
Here are the best online colleges:
Business & Management – University of Michigan
The University of Michigan makes no distinction between degrees obtained through its online programs and degrees achieved through traditional, on-campus learning. In fact, classes online are often taught by the same professors and require a similar workload to campus-based courses. The U.S. News & World Report ranked the University number four on its list of the best online undergraduate business programs, because of its high level of interaction between professors and students.
Computers & Technology – Lawrence Technological University
Lawrence Technological University has received a lot of praise over its 84 years of existence. The Princeton review recently gave LTU a “Best in the Midwest” designation, and Bloomberg Businessweek recognized it as being in the top 30% of all U.S. Colleges. The school’s online Master of Science in Information Technology was also recognized by the U.S. News and World Report as one of the top 40 best online computer science programs. In the program, students study coursework in Application Programming, Information Systems, Network Implementation & Management, Database & Enterprise Models, Infrastructure, Project Management, and Global Leadership Development.
Criminal Justice & Law – Michigan State University
Michigan State University’s criminal justice program is the most extended standing program in the nation that offers online Master’s degree programs in Criminal Justice. Students in the program can also combine their degree with a specialization in security management, conservation criminology, homeland security, anti-counterfeiting, and international focus. In 2017 the U.S. News and World Report ranked the program as the 16th best online graduate Criminal Justice program in the nation.
Education & Teaching – Grand Valley State University
All of the classes at GVSU are already available so that they are available to students at any time throughout the year. The accessibility allows students to have maximum flexibility with time management of the courses they take. Many of the programs at GVSU also lead to a state teaching endorsement, which allows students to find employment upon graduation immediately. GVSU also offers some hybrid courses that enable students to complete coursework online, while still being able to meet with their counselors, administrators, and faculty face to face.
Nursing & Healthcare – Michigan State University
Most undergraduate nursing programs require a significant amount of in-class application of concepts that are not possible to simulate online. For that reason, most online nursing programs only offer graduate degrees. Of those online graduate programs, Michigan State University provides some of the best. The MSU MSN program was ranked the 31st best online nursing program in the nation by the U.S. News and World report in 2017. The Michigan State MSN program allows three different specialized emphases including; Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist with Education concentration, and Nurse Anesthesia concentration.
Engineering – Michigan Technological University
MTU’s online graduates have a 90% placement rate, and are in high demand across the U.S. One of the unique aspects of the MTU program is that online students still participate in labs and online research as part of their coursework. This applied learning is genuinely unique to Michigan Technological University. With well-renowned faculty and teachers, it’s no wonder that MTU is one of the top 50 best online engineering programs.
Psychology & Counseling – Central Michigan University
Twenty-Seven percent of all undergraduate students studying online at CMU, choose to study Psychology, making it the most popular undergraduate degree at the University. According to bestcollegereviews.org, Central Michigan University has the third best online psychology program in the nation. CMU offers their complete B.S. in Psychology online, including a wide array of different classes that allow students to tailor their studies to their particular interests. With very affordable pricing per credit, CMU is a great bet for anyone looking to get an online psychology degree.
Honorable Mentions
Most Popular Major | Tuition | Acceptance Rate | U.S. News & World Report Rank | |
Ferris State University | Nursing (73%) | $392 per credit hour | 78.4% | 49 |
Siena Heights University | Radiologic Technology/ Science (27%) | $480 per credit hour | 74.2% | 72 |
Wayne State University | Social Work (100%) | $409 per credit hour | 77.3% | 79 |
Cornerstone University | Business Administration and Management (63%) | $385 per credit hour | 68.8% | 143 |
Northwood University | General Business/ Commerce (65%) | $425 per credit hour | 69.9% | 150 |