Best small colleges in Michigan
Colleges with fewer than 2,000 undergraduates, ranked by Compass Score.
Best small colleges in Michigan23 schools
23 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in Michigan.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Fewer than 2,000 undergraduate students (federal enrollment).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Hillsdale College
Hillsdale, MI · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Michigan
- 1,688 undergraduates
- 90% graduate
- 2
- 3Tie
Chamberlain University-Michigan
Troy, MI · Private for-profitTop 1% for graduation
- 643 undergraduates
- 100% graduate
- 3Tie
Kettering University
Flint, MI · Private nonprofitTop 3% for earnings
- 1,290 undergraduates
- 71% graduate
- 5
Andrews University
Berrien Springs, MI · Private nonprofitTop 18% for graduation
- 1,312 undergraduates
- 72% graduate
- 6
Spring Arbor University
Spring Arbor, MI · Private nonprofit#12 in Michigan
- 1,091 undergraduates
- 64% graduate
- 7
- 8
Northwood University
Midland, MI · Private nonprofitTop 23% for earnings
- 1,989 undergraduates
- 63% graduate
- 9
Lake Superior State University
Sault Ste Marie, MI · PublicTop 25% for low net price
- 1,669 undergraduates
- 51% graduate
- 10
College for Creative Studies
Detroit, MI · Private nonprofitTop 20% for graduation
- 1,399 undergraduates
- 71% graduate
- 11
- 12
Aquinas College
Grand Rapids, MI · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- 1,209 undergraduates
- 65% graduate
- 13
Cornerstone University
Grand Rapids, MI · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- 1,444 undergraduates
- 62% graduate
- 14
- 15
Madonna University
Livonia, MI · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- 1,740 undergraduates
- 60% graduate
- 16
Kuyper College
Grand Rapids, MI · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- 153 undergraduates
- 50% graduate
- 17
Grace Christian University
Wyoming, MI · Private nonprofitTop 23% for low net price
- 891 undergraduates
- 51% graduate
- 18
- 19
Cleary University
Howell, MI · Private nonprofitSolid: Compass grade C+
- 811 undergraduates
- 41% graduate
- 20
Great Lakes Christian College
Lansing, MI · Private nonprofitSolid: Compass grade C+
- 130 undergraduates
- 36% graduate
- 21
Concordia University Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI · Private nonprofitSolid: Compass grade C+
- 1,044 undergraduates
- 48% graduate
- 22
Rochester University
Rochester Hills, MI · Private nonprofitSolid: Compass grade C+
- 1,144 undergraduates
- 44% graduate
- 23
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsdale College | — | — | — | 90% |
| Kalamazoo College | $19,072 | $26,077 | $65,590 | 76% |
| Chamberlain University-Michigan | $28,045 | $20,919 | $92,405 | 100% |
| Kettering University | $34,660 | $27,000 | $94,823 | 71% |
| Andrews University | $12,547 | $26,000 | $53,187 | 72% |
| Spring Arbor University | $19,353 | $26,375 | $51,732 | 64% |
| Alma College | $20,694 | $27,000 | $54,742 | 63% |
| Northwood University | $27,232 | $20,842 | $63,075 | 63% |
| Lake Superior State University | $12,822 | $23,250 | $49,045 | 51% |
| College for Creative Studies | $34,617 | $26,000 | $44,860 | 71% |
| Alpena Community College | $3,320 | $9,024 | $36,442 | 52% |
| Aquinas College | $16,626 | $23,000 | $49,584 | 65% |
| Cornerstone University | $20,301 | $25,000 | $47,314 | 62% |
| Albion College | $14,301 | $27,000 | $58,799 | 62% |
| Madonna University | $17,755 | $23,000 | $59,058 | 60% |
| Kuyper College | $15,644 | $21,389 | $41,066 | 50% |
| Grace Christian University | $12,404 | $24,375 | $41,663 | 51% |
| Adrian College | $25,368 | $27,000 | $55,504 | 48% |
| Cleary University | $22,143 | $19,500 | $54,186 | 41% |
| Great Lakes Christian College | $15,524 | $18,779 | $31,053 | 36% |
| Concordia University Ann Arbor | $32,811 | $25,750 | $56,075 | 48% |
| Rochester University | $21,456 | $24,475 | $48,707 | 44% |
| The University of Olivet | $21,393 | $27,000 | $47,907 | 35% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 10
- Arizona 8
- Arkansas 13
- California 63
- Colorado 5
- Connecticut 10
- Florida 27
- Georgia 24
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 25
- Indiana 20
- Iowa 23
- Kansas 18
- Kentucky 18
- Louisiana 8
- Maine 11
- Maryland 13
- Massachusetts 31
- Minnesota 19
- Mississippi 8
- Missouri 31
- Montana 7
- Nebraska 12
- New Hampshire 7
- New Jersey 18
- New Mexico 7
- New York 55
- North Carolina 34
- North Dakota 4
- Ohio 58
- Oklahoma 11
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 69
- Puerto Rico 31
- South Carolina 19
- South Dakota 5
- Tennessee 24
- Texas 31
- Utah 7
- Vermont 4
- Virginia 30
- Washington 12
- West Virginia 12
- Wisconsin 15