Find out which colleges in Michigan enroll the most students.
Whether you’re a looking to attend a big school or you just need some help narrowing down your list, knowing the largest schools in your state can be a big help in your college search.
In this article, we’ll cover not only the largest colleges in Michigan, but also their tuition and academic strengths. This can give you an idea of what the most popular schools in Michigan are, as well as why they are popular.
10. Delta College
Type: Community College
Enrollment: 17,000
Tuition: $86/credit (in-district); $135/credit (out-of-district); $200/credit (out-of-state)
Best Programs: Some of Delta’s two-year vocational offerings include nursing, medical office professions, automotive service technology and personal training.
Fun Fact: Delta is the main college destination for three Michigan counties: Saginaw, Midland and Bay.
9. Eastern Michigan University
Type: Public University
Enrollment: 18,245
Tuition: $4,500 (undergrad, in-state); $12,000 (undergrad, out-of-state)
Best Program: The Department of Communication, Media, & Theatre Arts at Eastern Michigan is traditionally quite strong.
Fun Fact: Because of its location in Ypsilanti, which sits between Ann Arbor and Detroit, EMU’s campus combines the best of big city life with more of a small town vibe. Recently, Ypsi has also become a hotspot for local indie music, making EMU a great destination for musicians and music lovers alike.
8. Oakland University
Type: Public University
Enrollment: 19,379
Tuition: $5,000 (in-state); $12,000 (out-of-state)
Best Program: Oakland University has a very popular burgeoning musical theater program, which serves as an alternative to similar programs at Western Michigan University or the University of Michigan.
Fun Fact: A hallmark of Oakland’s campus is the historic Meadow Brook Hall. This gorgeous manor-turned-museum houses paintings and sculptures by many important artists, from the 16th century through the 20th.
7. Lansing Community College
Type: Community College
Enrollment: 21,969
Tuition: $81/credit (in-district); $162/credit (out-of-district); $243/credit (out-of-state)
Best Program: Lansing Community College excels at preparing students for bachelor’s programs, offering transfer agreements with four-year colleges throughout Michigan.
Fun Fact: In addition to being the major community college in the Lansing area, LCC is one of the three largest two-year colleges in Michigan.
6. Western Michigan University
Type: Public University
Enrollment: 25,045
Tuition: $4,569 (undergrad, in-state); $11,209 (undergrad, out-of-state)
Best Program: Western Michigan University’s School of Music is nationally renowned, particularly its jazz studies program, which is considered to be one of the best in the country.
Fun Fact: Due to its proximity to Lake WMU experiences an unusually high amount of snowfall each year. This can make walking to class in winter a pain sometimes, but it’s perfect if you love winter sports!
5. Central Michigan University
Type: Public University
Enrollment: 28,389
Tuition: $5,475 (in-state); $11,835 (out-of-state)
Best Programs: Though perhaps best known for its entrepreneurship program, Central Michigan University offers a range of strong programs in fields like journalism, audiology and education.
Fun Fact: As of 2013, CMU will also feature a brand-new College of Medicine.
4. Wayne State University
Type: Public University
Enrollment: 32,380
Tuition: $7,844 (undergrad, in-state); $16,595 (undergrad, out-of-state)
Best Programs: The Wayne State University School of Medicine is especially strong, as is the School of Library and Information Science.
Fun Fact: One of WSU’s biggest strengths is its campus, which sits right in the middle of Detroit. This gives students plenty to explore not only socially, but also academically, culturally and professionally.
3. University of Michigan
Type: Public University
Enrollment: 32,282
Tuition: $6,400 (in-state); $19,464 (out-of-state)
Best Programs: The University of Michigan has world-class programs in virtually every field it teaches, from medicine to literature to music performance.
Fun Fact: Activism has been an important part of U of M’s identity throughout the school’s existence. An improvised speech that President Kennedy gave at the university in 1960 is cited as the moment of conception for the Peace Corps.
2. Michigan State University
Type: Public University
Enrollment: 47,954
Tuition: $9,690 (in-state); $23,550 (out-of-state)
Best Programs: Michigan State University has many excellent programs, which are not limited to economics, political science, education and journalism.
Fun Fact: Football is an honored tradition at MSU, and the rivalry with U of M is especially important. Whether the game is played in East Lansing or Ann Arbor, the Spartans faithful show up in droves to support their team in the battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy.
1. Oakland Community College
Type: Community College
Enrollment: 81,000
Tuition: $71.40/credit (in-district); $125.30/credit (out-of-district); $175.80/credit (out-of-state)
Best Programs: Whether you’re looking for training in the skilled trades or a transfer to a four-year college, OCC has a program that can suit your needs.
Fun Fact: Despite being founded just 55 years ago, OCC is the largest college in Michigan by enrollment.
Quick Tips
- You’ll notice that the largest schools in Michigan are either public universities or community colleges. Don’t let this dissuade you from checking out the state’s private schools.
- When choosing a college, it’s important to compare your educational goals to the schools’ academic strengths.
- Note the differences between in-state and out-of-state tuition. This could impact your decision.