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State Capital and Statue - panoramioPhoto: Andrew Martin · CC BY 3.0
Colleges in and near Lansing

Lansing is home to two colleges, with 6,080 students on campus

Lansing Community College (5,664 students on campus) and Thomas M Cooley Law School (416) are inside the city, and Michigan State University (48,830) is 4.5 miles from the center, just over the line in East Lansing. About 8% of Lansing’s residents are enrolled in college, above Michigan (6%).

Lansing Community CollegeMichigan State University

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Lansing. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
4
55,010 students on campus
Nearest college
1.2 mi
Thomas M Cooley Law School
Residents in college
8%
Above MI (6%)
Nearest community college
1.7 mi
Lansing · $4,100 tuition
Nearest public university
4.5 mi
Michigan State · $16,458 in-state
Median household income
$54K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Lansing

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Two colleges within 4.5 milesMichigan State University admits 85% of applicants. Together they have 54,494 students on campus.A community college 1.7 miles awayLansing Community College in Lansing: tuition and fees $4,100 a year for Michigan residents.In-state price at Michigan StateLiving in Michigan, Michigan State University charges $16,458 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $43,842. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 8% of residentsAbove Michigan (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Lansing

Two private colleges within 4.8 miles, one public college within 4.5 miles, and Lansing Community College 1.7 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miMichigan StateLansingLansing
University or collegeCommunity college
Thomas M Cooley Law SchoolUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 416 on campus · In Lansing$63kearningsGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Lansing Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,664 on campus · In Lansing$5knet price25%graduate$39kearningsTuition and fees: $4,100 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Michigan State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 48,830 on campus · 4.5 mi · East Lansing85%admitted$20knet price81%graduate$67kearningsGreat Lakes Christian CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 100 on campus · 4.8 mi · Lansing$16knet price36%graduate$31kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Lansing’s median household income ($54,382) falls.

Lansing Community CollegeIn Lansing · sticker $13,013 · tuition $4,100$6,652a year
Great Lakes Christian College4.8 mi · Lansing · sticker $30,311$14,394a year
Michigan State University4.5 mi · East Lansing · sticker $32,198$16,521a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Lansing: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →LansingMichigan StateGreat Lakes Christian College
Michigan State University81% graduate$67k earnings$23k typical debt
Lansing Community College25% graduate$39k earnings$13k typical debt
Great Lakes Christian College36% graduate$31k earnings$19k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.

Majors

What students study in Lansing

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Lansing Community College, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Health professions 34%Liberal arts 21%Mechanics & repair 9%Business 7%Public safety 4%Construction trades 4%Everything else 21%

Biggest programs

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities457 graduates a year
$43k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing164 graduates a year
$79k4 yrs out
Psychology, General66 graduates a year
$40k4 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions59 graduates a year
$61k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations46 graduates a year
$48k4 yrs out
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions22 graduates a year
$59k4 yrs out
Business/Commerce, General20 graduates a year
$49k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Lansing

Is Lansing a college town?

No. About 8 of every 100 Lansing residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Michigan (6). The largest campus in the city, Lansing Community College, has 5,664 students on campus.

What colleges are in Lansing?

Lansing Community College and Thomas M Cooley Law School are inside the city. Michigan State University is 4.5 miles from the center, in East Lansing.

What is the closest community college to Lansing, and what does it cost?

Lansing Community College in Lansing, 1.7 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,100 a year for Michigan residents; the federal net price, $5,437, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Michigan State University cost if we live in Michigan?

Tuition and fees are $16,458 a year in-state and $43,842 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $7,068 (under $30,000 income) to $28,546 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Lansing. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →