Michigan doesn't get a lot of attention for its colleges, but there are 32 towns in the state with at least one four-year school -- and some of them make great places to spend four years.
We wanted to know which ones are the best college towns. You know the type of place: plenty of students, plenty to do, affordable rent, and safe enough to walk around at night.
So we used Saturday Night Science to rank all 32 of them on the colleges themselves, the town around them, and things to do. Ann Arbor came out on top.
The 10 Best College Towns In Michigan For 2026
Want the bigger picture? See where Michigan's towns land among the best college towns in America.
For more reading, check out:
| Colleges | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Concordia University Ann Arbor |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 34,879 (29 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 122,036 |
| Median rent | $1,649 |
| Graduation rate | 77% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $43,254 |
Ann Arbor is home to University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Concordia University Ann Arbor. There are 29 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,649 a month, and the average cost to attend is $43,254 a year. It ranks 17th for crime among the 32 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Michigan State University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 40,922 (89 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 45,758 |
| Median rent | $1,171 |
| Graduation rate | 84% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $32,198 |
East Lansing is home to Michigan State University. There are 89 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,171 a month, and the average cost to attend is $32,198 a year. It ranks 9th for crime among the 32 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Ferris State University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 8,106 (96 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 8,477 |
| Median rent | $929 |
| Graduation rate | 61% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $27,048 |
Big Rapids is home to Ferris State University. There are 96 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $929 a month, and the average cost to attend is $27,048 a year. It ranks 16th for crime among the 32 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Central Michigan University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 10,035 (47 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 21,236 |
| Median rent | $922 |
| Graduation rate | 65% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $30,681 |
Mount Pleasant is home to Central Michigan University. There are 47 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $922 a month, and the average cost to attend is $30,681 a year. It ranks 10th for crime among the 32 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Hillsdale College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 1,573 (20 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 8,002 |
| Median rent | $812 |
| Graduation rate | 71% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $35,685 |
Hillsdale is home to Hillsdale College. There are 20 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $812 a month, and the average cost to attend is $35,685 a year. It ranks 7th for crime among the 32 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Henry Ford College, University of Michigan-Dearborn |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 14,595 (14 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 107,423 |
| Median rent | $1,327 |
| Graduation rate | 46% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $17,912 |
Dearborn is home to Henry Ford College, University of Michigan-Dearborn. There are 14 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,327 a month, and the average cost to attend is $17,912 a year. It ranks 20th for crime among the 32 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Eastern Michigan University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 10,055 (51 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 19,857 |
| Median rent | $1,080 |
| Graduation rate | 56% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $29,640 |
Ypsilanti is home to Eastern Michigan University. There are 51 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,080 a month, and the average cost to attend is $29,640 a year. It ranks 26th for crime among the 32 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Baker College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 3,026 (21 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 14,632 |
| Median rent | $784 |
| Graduation rate | 33% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $24,526 |
Owosso is home to Baker College. There are 21 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $784 a month, and the average cost to attend is $24,526 a year. It ranks 15th for crime among the 32 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Northwestern Michigan College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 2,813 (18 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 15,593 |
| Median rent | $995 |
| Graduation rate | 42% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $13,753 |
Traverse City is home to Northwestern Michigan College. There are 18 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $995 a month, and the average cost to attend is $13,753 a year. It ranks 18th for crime among the 32 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Chamberlain University-Michigan, Walsh College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 1,074 (1 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 87,898 |
| Median rent | $1,602 |
| Graduation rate | 84% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $33,910 |
Troy is home to Chamberlain University-Michigan, Walsh College. There are 1 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,602 a month, and the average cost to attend is $33,910 a year. It ranks 8th for crime among the 32 towns we ranked.
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the best college towns in Michigan
First, we decided that every town on the list had to have at least one four-year college -- a school that grants bachelor's degrees -- and at least 5,000 residents. There are 32 towns in Michigan that fit the bill.
Then we ranked every town on these categories:
- The town: unemployment rate, median rent, and crime per capita
- The colleges: graduation rate, the average cost to attend, and student body diversity
- Things to do: bars, museums and libraries per capita, and population density
- Students: undergrads as a share of the population
- Size: population, since bigger towns have more going on
We ranked each town on every measure, averaged those ranks into a score for each category, and then averaged the categories. The town with the best overall score is the best college town in Michigan.
Our data comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (enrollment, graduation rates, cost, and diversity), the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey, the FBI's 2024 crime report. We left out colleges that are online-only or mostly online, since their students don't actually live in town. A handful of towns don't report crime to the FBI, so we gave them the average.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best college towns in Michigan.
Summary
There You Have It -- The Best College Towns In Michigan
If you're looking for the best college towns in Michigan, Ann Arbor is where to start.
The best college towns in Michigan are Ann Arbor, East Lansing, Big Rapids, Mount Pleasant, Hillsdale, Dearborn, Ypsilanti, Owosso, Traverse City, and Troy.
For more college towns, check out the best college towns in America.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best college town in Michigan for 2026?
Ann Arbor is the best college town in Michigan for 2026, followed by East Lansing and Big Rapids.
How did you rank the best college towns in Michigan?
We looked at every town in Michigan with at least 5,000 residents and a four-year college, then ranked them on city characteristics, college characteristics, things to do, the share of residents who are students, and size. The town with the best average rank is number one.
What is the worst college town in Michigan?
Alma ranks last of the 32 college towns we ranked in Michigan for 2026.
Best College Towns In Michigan For 2026
| Rank | City | Population | Undergrads | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ann Arbor, MI | 122,036 | 34,879 | $1,649 |
| 2 | East Lansing, MI | 45,758 | 40,922 | $1,171 |
| 3 | Big Rapids, MI | 8,477 | 8,106 | $929 |
| 4 | Mount Pleasant, MI | 21,236 | 10,035 | $922 |
| 5 | Hillsdale, MI | 8,002 | 1,573 | $812 |
| 6 | Dearborn, MI | 107,423 | 14,595 | $1,327 |
| 7 | Ypsilanti, MI | 19,857 | 10,055 | $1,080 |
| 8 | Owosso, MI | 14,632 | 3,026 | $784 |
| 9 | Traverse City, MI | 15,593 | 2,813 | $995 |
| 10 | Troy, MI | 87,898 | 1,074 | $1,602 |
| 11 | Livonia, MI | 93,851 | 9,143 | $1,322 |
| 12 | Houghton, MI | 8,474 | 5,955 | $978 |
| 13 | Jackson, MI | 31,058 | 3,422 | $898 |
| 14 | Howell, MI | 10,021 | 738 | $1,177 |
| 15 | Lansing, MI | 113,023 | 197 | $993 |
| 16 | Midland, MI | 42,724 | 1,974 | $1,048 |
| 17 | Detroit, MI | 638,530 | 19,444 | $1,074 |
| 18 | Grand Rapids, MI | 198,535 | 8,853 | $1,266 |
| 19 | Flint, MI | 80,175 | 5,616 | $915 |
| 20 | Marquette, MI | 21,325 | 6,556 | $1,011 |
| 21 | Albion, MI | 7,560 | 1,300 | $775 |
| 22 | Allendale, MI | 26,679 | 18,854 | $1,111 |
| 23 | Alpena, MI | 10,154 | 732 | $625 |
| 24 | Rochester Hills, MI | 77,089 | 13,143 | $1,644 |
| 25 | Wyoming, MI | 77,353 | 716 | $1,196 |
| 26 | Holland, MI | 34,423 | 3,288 | $1,193 |
| 27 | Adrian, MI | 20,395 | 3,099 | $956 |
| 28 | Oak Park, MI | 29,318 | 75 | $1,396 |
| 29 | Kalamazoo, MI | 73,076 | 13,717 | $1,078 |
| 30 | Southfield, MI | 76,236 | 2,262 | $1,340 |
| 31 | Farmington Hills, MI | 83,515 | 0 | $1,551 |
| 32 | Alma, MI | 9,396 | 1,148 | $836 |
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