Best Community Colleges in Michigan of 2023

Serving close to 20,000 students from Ann Arbor and its surrounding areas, Washtenaw Community College offers 137 programs. With a campus surrounded by acres of woods and natural spaces, students can experience the beauty of southeast Michigan while studying for their associate degree or professional certification. WCC’s Career Pathways include Manufacturing & Automotive, Skilled Trades & Construction, Health Sciences, and Career & Technical Education. Almost all students at WCC are eligible for some form of financial aid. The vast majority of students, 65%, start their college career at WCC with the intent to transfer credits to a 4-year college or university. WCC has more than 80 transfer agreements with higher education institutions, including the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, and many other colleges and universities.

St. Clair County Community College is a two-year college serving Michigan’s Blue Water Area from the city of Port Huron. With an average class size of 16, St. Clair offers a personalized experience that fosters a thriving student community. Additionally, St. Clair is one of only seven Michigan community colleges that offer student housing, which allows students to experience many of the benefits of a close-knit campus community one would have at a traditional four-year university. Programs at St. Clair are divided into five subject areas: Business and Information Technology, Health Sciences, Humanities and Fine Arts, STEM, and Social Sciences. These subject areas offer a diverse range of associate degrees, undergraduate diplomas, and professional certificates.

West Shore Community College was established in 1967 to serve students in Mason County; eventually, West Shore also established a second campus to serve students in Manistee County. Located on 360 acres of Michigan timberland, WSCC serves as a cultural hub for the surrounding areas, regularly offering concerts, performances, and special events open to the general public. Students in Mason and Manistee Counties can pursue over 35 associate degrees and 18 professional certificates in areas such as Welding, Mechatronics, and Business Skills. No matter what profession or skill students are interested in mastering, West Shore Community College is committed to providing customizable, flexible degree plans to help students accomplish their goals.

North Central Michigan College’s main campus is located in the city of Petoskey with subsidiary learning centers in Gaylord, East Jordan, and Cheboygan. Boasting an average student-to-faculty ratio of 14:1, NCMC offers students the chance to make meaningful connections with their peers and experienced faculty members. The highly ranked Nursing associate degree is one of the most popular degree plans at NCMC, preparing thousands of future health care professionals for their exams and long-term educational goals. More than half of all students enrolled at NCMC in the 2020-2021 school year received financial aid or grants to offset their tuition costs.

Glen Oaks Community College is a community college in Centreville that serves students in St. Joseph County. With a variety of associate degrees and certificates offered both in person and online, students at Glen Oaks have many options to choose from to best suit their schedules and professional goals. To keep up with rising demand and recent technological innovations, GOCC recently invested in state-of-the-art nursing and health laboratories. Facilities like these allow students to gain competitive professional skills and valuable hands-on experience while pursuing their degrees. Some of the most popular programs at GOCC include the associate and certificate programs in Agricultural Equipment Technology.

Serving Roscommon County, Kirtland Community College is based in the city of Grayling with regional learning centers in Gaylord and Roscommon. The largest geographic district in Michigan, KCC serves students throughout nine counties. In addition to University Transfer degrees, students at Kirtland can take advantage of career-entry programs in professions like Cosmetology, Skilled Trades, Criminal Justice, and Art and Design. With thriving intercollegiate athletic programs in golf, cross-country, basketball, and bowling, KCC offers select half- and full-ride scholarships to talented student athletes. Students who work full or part time can enroll in evening or weekend courses or pursue an online degree option.

Muskegon Community College’s main campus is based in the city of Muskegon with extension centers serving Newaygo and Ottawa counties. MCC offers 54 associate degree programs in addition to 32 professional certification programs, providing options for mechanical engineering, urban forest management, digital game development, and many other subject areas. MCC’s dedication to community enrichment is evidenced in the free, open-to-the-public Carr-Fles Planetarium on the MCC campus.

A tribally controlled land grant community college located in Mount Pleasant, Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College is dedicated to promoting the culture and values of the Anishinaabek Community. SCTC serves students in the greater Mount Pleasant area and the Isabella and Saganing Reservations. The Isabella Reservation is the principal reservation of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe. SCTC offers four degrees: the Associate of Arts in Business, the Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts, the Associate of Arts in Native American Studies, and the Associate of Arts in Science. A new Developmental Program is currently being developed and will be offered to students in future semesters.

Located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Gogebic Community College serves students across the Houghton County area. Gogebic’s main campus is located in Ironwood, and the affiliated Copper Country Center is located in Houghton. The experienced instructors and faculty members at GCC aim to provide a holistic educational experience. Gogebic’s wide range of career programs, certificate programs, and online programs provide quality education at an affordable price. Some of Gogebic’s most hands-on programs include the Introduction to Manufacturing Basic Operations and Introduction to Robot System Operations courses. These courses allow students to receive hands-on training at the Skilled Trades Center located in Ironwood.

With campuses throughout West Michigan, the main campus of Grand Rapids Community College is located in downtown Grand Rapids. The college serves students throughout Kent and Ottawa counties. With choices of liberal arts degree, professional certifications, adult education courses, and more, students can customize their course schedule to attain the degree or diploma that is right for them. The Library & Learning Commons, a research and study space designed for a learner-centered education, is just one example of the state-of-the-art on-campus experience offered at GRCC. Faculty at GRCC are foremost in their fields, recognized both nationally and internationally for their academic and professional contributions.