2024 Top Online Colleges in Michigan
Scroll down to see the top not-for-profit colleges and universities in Michigan offering online degree programs.
Want to see the most affordable colleges in Michigan? View them here
Scroll down to see the top not-for-profit colleges and universities in Michigan offering online degree programs.
Want to see the most affordable colleges in Michigan? View them here
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The Great Lakes State has a truckload of affordable online degrees—almost too many to count! To help you save time on your search, we’ve created this guide to choosing an online program in Michigan. Here you’ll find details about online catalogs like MCO, discount tuition programs like the MSEP, and free courses from the University of Michigan. We also profile schools that go out of their way to support low-income students & provide some tips on avoiding unaccredited institutions.
Through its Global Campus, Central Michigan University offers online courses and degree programs that can be completed entirely online. Online bachelor's degrees are available in integrated leadership studies; political science; psychology; community development with concentrations in community services, health sciences and public administration; and administration with concentrations in building code administration and organization administration. Online master's degrees are available in education, educational leadership, educational technology, reading and literacy, business administration, administration, and nutrition and dietetics. Students in the online Master of Business Administration program can choose from five concentrations in subjects such as human resource management, logistics management and marketing. Students in the online Master of Science in Administration can choose from 10 concentrations, including engineering management, research administration, leadership, philanthropy and fundraising, information resource management and public administration. Online undergraduate certificates are available in cybersecurity and social media, and graduate certificates are available in sixteen subjects, including college teaching, international health, health systems leadership, recreation and park administration, cybersecurity and logistics management. Online students at CMU are eligible for financial aid as long as they are degree-seeking students enrolled at least half-time. Online undergraduate students are considered for Federal Direct Student Loans and Federal Pell Grants, and online graduate students are considered for Federal Direct Loans.
Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
26,825 Students
Through its Baker Online platform, Baker College offers about 60 different degree programs, from the associate level to the doctoral level. Programs are available in a variety of fields, including business, education, and computer science. The online MBA program, for example, offers concentrations in areas as diverse as business intelligence and human resource management. Educators can use Baker Online to qualify for additional endorsements or to change levels. Baker Online attracts instructors and students from all over the world, with resources available 24/7. Baker received an award for the quality of its online programs from the Online Learning Consortium, a professional organization dedicated to improving online learning options.
Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
Davenport University's Global Campus is the home of dozens of degree programs and certificates students can earn entirely online. Programs are offered by the College of Business, College of Technology, College of Health Professions, and College of Arts and Sciences. The College of Business offers a competency-based MBA program, which is a self-directed program that allows students to move quickly through the things they already know. Students work at their own pace and can complete the MBA in as little as a year. Traditional MBAs are offered online, too. The Global Campus has programs at all levels from associate to master's and offers degrees and certificates. Most courses are delivered asynchronously.
Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
Lansing Community College provides online programs for students who want to transfer to a four-year school and for students seeking to improve their job skills and employability. Four transfer programs are available completely online, including e-business and psychology. Additionally, any student who is planning to transfer and who wants to complete the required Michigan Transfer Agreement classes can take those courses online. Technical programs available online include certificates in computer programming and computer technology, plus Microsoft Office. There are also online programs for students who want a career in computed tomography or as a correctional officer. The college recently started a 24/7 chat-based online tutoring service.
Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
Michigan State University offers more than 100 classes online and various online and hybrid degree programs. Online degree programs include master's degrees in youth development, teaching and curriculum, special education, program evaluation, pharmacology and toxicology, packaging, nursing, management, literacy and language instruction, law enforcement intelligence and analysis, judicial administration, health professions education, foreign language teaching, family community services, educational technology, criminal justice, clinical laboratory science and biomedical laboratory science. Online certificates are available in over 50 subjects, including strategic management, public health administration, safety pharmacology, judicial administration, security management, watershed management, hospitality sales, food safety and conservation criminology. Hybrid master's degree programs are also available in arts and cultural management, early care and education, educational technology, food safety, integrative pharmacology, marketing research, nurse practitioner studies, physics, public health, social work and supply chain management. Hybrid programs require that at least 50 percent of degree requirements can be completed online. Students in online courses may also be required to attend campus for exams or labs. Online students who are enrolled in a degree program are eligible for financial aid.
Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
50,538 Students
Ferris State University offers fully online and hybrid degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate level. Online bachelor's degrees are available in allied health science, automotive management, dental hygiene, health information management, business administration, integrative studies, nursing and respiratory therapy. Online master's degrees are available in public health and nursing, and 17 online certificates are also available. Online undergraduate certificates are available in subjects such as business-to-business marketing, direct marketing, digital marketing, facility management, gerontology, international business, long-term care and vascular ultrasound. Online graduate certificates are available in two subjects: project management and nursing education. Hybrid degree programs include the Master of Business Administration, the B.S. in HVACR Engineering Technology and the B.S. in Technical Education ProMoTEd. On-campus requirements for these courses vary, but the B.S. in HVACR Engineering Technology, for example, requires a five-day on-campus laboratory session during the fall semester of a student's second year. Online students who are enrolled in a degree program are eligible for financial aid, as long as they meet minimum credit requirements.
Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
14,715 Students
Eastern Michigan University's College of Business has been named one of the best business schools in the country for 14 years in a row by The Princeton Review, which found EMU students had high praise for their instructors and the range of business experiences their classmates have. The College of Business offers online programs, including a master's and grad certificate in integrated marketing communication and certificates in human resource management and entrepreneurship. Technology and education degrees are other options for online students. EMU's online programs are designed to fit into the lives of busy working professionals, and online students pay in-state tuition no matter where they live.
Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
Wayne State University offers online degrees at the undergraduate and graduate level. The University offers an online Bachelor of Social Work and master's degrees in library and information science, instructional technology, career and technical education, sports administration and criminal justice. Online certificates are available in career and technical education, communication and new media, public library services to children and young adults, information management and information systems management. Hybrid degree programs, in which most but not all degree requirements can be met online, are also available. Hybrid degree programs include a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, a graduate certificate in online teaching and a graduate certificate in systems engineering. Online classes are typically delivered in an asynchronous format, although some courses may include synchronous elements. Proctored exams may also be required for some courses, but the University will help students find a proctor in their local area. Online students at Wayne State are eligible for student services such as writing center assistance, library access, advising and financial aid.
Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
Six of UM-Flint's seven online undergrad degrees cover business or healthcare. The Bachelor of Business Administration comes in a three-pack, with majors in Accounting, General Business, and Marketing. The first, new for Fall 2018, is fully online, while the other two only promise online upper-level courses. The master's and doctoral degrees are divided between fully online programs primarily in the healthcare and education sectors and mixed mode courses that require on-campus sessions every one to two months. Those programs run the gamut from an EdD to an MPA. Nursing and business certificates are also available at the graduate and post-graduate levels.
Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
Western Michigan University offers online bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and certificates. Online bachelor's degrees are available in family studies, child and family development, interdisciplinary health services and university studies. Online master's degrees are available in art education, career and technical education, coaching sport performance, educational technology, physical education with concentrations in pedagogy and special education, science education and vision rehabilitation therapy. Online graduate certificates are available in alcohol and drug abuse; educational technology; gerontology; integrative holistic health and wellness; and spirituality, culture and health. Some online programs may include on-campus requirements. The bachelor's degrees in family studies and child and family development, for example, require a few on-campus courses. Additionally, some programs have internship or field placement requirements; students have to get approval to complete this requirement outside of the state of Michigan. Online students are eligible for student resources such as writing center assistance, career counseling, library services and financial aid.
Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
23,529 Students
Northwood University has an online program that is open to adult learners and others who want to earn a Bachelor of Business Administration. Northwood, based in Michigan, offers a broad range of majors for the BBS, including several that are focused on the automotive industry. Students in the program can choose a major in areas such as accounting, aftermarket management, applied management, automotive marketing and management, entrepreneurship, finance, health care management, and marketing. Northwood online students can also earn a BBS in Franchising Management, the only such undergraduate program in the country, according to the university. The online program in computer information management is open only to transfer students. Students in any of these majors can also achieve a minor in operations and supply chain management through online classwork. Online classes are offered in six-week or eight-week terms, with two terms in the spring, fall, and summer. Adult learners may be eligible for academic credit for their previous training or experiences; the college grants such credit after a Prior Learning Assessment process.
Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
You'll have to do some digging to find them, but Walsh College in Michigan does offer a handful of degrees online. At the undergraduate level, that translates to all four of its Bachelor of Business Administration programs. For graduates, it's an MBA, Master of Science in Finance, and Master of Science in Management-Human Resources Management. Each of the MS degrees can be combined with the MBA for a dual degree. Plus, all BBA students can count two courses toward their master's and finish both degrees at Walsh in just five years, saving time and money.
Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
Siena Heights University's online bachelor's programs were ranked as the best among Michigan private schools in the 2016 rankings compiled by U.S. News and World Report. SHU was also ranked second out of all schools surveyed for online student engagement. The programs available online include degree-completion programs for adult learners, associate degrees, and master's degree. Students who already have some college credits or who earned an associate degree can earn a Bachelor of Applied Science, Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts in Multidisciplinary Studies, or Bachelor of Arts in Professional Communication. The college also offers an RN to BSN program online. Master's degrees available online include Master of Arts in Health Care Leadership, Master of Arts in Leadership: Higher Education, or a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership. Undergraduate classes are offered in an eight-week format, and many graduate courses run for 10 weeks. Siena Heights provides online students with personal academic advising and degree planning assistance, online library database and support, and technical support. Online students are eligible for financial aid. The college may grant academic credit for prior learning, and it awards credit for military educational experience.
Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
Delta College has been named a Top Tech-Savvy School by the Center for Digital Education for five years running. It's no surprise, then, that Delta offers over 900 online classes each year. One popular online degree is the Associate in Business Studies in General Management, which provides students with foundational business classes. This 100-percent online program is offered in a cohort format, which means students move with through the coursework with the same group of peers, helping them develop a network of support. The program is available in a full-time format, which takes four semesters, or a part-time format, 10 semesters. Delta has dedicated staff to support online students and provides students with Microsoft Office at no additional cost.
Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
Jackson Community College is one of only two U.S. schools to offer an accredited medical sonography program online, with three Associate in Applied Science options (general, vascular, or cardiac sonography) that can be completed online except for one science class and a practicum. Other online options include transfer associate degrees and several business degrees and certificates. The college is part of Michigan Colleges Online!, the new name for a network of colleges where JCC students might be able to find online classes they need if all the slots are filled at Jackson. The network includes 28 community colleges in Michigan and makes transferring credits back to JCC a breeze.
Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
Oakland University has nine degrees that students can earn online, from bachelor's degrees to a Doctor of Nursing Practice. The two undergraduate programs are degree-completion programs, one for registered nurses and one for Certified Safety Professionals seeking a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Health and Safety. Educators can select from three master's programs, an educational specialist in leadership, and five graduate certificates in special education. The School of Health Sciences has a Master of Science in Safety Management and a Graduate Certificate in Oncology Rehabilitation. Engineers can earn a master's in engineering management. In its 2018 rankings, U.S. News placed Oakland University in the mid-100s for Best Online Bachelor's programs and Best Online Graduate Education Programs.
Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
Henry Ford College groups courses into four categories: 100 percent online, 95 percent online (which may have one on-campus meeting or exam), hybrid, and on-campus. The Michigan community college lets students search and register via the HFC WebAdvisor tool. They'll need to enter the subject and term dates to see whether online sections are available. The school is a member of Michigan Colleges Online, a consortium that allows students to take classes their own campus isn't offering. Any credits earned count toward an HFC degree.
Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
Marygrove University has five online degree programs and a few related certificate programs. The vast majority of these programs are in the field of education, including master's degrees in teaching, educational technology, educational leadership, and special education. Educators can also gain endorsements and certificates through online coursework. The one non-education-related master's delivered online is a Master of Arts in Human Resource Management. Depending upon the program, classes are delivered in seven-week or 15-week terms, and most students complete their graduate degree in six to eight semesters. Marygrove allows online students to use its interest-free payment plan.
Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
The University of Michigan-Dearborn offers a variety of online graduate degrees through its College of Education, Health, and Human Services, College of Engineering and Computer Science, and College of Business. The university doesn't have any completely online programs for undergrads, but students can take some bachelor's level courses online. Business students can earn an MBA, Master of Science in Finance, or MBA/MSE-ISE entirely online with no on-campus requirements. Educators can earn some master's degrees and endorsements in a fully online environment. Options include a Master of Arts in Educational Technology, Master of Education in Special Education with a specialty in mild disabilities, a TESOL certificate, and an Educational Technology endorsement. Online options in engineering include an M.S.E. in Industrial and Systems Engineering, which can be combined with an online MBA for a dual degree. Students can also earn a master's in engineering management, program and project management, or information systems and technology. The College of Engineering and Computer Science also has about 20 graduate certificates that are available online, and credits from those program can be applied toward a graduate degree.
Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
Kellogg Community College offers many online courses each semester, including multiple sessions of some of the more popular classes. While the college doesn't advertise any of its programs as being 100 percent online, KCC is part of the Michigan Community College Association and takes part in the collaborative Michigan Colleges Online program, which allows students at member colleges to take online classes offered through other member institutions and easily transfer the credits to their home school. To help with student success in online classes, distance learners take a 20-minute online orientation class introducing the learning platform. KCC offers transfer associate degrees and career degrees in more than two dozen fields.
Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
More than half the students at Spring Arbor University are adult learners, and that is the demographic Spring Arbor University Online is designed to serve. All online programs are arranged so that students take one seven-week course at a time, and class content is multi-media and requires students to apply their new skills in a practical way. SAU also assigns a student success coach to each online student, to help them navigate the system and succeed in earning their degree. Technical support is available 24/7. Two bachelor's degrees are available online. One is a RN to BSN program for working nurses. The other is a degree completion program leading to a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management. Online master's degrees include an MBA with six concentrations: finance, health care administration, human resource management, management, organizational development, or strategic leadership. Educators can earn a master's in topics such as special education, reading, or TESOL. Online graduate nursing programs include both Master of Science in Nursing programs and RN to MSN programs in the same fields: family nurse practitioner and adult gerontology, primary care, nursing education, or an MSN/MBA dual degree.
Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
Madonna University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree with a focus on online teaching and eLearning. The program provides students with a comprehensive grasp of the latest online learning technologies and designed for P-12 educators, higher education teachers, and corporate trainers. The program is comprised of 30 graduate-level credits and includes a practicum course. The university also offers an online Master of Science in Educational Leadership degree that consists of 30 credits and covers topics such as legal and ethical issues in educational leadership and data management for educational leaders. The university also offers a 30-credit Master of Arts in History degree that follows a hybrid delivery system. Students can expect to earn the degree in two years, following a part-time plan of study. The completion of a capstone project is required for graduation. Madonna University offers a Family and Consumer Science program that is NCATE-accredited, approved by the Michigan Department of Education, and can be pursued 100 percent online. The program is designed for undergraduate students majoring in family and consumer science, for education majors seeking a secondary certification, and for certified teachers seeking Kindergarten - High School endorsement in family and consumer science education.
Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
Andrews University offers several online degrees on both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BS) programs are available in general studies, in addition to the following: BA in Religion, BA in Christian Discipleship, BS in Communication, and a Bachelor of Technology in Aviation. Associate of Arts (AA) and Associate of Science (AS) degrees in general studies are also offered online. Two undergraduate certificate programs are currently available - Certificate in Christian Discipleship and Certificate in Spanish Ministry. The School of Education at Andrews University offers several online degrees on the graduate level. Master of Arts (MA), Education Specialist (EdS), Doctor of Education (EdD), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees are available in four areas: leadership, educational leadership, curriculum and instruction, and higher education administration. A principal certification program as well as graduate certificates in superintendent of schools and in supervisor of instruction are also offered online. The School of Health Professions offers the following online degrees: Doctor of Nursing Practice, Post-MS Certificate in Nursing, Master of Public Health (MPH), and Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT). The MPH program has a concentration in nutrition and wellness. DPT students must attend two on-campus sessions during their first year.
Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
Kettering University offers three online graduate degrees to professionals in STEM occupations. The degrees available are Master of Science in Engineering Management, Master of Science in Lean Manufacturing, and Master of Science in Operations Management. All of the programs require students to complete 10 courses, including a capstone course in which they will create a solution to a real-world problem their organization has encountered. Courses are offered in six- or eight-week sessions and are entirely asynchronous. On average, students complete the degree in about two years. There is never a requirement to go to the campus in Flint, Michigan. Applicants to the engineering management program must have a bachelor's degree in engineering, while the other programs do not specify a particular undergraduate major. Applicants are not required to submit GRE or GMAT scores. Kettering also has three entirely online certificate programs, which may be taken for a standalone credential or as part of a master's program. Graduate certificates are offered in global leadership, operations management, and supply chain and enterprise resource planning.
Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
The online degree programs offered at Grand Valley State University follow a hybrid delivery system, with at least 50 percent of the courses accessible via the Internet. Degrees are available across a wide spectrum of disciplines that include community and public service, education, health professions, interdisciplinary studies, liberal arts and sciences, and nursing. Online programs are available on the undergraduate and graduate levels. Bachelor of Science degrees are offered in: criminal justice, allied health sciences, global studies and social impact, women, gender and sexuality studies, geography, history, and political science. Students pursing the allied health sciences degree can choose to specialize in pre-dosimetry or in respiratory care. There are several online degree offerings on the graduate level, including (but not limited to) the following: Master of Public Administration (MPA), Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Instruction and Curriculum, and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). Students accepted to the MPA program can choose from the following concentrations: sustainable community development, health administration, and non-profit management and leadership. The M.Ed. in Instruction and Curriculum program offers four areas of emphasis: early childhood education, educational differentiation, elementary education, and secondary level education. On the doctoral level, a Doctor of Nursing Practice program is available online.
Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
25,325 Students
The School of Dentistry at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor offers an online Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene program designed for licensed dental hygienists with an associate degree. This 36-credit degree completion program consists of 11 courses delivered in seven-week sessions and can be completed over two years. There is also an online Master of Science in Dental Hygiene degree available. Students accepted to this program are required to enroll in a prescribed sequence of courses in order to earn the degree in 24 months. The program consists of 36 credit-hours and does not accept transfer credits from other graduate programs or institutions. The College of Engineering offers the following Master of Engineering (MEng) degrees online: MEng in Automotive Engineering, MEng in Energy Systems Engineering, MEng in Global Automotive and Manufacturing Engineering, MEng in Manufacturing Engineering, and MEng in Systems Engineering and Design. A number of professional certificate programs are also offered online including a Systems Engineering Certificate and an Emerging Automotive Technologies Certificate. The School of Public Health offers a 16-credit online Certificate in the Foundations of Public Health. Courses for this degree are offered synchronously, requiring students to meet in a virtual classroom at least once a week.
Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
There are a number of graduate degree and certificate programs that are offered online by the Michigan Technological University. The following Master of Science (MS) degrees are currently available: MS in Applied Science Education, MS in Electrical Engineering, MS in Integrated Geospatial Technology, MS in Mechanical Engineering, and MS in Medical Informatics. Students pursuing the MS in Applied Science Education degree can choose one of two tracks - earth system science or applied science and mathematics. Each track is comprised of 30 graduate credits and can be completed after three years of continuous enrollment. The College of Engineering offers an online Master of Engineering degree in hybrid electrical drive vehicle engineering that consists of 30 credits. There is a graduate certificate in the same field offered online as well. There is another certificate program available online from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, which is the Graduate Certificate in Advanced Electric Power Engineering. At the current time, Michigan Tech offers one doctoral program online, the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Mechanical Engineering - Engineering Mechanics. This research-intensive degree has five focus areas: advanced power systems, multi-scale sensors and systems, multidisciplinary engineering dynamic systems, mechanics of multi-scale materials, and space systems.
Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
7,218 Students
Michigan Colleges Online (MCO) was created by Michigan’s 28 community colleges to provide students with greater access to its online programs and courses. You can use the MCO website to search for online degree programs or individual online courses. Students are welcome to take online courses at “Provider Schools,” while still receiving support services at their “Home College.” The course catalog also has info on MCO tuition rates and credit transfers.
The University of Michigan (U-M) has a sunk a lot of dollars and time into online learning initiatives. For example, U-M’s Office of Academic Innovation runs both the Digital Education & Learning Innovation Lab (DEIL) and the Digital Innovation Greenhouse. In addition, U-M is a founding member of Unizin, a consortium of U.S. universities who are dedicated to improving education technology & digital learning.
Most importantly for students, U-M offers free, non-credit online courses (i.e. MOOCs) through both edX and Coursera. If you want to get a taste of the U-M experience, you can do so without paying a cent.
Thinking about online programs outside the state line? It’s useful to know that Michigan is part of the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC), which runs a reduced tuition student exchange program called the Midwest Student Exchange Program (MSEP).
The MSEP homepage allows you to search for qualifying programs by state, degree level, and/or type of school.
Online degrees or courses at your choice of school may or may not qualify for the MSEP discount—it depends on university policies. Check with the Campus Administrator who facilitates the program to be sure. (Any MSEP search result will give you the name of the person to contact.)
Established in 1998 by the State of Michigan, Michigan Virtual University (MVU) is a non-profit organization that seeks to advance distance education for K-12 learners in Michigan. It runs the Michigan Virtual School (MVS), where middle & high school students can learn about taking online courses, and the Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute (MVLRI), which functions as a center for online learning research and innovation.
The MVS is important because Michigan requires students to take at least one online learning course or experience before high school graduation (this is part of the Michigan Merit Curriculum). In addition, middle & high school students who are enrolled in a Michigan public school (exclusive of full-time cyber schools) are allowed to take up to two online courses per academic term with consent from their parent or guardian.
MVU’s Michigan Online Course Catalog has a full list of online courses available through local school districts, intermediate school districts, and the MVS. Course enrollment is handled by the local school.
To earn the title of “Affordable,” these Michigan schools had to meet our stringent criteria for quality, flexibility, price, and use of financial aid money. (You’ll see a CAG Score next to their profiles in our ranking.) Trying to decide between two schools? College Scorecard has useful financial statistics about each institution, including the percentage of students paying down debt within three years of graduation.
CMU Online has the lowdown on CMU’s online degrees & programs, including accelerated degrees and professional development programs. There’s a comprehensive section on tuition & fees, as well as details on applying for financial aid and scholarships that are open to Global Campus students. Tuition discounts are available for federal employees and military. In fact, CMU offers a whole host of benefits to military & veterans, including military transfer credits, application fee waivers, special military scholarships, and a CMU Veterans Award! The university is G.I. Bill approved and a Yellow Ribbon participant.
Thinking of transferring? CMU accepts Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) and professional certification credits. CMU is also part of the innovative Alternative Credit Project (ACP), which gives students access to a pool of free or low-cost online courses that CMU will accept toward a degree (up to 60 ACP credits). If you’re just looking for job skills, CMU offers non-credit, online career training courses & certificate programs through ed2go.
Want to know the best news? CMU’s highly affordable price tag comes with solid U.S. News & World Report online rankings. In 2018, CMU was in the Top 70 of Best Online Bachelor’s Programs, the Top 55 of Best Online MBA Programs, and the Top 50 of Best Online Graduate Education Programs.
Ferris Online is the central spot for Ferris’s online & hybrid programs, including degree completion options. Here you’ll find a list of current tuition rates, steps on applying for financial aid, and details on Ferris’s scholarships for online students. Veterans are eligible for in-state tuition and the FSU Military Veteran Scholarship. Ferris also has consortium agreements with community colleges that allow students to earn their degree at an off-campus site, but still be eligible to receive financial aid from Ferris.
Ferris has a sturdy reputation in U.S. News & World Report rankings. It had a Top 30 placing for Best Online Graduate Business Programs (Excluding MBA) and a Top 60 spot for Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs. Keep an eye on those business programs—they’ve been rising rapidly in the ranks for the past few years.
GVSU’s Online Education website has a complete list of its online courses & programs, but it’s the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships that has info on tuition rates and financial aid opportunities. If you can’t afford a degree just yet, GVSU’s Center for Adult and Continuing Studies offers cheap non-credit, non-degree online courses and career training programs through ed2go.
MSU’s Office of the Registrar has a full list of its online & hybrid programs, including certificates. If you’re interested in online graduate programs at the Eli Broad College of Business, you should also check out Michigan State University Online. The Office of the Controller lists up-to-date tuition rates and the Office of Financial Aid contains advice on aid. Like so many Michigan schools, MSU is military-friendly—it participates in the Yellow Ribbon program and adheres to the Principles of Excellence established by the federal government regarding student veterans. The Student Veterans Resources Center has more info.
When it comes to distance learning, MSU has one of the best academic records in the state! In the list of MSU’s online rankings from U.S. News & World Report, you’ll often find MSU near the Top 20 of Best Online Graduate Business Programs (Excluding MBA) and the Top 30 of Best Online Graduate Education Programs. In 2018, MSU was #10 in Best Online Graduate Criminal Justice Programs and #11 in Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs.
MTU’s website on Online Learning is chock full of info on its online graduate programs, as well as links to online courses for undergraduates and high school students. Each section also has details on tuition costs. Wondering if you can afford a master’s degree? The Student Financial Services Center has a page on Aid for Graduate Students and a link to Veterans Services. Credit may be available for armed service education and training.
MTU’s major U.S. News & World Report ranking is for Best Online Graduate Engineering Programs. It’s usually in the Top 60.
WMU’s Online Education website is the best place to start. In addition to links to all of WSU’s online programs, it has the facts on online tuition and info on WMU’s tuition adjustment for students enrolled in distance learning courses. Looking for financial aid options? Visit the Student Financial Aid Office. Veteran or active duty military? Check out the Office of Military and Veterans Affairs. WMU is known as a military-friendly school and it grants in-state tuition to various servicemembers and their dependents. The Office has a whole section devoted to Educational Benefits for military.
Like other schools in Michigan, WMU Professional Development offers non-credit, online career training courses through ed2go. It’s also an approved provider of training for Michigan Works tuition reimbursement programs.
Whether you want an online or on-campus degree, make sure your school is fully accredited by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. National accreditation may apply to distance learning institutions (including for-profits), but regional accreditation is the gold standard—especially if you’re trying to transfer credits or apply for federal financial aid.
Michigan has a few unaccredited schools that still occasionally appear in web searches, and a couple of regionally accredited schools with quality concerns. We cover them all below.
Alhurra University is an unaccredited school that holds no accreditations recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, and does not appear in the CHEA Database or College Scorecard.
NTBI is a Bible college in Jackson that holds no national or regional accreditations recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. On its website, NTBI states that it is “currently positioning itself toward accreditation.”
University of Berkley is a well-known diploma mill that holds no accreditations recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, and does not appear in the CHEA Database or College Scorecard. USA Today reports that the school was sued in 2007 “because of its obvious attempt to be confused with the University of California-Berkeley.”
University of Phoenix is a for-profit university based in Arizona. It is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). However, College Scorecard reports that the Southfield Campus has a very low graduation rate and a lower than average number of students paying down their debt within three years of leaving school. University of Phoenix has also been the subject of multiple lawsuits over the years.
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