Most Affordable Private Colleges in Michigan
Private nonprofit colleges rarely cost what their price tags say. Among the 23 we rank in Michigan, the average net price runs from $12,404 to $34,660 a year, a range of $22,256.
The median net price is $20,301, $3,559 (15%) below the national median of $23,860 for private nonprofit colleges. Median tuition and fees are $34,400, but the median net price, which also counts room, board and books after grants, is $20,301, so aid more than covers the housing and living costs added on top of tuition.
Grace Christian University ranks first at $12,404, ahead of Andrews University ($12,547) and Baker College ($13,157).
How this list is built
A college appears here only if it meets every condition below.
- Colleges considered
- Private nonprofit 4-year colleges whose main award is the bachelor's degree
- Ranked by net price, lowest first. Ties are broken by larger undergraduate enrollment, then by name.
- Main campuses only, with at least 60% of core data fields reported
- Main campus located in Michigan
- At least 500 undergraduate students enrolled (fall 2024)
- A reported net price value (schools without one are not ranked)
- This page is published only when at least 15 schools qualify; Michigan has 23
- Data period
- Net price: average for students receiving aid, academic year 2023-24.
- Tuition and fees: full-time undergraduate sticker price, academic year 2024-25 (the same for in-state and out-of-state students).
- Net price by income: students with family income of $0 to $30,000, academic year 2023-24.
- Graduation rate: first-time, full-time students who started in fall 2018 (4-year) or fall 2021 (2-year), finishing within 150% of normal time.
- Earnings: median earnings four years after completing, measured in 2022 and 2023 for the 2017-18 and 2018-19 cohorts, in 2024 dollars.
- Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.
Showing all 23 qualifying schools. Select a column heading to re-sort the table.
| 1 | Grace Christian University Wyoming, MI Private nonprofit · 4-year | $12,404 | $18,690 | $9,538 | 46% | $43,821 |
| 2 | Andrews University Berrien Springs, MI Private nonprofit · 4-year | $12,547 | $35,056 | $13,406 | 69% | $60,517 |
| 3 | Baker College Owosso, MI Private nonprofit · 4-year | $13,157 | $13,000 | $11,976 | 33% | $53,754 |
| 4 | Albion College Albion, MI Private nonprofit · 4-year | $14,301 | $56,950 | $10,036 | 59% | $55,297 |
| 5 | University of Detroit Mercy Detroit, MI Private nonprofit · 4-year | $15,232 | $32,946 | $13,088 | 68% | $78,953 |
| 6 | Aquinas College Grand Rapids, MI Private nonprofit · 4-year | $16,626 | $40,218 | $10,725 | 64% | $51,578 |
| 7 | Siena Heights University Adrian, MI Private nonprofit · 4-year | $17,124 | $30,778 | $15,624 | 45% | $62,131 |
| 8 | Davenport University Grand Rapids, MI Private nonprofit · 4-year | $17,707 | $24,466 | $16,700 | 53% | $69,009 |
| 9 | Madonna University Livonia, MI Private nonprofit · 4-year | $17,755 | $28,440 | $14,759 | 59% | $61,516 |
| 10 | Kalamazoo College Kalamazoo, MI Private nonprofit · 4-year | $19,072 | $61,050 | $12,019 | 79% | $55,566 |
| 11 | Spring Arbor University Spring Arbor, MI Private nonprofit · 4-year | $19,353 | $34,014 | $14,530 | 61% | $55,203 |
| 12 | Cornerstone University Grand Rapids, MI Private nonprofit · 4-year | $20,301 | $23,000 | $20,177 | 62% | $53,010 |
| 13 | Alma College Alma, MI Private nonprofit · 4-year | $20,694 | $49,552 | $17,162 | 63% | $55,040 |
| 14 | The University of Olivet Olivet, MI Private nonprofit · 4-year | $21,393 | $34,068 | $19,656 | 36% | $52,261 |
| 15 | Rochester Christian University Rochester Hills, MI Private nonprofit · 4-year | $21,456 | $29,196 | $18,463 | 43% | $50,000 |
| 16 | Cleary University Howell, MI Private nonprofit · 4-year | $22,143 | $26,102 | $18,046 | 41% | $67,914 |
| 17 | Calvin University Grand Rapids, MI Private nonprofit · 4-year | $22,992 | $39,350 | $19,281 | 76% | $60,889 |
| 18 | Adrian College Adrian, MI Private nonprofit · 4-year | $25,368 | $41,684 | $19,542 | 52% | $55,233 |
| 19 | Hope College Holland, MI Private nonprofit · 4-year | $27,182 | $41,970 | $17,606 | 81% | $60,573 |
| 20 | Northwood University Midland, MI Private nonprofit · 4-year | $27,232 | $34,400 | $25,700 | 62% | $67,409 |
| 21 | Lawrence Technological University Southfield, MI Private nonprofit · 4-year | $32,918 | $44,760 | $25,980 | 62% | $90,760 |
| 22 | College for Creative Studies Detroit, MI Private nonprofit · 4-year | $34,617 | $53,350 | $30,267 | 70% | $47,659 |
| 23 | Kettering University Flint, MI Private nonprofit · 4-year | $34,660 | $48,470 | $24,910 | 71% | $99,943 |
How to compare these colleges
Do not rule out a private college because of its sticker price. Private colleges often discount heavily, and the net price shown here is what students who receive aid pay on average, including housing and books. Your own offer depends on your family income and the school's aid policy, so run each college's net price calculator and compare actual award letters.
Guides worth reading first
More lists for Michigan
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Highest graduate earnings in Michigan
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Same list in nearby states
Most affordable private colleges in Ohio
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Most affordable private colleges in Indiana
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Most affordable private colleges in Wisconsin
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All 70 colleges in Michigan See the national version of this ranking