Michigan has been a supporter of online education as far back as 2006, when the state became the first to require an online course or learning experience as a graduation requirement for all students. State Governor Rick Snyder proposed a new "Any Time, Any Place, Any Way, Any Pace," public school learning model in a 2011 letter outlining state education reform. The plan called for state funding to help promote dual enrollment, blended learning, online education and early college attendance in order to provide education opportunities 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The state's dedication to online education continues beyond high school as well. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there are currently 92 institutions of higher education in Michigan that offer some form of distance learning including: fully online bachelor's degree programs, online degree completion programs, certificates and single online courses.
Michigan has not been exempt from the inflation seen nationwide however, and has, therefore, had to adjust tuition and fees at its public institutions. Partially also due to the limited 4% growth of enrollment, Michigan's tuition prices for four-year public colleges has risen 41.2% over the last five years, according to College Board's Trends in Education Series. In addition, total state appropriations for higher education have seen a 19.3% decrease over the same period of time.
Learn more about distance programs offered in Michigan from our informative online database of top online colleges. The State Facts page can also inform you of scholarship opportunities, graduation rates, tuition costs and retention rates in Michigan.
Featured Online Programs
93 Colleges in Michigan
Additional Resources
Official State Links
College Savings
- Michigan Education Savings Program: The state's 529 savings plan offers students and families nine different options for investing their money early. All 529 plans offer some tax benefits and the chance to plan for college costs far ahead of time.
- Michigan Education Trust: The state's MET program allows students and families to save by paying for college tuition at today's prices. Enrollees can pay for part or all of college tuition years ahead of when they will attend, essentially "locking in" today's tuition rates in order to avoid price hikes and inflation.
- Michigan Student Aid Resources: This state site includes multiple resources to help students find ways to save and pay for college. It includes the "Affording College Guidebook."
Education Nonprofits
- The Kalamazoo Promise: Entirely funded by anonymous donors, this nonprofit is helping public high school grads in Michigan attend four-year public college and universities. Students can apply for a full-tuition scholarship; the organization has already funded thousands of students' passage to higher education.
- The Kresge Foundation: This nonprofit, headquartered in Detroit, works both in Michigan and on a national scale to expand opportunities for low income students and families. They invest in educational, artistic, and community-based initiatives.
- Michigan AmeriCorps VISTA: This nonprofit works to fight poverty in Michigan and to provide educational opportunities and engagement for K-12 students who may be in poverty. Through college counseling, tutoring, financial literacy activities and other means, the organization tries to support impoverished students in the journey toward higher education.
Higher Education News
- President's Council, State Universities of Michigan: This council compiles news from all of the state's major universities.
- Michigan Daily: Published by students at the University of Michigan, this is one of the most comprehensive university news publications.