2027 College Rankings

Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Michigan

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College Raptor’s Hidden Gem rankings highlight under-the-radar colleges that may not be household names, but they're bringing serious academic heat. Hidden Gems are based on College Raptor’s overall national rankings and must meet the following criteria:

Receive fewer than 10,000 applications per year.
Have fewer than 7,000 undergraduate students.
Offer 5 or more unique majors
Have a 20% acceptance rate or higher.
Rank within the top half of College Raptor’s overall rankings.

For more information on methodology behind our college rankings, check out our ranking methodology breakdown.

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Rank	Institution	Acceptance Rate	SAT Score	Your Est. Net Price Avg. Net Price	Median Starting Salary	Save
1	Hope College	87.12	1,100 – 1,340	30700	49727	#1 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Michigan Hope College Holland, MI Student athletes at Hope College are known as the Flying Dutchmen and wear orange and blue. Some popular sports include Football, Basketball, and Track and Field and Cross Country (combined). Hope has a cozy 9 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio and 77% six year graduation rate. Acceptance Rate 87.1% SAT Score 1,100 – 1,340 Avg. Net Price $30,700 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,727
2	Calvin University	67.91	1,120 – 1,350	25231	48039	#2 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Michigan Calvin University Grand Rapids, MI Found in Grand Rapids, Calvin University accepts 68% of applicants and requires $35 for undergraduate applications and . About 100% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more Acceptance Rate 67.9% SAT Score 1,120 – 1,350 Avg. Net Price $25,231 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,039
3	University of Detroit Mercy	75.07	1,040 – 1,280	16790	64534	#3 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Michigan University of Detroit Mercy Detroit, MI Found in Detroit, the University of Detroit Mercy’s acceptance rate is 75%. Undergraduates have to pay unknown to apply. About 100% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid. The first year retention rate is 84%....Read more Acceptance Rate 75.1% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $16,790 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $64,534
4	Kalamazoo College	83.34	1,110 – 1,390	26956	46137	#4 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Michigan Kalamazoo College Kalamazoo, MI Kalamazoo College is the leading producer of Peace Corps members out of small liberal arts colleges. Its motto is “Lux Esto,” which is Latin for “Be Light.” Many of K College’s faculty hold a terminal degree in their field. Students follow the “K Plan” – an academic plan that focuses on liberal arts, study abroad, and community. Acceptance Rate 83.3% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,390 Avg. Net Price $26,956 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,137
5	Andrews University	81.85	1,020 – 1,270	24728	43254	#5 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Michigan Andrews University Berrien Springs, MI Based in Berrien Springs, Andrews University’s acceptance rate is 82% and requests $30 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 97% of students attending Andrews University will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The institution’s first year retention rate is 83% and its four......Read more Acceptance Rate 81.9% SAT Score 1,020 – 1,270 Avg. Net Price $24,728 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,254
6	Kettering University	78.67	1,100 – 1,310	35609	80275	#6 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Michigan Kettering University Flint, MI Located in Flint, Kettering University accepted 79% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. Undergraduates have to send in unknown to apply. Approximately 100% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more Acceptance Rate 78.7% SAT Score 1,100 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $35,609 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $80,275
7	Alma College	65.69	930 – 1,150	22094	45720	#7 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Michigan Alma College Alma, MI A fairly selective school, 3,200 applicants received acceptance letters to Alma College during the last admissions cycle. 10% decide to enroll. Classes are smaller, with a student-to-faculty ratio 14 to 1, and 79% of freshman stay at the school after they complete their first year....Read more Acceptance Rate 65.7% SAT Score 930 – 1,150 Avg. Net Price $22,094 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,720
8	Cornerstone University	77.77	1,000 – 1,220	21335	42598	#8 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Michigan Cornerstone University Grand Rapids, MI Found in Grand Rapids, Cornerstone University accepts 78% of applicants. They request unknown for undergraduate applications, but some schools offer fee waivers. About 100% of students at Cornerstone University will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more Acceptance Rate 77.8% SAT Score 1,000 – 1,220 Avg. Net Price $21,335 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $42,598
9	Northwood University	64.51	950 – 1,160	25549	54058	#9 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Michigan Northwood University Midland, MI Found in Midland, Northwood University accepts 65% of applicants. They request $30 for undergraduate applications. About 95% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more Acceptance Rate 64.5% SAT Score 950 – 1,160 Avg. Net Price $25,549 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $54,058
10	College for Creative Studies	91.94	990 – 1,210	36055	33691	#10 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Michigan College for Creative Studies Detroit, MI The College for Creative Studies awards up to Master's degrees, with many undergraduates studying Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects. Classes are on the smaller size thanks to a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1. 82% continue at CCS after completing their first year. Acceptance Rate 91.9% SAT Score 990 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $36,055 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $33,691
11	Spring Arbor University	65.18	1,010 – 1,240	21067	45592	#11 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Michigan Spring Arbor University Spring Arbor, MI Found in Spring Arbor, Spring Arbor University’s acceptance rate is 65%. Undergraduates have to pay unknown to apply. About 98% of students attending Spring Arbor University will receive grant aid from the school. The first year retention rate is 78%....Read more Acceptance Rate 65.2% SAT Score 1,010 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $21,067 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,592
12	Lawrence Technological University	81.01	1,030 – 1,270	34083	58827	#12 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Michigan Lawrence Technological University Southfield, MI Lawrence Technological University is a Master's Colleges and Universities I school that accepts 81% of applicants and has a student-to-faculty ratio of 11 to 1. It opened in 1932 in response to the Great Depression and in an effort to help improve the economy. “Theory and Practice” is LTU’s motto. Acceptance Rate 81.0% SAT Score 1,030 – 1,270 Avg. Net Price $34,083 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $58,827
13	Aquinas College	97.26	920 – 1,150	18018	40161	#13 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Michigan Aquinas College Grand Rapids, MI A private Catholic school, Aquinas College was founded by the Dominican Sisters of Grand Rapids in 1886 and originally known as the Novitiate Normal School. Its motto is “Nothing but You, Lord” – or “Non nisi te, Domine” in Latin. Aquinas has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 and a first year retention rate of 82%. Acceptance Rate 97.3% SAT Score 920 – 1,150 Avg. Net Price $18,018 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $40,161