It's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Top Michigan Colleges for an Associate ranking - to help you make that decision.
We analyzed 30 colleges and universities across Michigan to determine which ones have the best associate degree programs. Our ranking methodology focuses on different objective factors to make this determination of the best schools. In the next few paragraphs, we'll talk a little about what we use in our analysis and why.
Higher Than Average Earnings
The average early-career salary of those graduating with a associate degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. While associate degree recipients from schools in Michigan earn an average starting salary of $41,635, those from the top 25 school on this list made an average of $43,118.
Starting Salary ( 38731 to 50028 )
Taking Out Student Loans
Another factor that we look at to determine a school's ranking is the average debt load that students take on while they are working on their associate degree.
During their time at college, associate degree seekers from schools in Michigan take out an average of $10,825.
The average debt load at a particular school may not be bad, but it's an important thing to consider in conjunction with post-graduation earnings.
More Ranking Factors That Are Important
Our Best Associate Degree Schools considers other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt.
On a broad level, other factors that go into our rankings include such things as the demand of the school, the student body caliber, if the school has online options, and the educational resources provided by the school.
You may also want to narrow this list by location to find the best associate degree schools nearest you. Also, check out our other college rankings to help you with your college decision.
Our 2025 rankings named Davenport University the best school in Michigan in terms of overall quality for students working on their associate degree. Davenport University is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 152 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Davenport University is $37,926 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $13,912.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Macomb Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan list. This fairly large public school is located in Warren, Michigan, and it awarded 2,252 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Macomb Community College is $36,233 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $9,625 after getting their degree.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ferris State University. The school came in at #3 in Michigan on this year’s best associate degree schools ranking. Ferris is a public institution located in Big Rapids, Michigan. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 758 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $44,454 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $17,327 in student loans.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Wayne County Community College District. The school came in at #4 in Michigan on this year’s best associate degree schools ranking. WCCCD is a public institution located in Detroit, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,042 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from WCCCD make an average of $38,338 per year during the early years of their career.
Out of the 30 associate degree schools in Michigan that were part of this year’s ranking, Grand Rapids Community College landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the fairly large public school awarded 1,204 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Grand Rapids Community College is $39,817 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $9,419 in student loans.
Delta College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan list. Delta College is a public institution located in University Center, Michigan. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 901 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Delta College make an average of $44,892 a year. Associate students leave the school with an average of $9,899 in student loans.
With a ranking of #7, Oakland Community College did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan list. Oakland Community College is located in Auburn Hills, Michigan and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,666 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Those who receive a associate degree from Oakland Community College go into careers with an average salary of $45,477 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $9,436 in student loans.
With a ranking of #8, Baker College did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan list. Baker College is located in Owosso, Michigan and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 379 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Baker College make an average of $37,859 a year. Associate students leave the school with an average of $11,031 in student loans.
Lansing Community College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan list. Lansing, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 1,276 students in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a associate degree from LCC go into careers with an average salary of $52,485 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $14,100.
Washtenaw Community College did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan ranking, coming in at #10. Washtenaw Community College is a public institution located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,471 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from Washtenaw Community College make an average of $45,493 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $13,358 in student loans.
Northern Michigan University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan list. Located in Marquette, Michigan, the medium-sized public school awarded 256 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Northern Michigan University is $50,855 during the early years of their career.
Mott Community College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan list. Located in Flint, Michigan, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,009 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from MCC is $44,380 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $7,600 in student loans.
With a ranking of #13, Henry Ford College did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan list. Located in Dearborn, Michigan, the fairly large public school handed out 1,337 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Henry Ford College is $52,335 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $8,108.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan ranking, coming in at #14. Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a public institution located in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 875 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from Kalamazoo Valley Community College make an average of $43,577 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $10,250 after getting their degree.
Southwestern Michigan College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan ranking. SMC is a small public school situated in Dowagiac, Michigan. It awarded 281 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from SMC make an average of $43,456 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $8,050 after getting their degree.
With a ranking of #16, Muskegon Community College did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan list. Muskegon Community College is located in Muskegon, Michigan and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 505 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $41,627 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #17, Monroe County Community College did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan list. Located in Monroe, Michigan, the small public school awarded 351 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from Monroe County Community College make an average of $49,591 per year during the early years of their career.
Schoolcraft College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan ranking. Livonia, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 1,043 students in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a associate degree from Schoolcraft College go into careers with an average salary of $33,082 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $8,575.
With a ranking of #19, Kellogg Community College did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan list. Kellogg Community College is a small public school located in Battle Creek, Michigan that handed out 573 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $32,616 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #20, Northwestern Michigan College did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan list. NMC is a small public school situated in Traverse City, Michigan. It awarded 526 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from NMC make an average of $45,197 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $8,510 after getting their degree.
Bay de Noc Community College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan ranking. Bay de Noc Community College is a small public school located in Escanaba, Michigan that handed out 254 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Bay College make an average of $38,648 a year.
With a ranking of #22, Lake Michigan College did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan list. Lake Michigan College is a small public school located in Benton Harbor, Michigan that handed out 365 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from LMC make an average of $47,246 per year during the early years of their career.
North Central Michigan College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan list. NCMC is a small public school situated in Petoskey, Michigan. It awarded 196 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from NCMC make an average of $37,054 per year during the early years of their career.
St Clair County Community College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan ranking. This small public school is located in Port Huron, Michigan, and it awarded 798 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from SC4 make an average of $46,108 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $10,422 after getting their degree.
Montcalm Community College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Michigan ranking. Montcalm Community College is located in Sidney, Michigan and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 182 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Montcalm Community College make an average of $49,209 a year.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
