2024 Best Colleges for Public Policy in Michigan

• Ann Arbor, MI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.94 out of 5  4,602 reviews

Senior: This is a fabulous choice school for someone looking to truly have the social and academic life balance, such as I am. This environment is more than suitable even for those who are dedicated wholeheartedly either side of that social-academic spectrum- though the opportunities for growth and exploration in each regard are something I refuse to believe can be found on any other campus. The professors are renowned in their respective fields, if not the world, and are advisable, inspiring, generous (most of the time), and constructors of some of the most effective and informative curriculums I can imagine. What is most imperative to emphasize is that exponential emotional, academic, and professional development occurs for every person. If you have faced adversity in the past or are entering college first-gen like me, attending UM will open your eyes, open doors, and change your life past in the best way while you overcome challenges you never thought you could. But it's definitely hard!... Read 4,602 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 20%

• Net price $19,205

• SAT range 1340-1520

• Detroit, MI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.66 out of 5  2,917 reviews

Alum: I had my tuition fully paid for by scholarships from the school, which was the main reason I decided to go there. I am so glad I did, and that I stayed on-campus in my first years, because it was a great experience to get my first taste of independence in a cosmopolitan city like Detroit. There were always fun events happening. I enjoyed all my classes, but some were especially interesting. I had some amazing instructors! One remains a close friend and mentor. I did have an issue with one professor who I and other students felt gave us lower grades than we deserved, and we submitted appeals, but the department chair quit without alerting us and our appeals expired. I am still a little bitter they dropped the ball like that. Still, overall, I highly approve of Wayne State University. However, like all institutions nowadays, I wish it was cheaper, even though I personally did not have to pay.... Read 2,917 reviews

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 63%

• Net price $15,710

• SAT range 1030-1260

• Spring Arbor, MI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.68 out of 5  806 reviews

Freshman: I am a Freshman at Spring Arbor University and so far I have had a really positive experience. I love the small community. I have created friendships with students and basketball players that I believe will last a lifetime. The classrooms are smaller so I am able to have more one on one time with the professors. The professors go out of their way to help. Many have provided their cell numbers so that they are available any time to help me succeed. Each of the professors here are so wise and knowledgeable about their majors. They really care about their students and it shows in their eagerness to get to know them - in and out of the classroom. The faith perspective of learning is amazing, and helps each student to grow in their walk with the Lord as they are learning about the topics of their major. I am enjoying being a student athlete. We bonded so quickly. Also, the food is very good with a variety of options and the dorms are spacious. I am loving it here at Spring Arbor!... Read 806 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 60%

• Net price $21,441

• SAT range 980-1190

• Livonia, MI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.73 out of 5  527 reviews

Senior: At Madonna University, I had the ability to transfer 3 years of classes from a community college. The faculty at the school made the transition seamless. The advisors and financial aid office help answer whatever questions you have and make sure you are headed down the right path. As most universities, Madonna may seem expensive. The only problem I've had is that the school has limited scholarships that you can be available for. If I could change one thing, that's the only thing I would fix. Overall, I'm excited to say I get to graduate from Madonna!... Read 527 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 52%

• Net price $18,469

• SAT range 890-1140

• East Lansing, MI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.9 out of 5  6,125 reviews

Senior: Michigan State University has truly transformed my academic journey. As a transfer student, choosing MSU was the best decision I ever made. The warm welcome from both faculty and peers made me feel right at home. Through engaging classes, I not only gained knowledge but also forged incredible friendships. Joining a professional business fraternity was a pivotal move; the networking opportunities and mentorship have been invaluable. I'm thrilled to share that I've already secured a full-time job offer, thanks to the solid foundation MSU provided. My time here has been nothing short of extraordinary. Go Green!... Read 6,125 reviews

• grade A

• Acceptance rate 83%

• Net price $8,738

• SAT range 1100-1320

• Berrien Springs, MI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.41 out of 5  521 reviews

Graduate Student: As an Adventist student who has experienced both undergraduate and graduate studies at my university, I am delighted to share my perspective on the institution. From the very beginning, I felt a strong sense of community and spiritual guidance that resonated with my beliefs. The university's commitment to fostering a holistic education, combining academic excellence with spiritual development, has truly shaped my journey. The faculty and staff have been incredibly supportive, not only in imparting knowledge but also in nurturing my personal and religious growth. Overall, my university has provided a nurturing environment that has enriched my academic pursuits while strengthening my spiritual foundation. I am grateful for the invaluable experiences and opportunities it has offered me on my educational journey.... Read 521 reviews

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 82%

• Net price $23,719

• SAT range 1050-1300

• Mount Pleasant, MI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.72 out of 5  2,939 reviews

Alum: I graduated from CMU back in 2000, but I think now that I'm removed from my time as a student I have a little different perspective. Not only did I LOVE my time as a student because of the social life, the people and everything to do on-campus and in Mount Pleasant, but looking back I can see how my education completely changed my future. I've changed careers a couple times, and the things I learned at CMU have allowed me to quickly move up the ladder in each of those fields. The things I learned in my business classes, my broadcasting classes, and my general courses gave me the tools to be a connecter and leader, and a quick learner in just about any industry. It was a transformative educational experience, and an awesome place to spend 4 years with genuinely good and fun people!... Read 2,939 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 77%

• Net price $16,880

• SAT range 1010-1220

• Grand Rapids, MI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.91 out of 5  945 reviews

Sophomore: Overall a great place to be! Calvin is really a fantastic choice if you are seeking to pursue academic excellence. Though rigorous, their academic programs are rewarding and personal. Calvin also has their largest class incoming 2023 along with the various additions they have done over the past year and future year to come.... Read 945 reviews

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 75%

• Net price $27,120

• SAT range 1120-1340

• Holland, MI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.78 out of 5  1,068 reviews

Sophomore: Hope College is a fantastic place to go to college. Ever since I've started studying at Hope, I appreciate their openness to diversity of belief. As a Christian, I appreciate that I've been given the opportunity to make my faith my own. The community is amazing. Each Sunday, the Gathering is a place where people come and worship in Dimnent Chapel. Hope is very accommodating to my needs and offer courses that fit my academic abilities. This is one of the things that helped me make my college decision. I would say that the student body is about 75% white, a majority is a mix of Christians and Catholics, so if you're not white or Christian, it might be a little difficult fitting in. Overall, Hope is a great school- they're accommodating, have a great community, decent housing and dining hall food, have lots of extracurriculars to help students get involved, and a beautiful, easy-to-navigate campus! I love it here!... Read 1,068 reviews

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 92%

• Net price $28,688

• SAT range 1100-1330

• University Center, MI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.76 out of 5  1,689 reviews

Alum: Overall I had a great experience at Saginaw Valley State University. The campus always had events planned for students to mingle. My friends and I especially enjoyed going to hockey games and plays. The theater department did a wonderful job creating interesting sets and costumes. The advisors at SVSU were very helpful. It was always easy to get in to see someone when I had questions and the staff was eager to support the students. They made registering for classes stress-free. I also had many wonderful professors! They are really the heart of SVSU. They were supportive, and always willing to help support students during class and during office hours. My experience in college of education was a positive one. I feel that the professors really worked with us to prepare for teaching in the real world. They supported us in getting placements for student teaching and acted as a guide every step of the way. I would strongly encourage anyone going into education to look into SVSU.... Read 1,689 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 78%

• Net price $15,476

• SAT range 960-1170

• Adrian, MI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.54 out of 5  484 reviews

Freshman: Siena Heights University has provided me with an amazing experience so far. The professors, students, and aides were welcoming and understanding, figuring out ways to help with assignments, paying for tuition, and finding the best courses to take for my degree. I have recommended Siena Heights to family and friends and would do it again!... Read 484 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 68%

• Net price $18,931

• SAT range 880-1050

• Ypsilanti, MI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.55 out of 5  3,297 reviews

Freshman: I am a freshman at Eastern Michigan University, I enjoyed my first semester a lot. The beautiful campus of Eastern provides many events and clubs to join, there is never a dull moment! The library is a great place to study either alone in quiet areas or even with a group of friends. There is a variety of food choices around the campus such as going to Starbucks in the student center for a quick coffee to eating at a sushi bar in the same student center. The curriculum Eastern offers is diverse there are many different classes, online/hybrid/in-person that have great professors. Overall Eastern Michigan University has a great community, with study locations, ongoing events, and a diverse curriculum.... Read 3,297 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 85%

• Net price $16,311

• SAT range 930-1180

• Allendale, MI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.75 out of 5  4,003 reviews

Freshman: I am a freshman at Grand Valley University. My experience from when I went up there for my orientation was amazing! I loved everything about the environment, I felt so safe and cared for and all the Grand Valley people helped me so much with my classes, tours, information, etc. I got to see lots of different dorm rooms, buildings, classrooms, activity centers, etc. They made me feel very welcomed and comfortable as well as answered any questions that I had about the university. I definitely recommend this school to any upcoming freshman people.... Read 4,003 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 92%

• Net price $16,947

• SAT range 1050-1250

• Wyoming, MI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 4.07 out of 5  181 reviews

Sophomore: Even before I decided to go or not I received a phone call from the college asking if I had any questions or concerns they could help answer for me. No other college did this for me or showed such an interest. Once I got to the college itself, I was received with open arms and the feeling of home I hadn't felt at any other college I had looked at. Having been there for an entire year now I can't imagine myself having a better college experience. The teachers and staff are wonderful and helpful as well as my peers and fellow students. I've always felt safe, accepted, and cared for. This is honestly the best college ever and I would encourage anyone reading this to check it out!... Read 181 reviews

• grade C+

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $13,506

• SAT range —

• Detroit, MI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.59 out of 5  694 reviews

Alum: Amazing undergrad and law school experience. I learned how to learn and how to write, prepping me to use analytical and deep thinking skills for law school and beyond. Professors, staff, and Jesuits were humble, learned, and kind. I chose to be baptized Catholic at St. Ignatius, after approaching campus ministry with my desire to do so. I was given a year to think about my decision. I came back a year later, went through catechism, and was baptized. Highly recommend UD Mercy for ALL students. Great institution and culture. Live on campus if you can, it made my learning experience even more remarkable. Diverse staff, student body, and community. Sports, arts, undergraduate programs & graduate schools, being a student, not a number, along with the support and encouragement to give back to the community make UD Mercy the best investment of your life.... Read 694 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 93%

• Net price $17,911

• SAT range 1060-1250

• Kalamazoo, MI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.75 out of 5  3,570 reviews

Freshman: I am an incoming freshman and so far, all of my interactions have been great! I have had many family members attend Western Michigan university and plan to be the next one to become a Bronco. Academically, Western offers the Western School of Medicine that I am interested in and plan to one day join the medical field as my mother is a Registered Nurse. Helping others is something that I am passionate about and hope that I will be an asset to the much-needed health care family. With the growing shortage of medical providers in the country and the need increasing daily I believe that Western will be able to help me to obtain my education and be an added value to the community. Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to provide information on Western so far as I still have a lot to learn but hope that Western will guide me through the process and have a great freshman year at collage. I do have a roommate from home that will also be a great help as we will be figuring this out.... Read 3,570 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 83%

• Net price $19,749

• SAT range 1000-1220

• Rochester Hills, MI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.61 out of 5  2,486 reviews

Sophomore: My overall experience is great! Oakland has a really nice campus and all of my teachers/classes so far have been good. It's a big change to move from high school senior to college freshman. The teachers at OU were super welcoming as a freshman and I was able to understand how different education there was. The University makes it very clear that there's lots of ways to get support for many different things. There is academic advising, tutoring, social clubs or groups, and also fun activities that pop up to encourage socializing. The buildings are also incredibly nice. The ones that I got to see so far were fantastic. They all had nice and spacious furniture, many floors, and things such as chain food stores, accessible printers, elevators, etc. I look forward to exploring different parts and meeting new teachers each passing year.... Read 2,486 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 92%

• Net price $14,316

• SAT range 970-1230

• Grand Rapids, MI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.82 out of 5  715 reviews

Freshman: Hello! I attend Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, MI. I have enjoyed my time at the university so far. To begin, the faculty in admissions and registration are open, honest, and kind. I have appreciated all they did to help in my entrance to college. Next, I have been overwhelmed by the respect that the professors have towards my learning. Cornerstone is a smaller sized college in terms of student numbers, so I have less people in my classes and more connection with the professors. Lastly, I have appreciated the students around me and in my degree. The people that attend Cornerstone have displayed nothing but politeness and positivity to me. However, I will be honest in why Cornerstone was given a 4 star rating. Their core curriculum classes have much more weight than most colleges possess, and many degrees struggle to fit in all of the credits for 4 years with the curriculum classes. Overall, I still believe that Cornerstone is a good fit for many, and I recommend!... Read 715 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 91%

• Net price $20,780

• SAT range 970-1220

• Dearborn, MI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.63 out of 5  1,291 reviews

Freshman: The University of Michigan-Dearborn is a great school to start at if you are unsure about your career path. Not only is it affordable, but it offers students a large range of majors and minors. The only downside is that the University of Michigan-Dearborn is a large commuter school, which may make it harder for someone to build connections and friendships. Nevertheless, the University of Michigan-Dearborn is a great place to attend college!... Read 1,291 reviews

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 69%

• Net price $11,818

• SAT range 1050-1300

• Marquette, MI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.71 out of 5  1,141 reviews

Junior: When I started at Northern Michigan University, I was a pre-med neuroscience major with the intention of going to medical school. My experience within this program was great, but unfortunately, Covid happened and it shifted both my perspective and plans. I switched into the school of business and it was not a good experience. I had multiple professors who seemed to not care about their students at all. I then switched into the construction management program and it has been nothing short of amazing. Each instructor cares whole-heartedly about the success of each individual student. The opportunities the CM program gives are endless and always up for grabs. They promote hard work and prepare us for our real-world jobs for sure. They are always willing to help with anything and want to see students move on and succeed. Both the instructors and the program are absolutely outstanding.... Read 1,141 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 71%

• Net price $17,686

• SAT range 970-1190

• Grand Rapids, MI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.64 out of 5  626 reviews

Junior: Great professors and such supportive and helpful staff. I've loved my time at AQ! A beautiful campus, close-knit community and good class offerings with so many opportunities for involvement and fun.... Read 626 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 89%

• Net price $19,447

• SAT range 1000-1170

• Adrian, MI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.51 out of 5  654 reviews

Freshman: As a freshman going into college, I was super nervous, but deciding on college had never felt so right. My brother started attending Adrian College, one weekend I went up to visit him, that's when I feel in love with Adrian College. The campus is so beautiful, and well taken care of. On my walks to my morning lectures, I always see the grounds guys working hard, their super nice and wave to me every morning. A thing everyone notices about Adrian is the pink flowers all around campus, from the moment you're on campus to the second you leave campus you see the beautiful bright flowers. The Caine student center building is my favorite, with all the seating outside, including the fire places, to the big slide on the inside, Its an awesome building. Ive felt so welcomed into every course I have taken at Adrian. The resources there are amazing, from Office hours to tutoring. I've never been so proud to call myself an Adrian Bulldog.... Read 654 reviews

• grade C+

• Acceptance rate 76%

• Net price $24,050

• SAT range 940-1150

• Big Rapids, MI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.57 out of 5  2,156 reviews

Sophomore: Ferris State University is outstanding! My high school experience was online, so I didn't have much social interaction. I was incredibly nervous about attending and moving away from home. However, Ferris State made me feel welcome. I enjoyed the various activities and events that were held! When I had an issue with my roommate and wanted to move out, Ferris' employees helped me get a new room set up and answered all of my questions.... Read 2,156 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 85%

• Net price $13,624

• SAT range 930-1150

• Warren, MI•

• 2 Year

• •
  Rating 3.77 out of 5  951 reviews

Junior: I am so glad I enrolled in early college at Macomb Community College. I couldn’t have asked for a better college experience! There are so many aspects of Macomb that you don’t get at a lot of other colleges. In my experience all of the professors here really take interest in helping you learn the material, making sure you understand, and are doing well in the class. It’s such a nice environment on campus, everyone is friendly and you meet great people with similar interests in your classes. Another thing I love is that the professors encourage you to get to know your classmates. I really don’t know how I would have passed some of my classes if I didn’t have people to talk to, work, and study with. Macomb is such a great school and is a smart move to get some of your credits for less money than it would cost at a 4 year University!... Read 951 reviews

• grade C+

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $5,447

• SAT range —

• Dearborn, MI•

• 2 Year

• •
  Rating 3.73 out of 5  691 reviews

Junior: Best and clearest site for admissions, registration, viewing classes, turning in homework, and taking online classes. This is actually very important and improved my expeirence there! The professors are caring and actually want you to pass! You will learn here . Fun interesting classes. Classmates can easily be turned into friends. Many clubs and extracurricular activties. Nothing really to complain about.... Read 691 reviews

• grade C+

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $2,696

• SAT range —