Whether you’re nearing high school graduation or trying to return to school after years in the workforce, choosing a college or university can be a challenging decision. In West Michigan, there are several options for anyone seeking higher education. Here are some of the notable colleges and universities in the area.
Aquinas College
Aquinas College is a small, Roman Catholic, liberal arts college in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The inclusive educational community rooted in the Catholic Dominican tradition provides a liberal arts education with a global perspective, which emphasizes career preparation.
Baker College
Baker College is a private college with its main campus in Owosso, Michigan. Baker offers more than 75 programs of study, all with a career-centered focus that will help students build the real-world skills employers are looking for. They offer a variety of financial aid options and some of the most affordable tuition rates in Michigan. In addition, Baker College also has The Culinary Institute of Michigan, which offers three associate degree programs focused on some of the fastest-growing areas of food service. With our program options, you can choose the amount of time you want to spend in school so that you can get started in your career sooner.
Calvin University
Calvin University, formerly Calvin College, is a private Christian university in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Founded in 1876, Calvin University is an educational institution of the Christian Reformed Church and stands in the Reformed tradition of Protestantism. In 2018, U.S. News & World Report Ranked Calvin #1 in the Midwest 2019 Best Colleges Guidebook.
Cornerstone University
Cornerstone University is a private, non-denominational Christian university in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Cornerstone University Professional & Graduate Studies’ mission extends the college’s mission to adult learners who want to complete a degree program in their current field, extend and deepen their professional knowledge, and prepare the foundation for a career path change through further education.
Davenport University
Davenport University was founded in 1866 by Conrad Swensenburg, a Union Army veteran who returned to Michigan after the Civil War. The university has since grown into the second-largest private, nonprofit college or university in Michigan. Davenport prepares students for the most in-demand, fastest-growing careers in business, health, and technology. Quality, career-oriented academic programs are offered through their main campus in Grand Rapids and other campuses throughout Michigan.
Grace Christian University
Grace Christian University is an evangelical college in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Grace seeks to develop passionate servants of Jesus Christ by personally educating students in an educational program that emphasizes the integration of biblical truth, ministry experience, and character transformation.
Grand Rapids Community College
Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) is a public community college in Grand Rapids, Michigan. GRCC’s varied program levels, flexible scheduling, and student support services enable people of all ages and backgrounds to access the higher education they need to achieve their goals. There are dozens of associate degrees, certificate programs, and transfer options available through GRCC. The Grand Rapids Promise Zone Scholarship offers two years of free tuition for eligible Grand Rapids students at GRCC to ensure access to a college education, beginning with the class of 2020.
Grand Valley State University
Grand Valley State University (GVSU) is a public university located in Allendale, Michigan, and Grand Rapids, Michigan, with their main campus being in Allendale. They also have smaller campuses in Holland and Traverse City. GVSU offers more than 200 areas of study, including 77 undergraduate majors and 28 graduate programs. Teaching in the liberal tradition, whether in general arts and sciences or the professional degree programs has always been at the heart of Grand Valley’s educational mission. The university was also named a 2021 ‘Best in the Midwest’ university by Princeton Review.
Hope College
Hope College is a private Christian liberal arts college in Holland, Michigan. It opened in 1851 as the Pioneer School by Dutch immigrants four years after the community was first settled. Hope provides a distinctive blend of exceptional academic opportunities and caring faculty in a Christian atmosphere emphasizing openness and freedom.
Kendall College of Art and Design
Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University is a college of art and design located in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. Founded in 1928 as a private art academy, the college merged with Ferris State University in 2000. KCAD’s Master of Fine Arts program in Studio Art is ranked #110 in the United States by U.S News.
Kuyper College
Kuyper College is a ministry-focused Christian leadership college in Grand Rapids, Michigan that educates and trains Christian leaders for ministry and service. Kuyper was ranked 2nd nationally in student satisfaction among all Christian colleges and universities last year by the National Center for Education Statistics.
Montcalm Community College
Montcalm Community College is a public community college in Sidney, Michigan. Montcalm Community College is a leader in creating a learning community, contributing to shared economic, cultural, and social prosperity for all its citizens. They offer degrees, certificates, and job training programs that help prepare students for a variety of careers.
Northwood University
Northwood University (NU) is a private university in Midland, Michigan. Known as the school of choice for business-minded students of all ages and backgrounds, Northwood University’s management and entrepreneurship focus prepare students to become the future leaders of a global, free-enterprise society. With residential campuses in Florida, Michigan, and Texas; Northwood University offers students the business degree options they need and the college experience they want.
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University is a public research university in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The most popular majors at Western Michigan University include Business, Management, Marketing, and related support services; Health Professions and related programs; Engineering; Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies; and Visual and Performing Arts. In addition, they’re one of the only two universities in Michigan to offer an aerospace engineering program.
For more on all of the universities and colleges in West Michigan, visit https://hellowestmi.wpengine.com/why-west-michigan/colleges-universities/.
