Michigan Career Connect:
Fueled by top private colleges and universities

Our 15 Michigan colleges and universities are nationally ranked with programs of study in virtually every field.

Students at computers

Small colleges are redefining workforce preparedness.

A liberal arts and sciences education is much more than you may realize. Critical thinking, contemporary majors, and small class size are a recipe for success.

Michigan Career Connect is uniquely powerful because it draws talent from such a diverse collection of private colleges and universities. The 15 members of Michigan Colleges Alliance represent the best in more personalized education. Hands-on experiences and close connections with faculty result in a formidable source of professional potential. Welcome to the job candidates you’ve been seeking.

Matt Scogin headshot

Matthew A. Scogin

President, Hope College

Michigan Career Connect shines a spotlight on the distinctive value of smaller private colleges and universities, in Michigan and nationally. Together, our schools represent a truly formidable talent resource for Michigan businesses and other organizations. We at Hope College are eager to see it unfold.

Matthew A. Scogin

President, Hope College

Alicia Cordoba headshot

Alicia R. Córdoba, D.M.A.

President, Aquinas College

MCA has launched a unique and powerful tool for Michigan employers. This program will unleash a new movement of college-educated talent readiness for our state, while giving our students, faculty, and alumni exceptional opportunities for relevance and impact.

Alicia R. Córdoba, D.M.A.

President, Aquinas College

Don Taylor headshot

Donald B. Taylor, Ph.D.

President, University of Detroit Mercy

The University of Detroit Mercy is proud to be part of the Michigan Career Connect network. Our students, graduates, and faculty thrive on applying their knowledge and skills to important work right here at home. Now that opportunity is here in one stop. This program is sure to lift every aspect of Michigan’s economy and quality of life.

Donald B. Taylor, Ph.D.

President, University of Detroit Mercy

MCA: A Collective Powerhouse

Our 15 institutions represent Michigan Colleges Alliance (MCA). Collectively, we are the state’s “third largest university.”

MCA member institutions collectively enroll nearly 42,000 students across a wide range of academic disciplines. Student ethnic diversity is a hallmark of our schools; combined, MCA institutions enroll a greater percentage of minority students than their collective public university counterparts.

More than 70 percent of our students are Michigan residents, and research shows that nearly 90 percent currently wish to stay here, seeking meaningful careers in Michigan. More than 200,000 Michigan-based alumni underscore this. When these graduates find jobs they love, they stay in the state. Click through the list below to learn more about each member.

Adrian College header photo

Adrian College
Adrian, Michigan

+

Adrian College is a selective, liberal arts college offering a focused undergraduate education with available 4+1 Master’s programs. The College offers more than 70 majors and pre-professional programs and eight professional institutes dedicated to a personalized approach to education. At Adrian, students will be given a personal college experience with our state-of-the-art facilities, small class sizes, dedicated faculty, and hands-on opportunities inside and outside of the classroom. Adrian graduates will leave prepared for wherever their next step takes them.

Learn More View College
Albion College header photo

Albion College
Albion, Michigan

+

Offering a critical analysis-based education, Albion encourages its students to look beyond its state-of-the-art campus and facilities to the professional world, where their final internships will leave them well-prepared to make an impact wherever they choose. The college’s learning-centered classrooms have an 11:1 student-faculty ratio, allowing each undergraduate student the valuable experience of working closely with their professors.

Learn More View College
Alma College header photo

Alma College
Alma, Michigan

+

A private liberal arts college offering its undergraduate students over 50 areas of study. The college is committed to preparing its students not just for their own success, but the success of generations to come as impactful, thoughtful leaders. Every student receives funding for a real-world experiential pursuit, be that an internship or a trip to study abroad. The Princeton Review has recognized the forward-looking college as one of the “50 Colleges that Create Futures.”

Learn More View College
Andrews University header photo

Andrews University
Berrien Springs, Michigan

+

A values-based, knowledge-committed university serving students on the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. Andrews has both affiliate schools and service posts around the world, giving students a wide range of options to spend a year abroad. Preparing graduates to both learn and apply their knowledge, Andrews University’s clear mission draws students from around the world, leading U.S. News and World Report to label it “one of the most culturally diverse universities” in the country.

Learn More View College
Aquinas College header photo

Aquinas College
Grand Rapids, Michigan

+

A liberal arts college equally committed to education and inclusivity for their undergraduate students. Graduates of the college leave as capable leaders, stewards, and lifelong learners. A focus on writing, speaking, and problem solving all contribute to the college’s focus on career preparation for its graduates. The emphasis on critical thinking and perspective has led U.S. News and World Report to name the Aquinas College as a top school for social mobility.

Learn More View College
Calvin University header photo

Calvin University
Grand Rapids, Michigan

+

A values-based, future-focused liberal arts college that encourages undergraduate students to actively engage with the world around them. The college aims to create knowledgeable and action-oriented graduates that are not only ready to enter their dream career but improve the world as well. Calvin offers over 100 academic options, and with classes ranging from both in and outside one’s specific major, students will leave with a diverse and functional set of skills.

Learn More View College
College for Creative Studies header photo

College for Creative Studies
Detroit, Michigan

+

A unique and hands-on institution offering a technical and creative education for the movers and shakers of the world. An education focused on communication, problem-solving, and technical expertise prepares graduates to make their creative mark in the art and design world. State-of-the-art studio facilities, networking opportunities, and a strong student support team make for an environment where creators can confidently and successfully do what they do best: create.

Learn More View College
University of Detroit Mercy header photo

University of Detroit Mercy
Detroit, Michigan

+

University of Detroit Mercy takes pride in its foundational values of rigorous learning and world service. It is the largest, most comprehensive Catholic university in Michigan, offering more than 100 academic degrees and programs including a law school and a dental school, accelerated options, intricate study abroad programs, community service projects, research opportunities with award-winning faculty and competitive internships at major organizations in Detroit and beyond.

Learn More View College
Hillsdale College header photo

Hillsdale College
Hillsdale, Michigan

+

​​A private liberal arts college that offers undergraduate students a classical and independently focused education. A 8:1 student-faculty ratio and countless opportunities for involvement create a community of learners that are committed to the educational and professional success of themselves and their peers. Within six months of graduation, 97% of Hillsdale graduates are either working or studying at a higher level thanks to the college’s commitment to fostering focused and hard-working individuals.

Learn More View College
Hope College header photo

Hope College
Holland, Michigan

+

A four-year, co-educational, Christian liberal arts college located in Holland, Michigan. Hope graduates are educated to think about life’s most important issues with clarity, wisdom, and a deep understanding of the foundational commitments of the historic Christian faith. They are agents of Hope who live faithfully into their vocations, prepared for lives of leadership and service in a global society.

Learn More View College
Kalamazoo College header photo

Kalamazoo College
Kalamazoo, Michigan

+

A highly selective, nationally recognized college of arts and sciences that fosters a community of intelligent and engaged students. The college is internationally oriented, encouraging graduates to become knowledgeable and civically engaged global citizens. Students learn not just in the classroom, but through the experience of living abroad as well. Kalamazoo College graduates enter the world around them with four years of both focused education and lived experience, preparing them to be effective difference-makers.

Learn More View College
Madonna University header photo

Madonna University
Livonia, Michigan

+

Recognized for its excellence in higher education and career preparation, the university offers its undergraduate students over 100 areas of study, and its graduate students over 30. Small classes and involved professors give students all of the assistance and experience they need to enter the professional world as valuable, understanding agents of change. Commitment to student success has helped Madonna University build crucial relationships with employers across many industries.

Learn More View College
The University of Olivet header photo

The University of Olivet
Olivet, Michigan

+

A dynamic liberal arts college that shapes leaders and changemakers through an education deeply rooted in equity, inclusivity, and student success. More than just a commitment, inclusivity is at the heart of its identity, fostering a supportive and diverse community where each member is empowered to grow into a confident, compassionate, and engaged global citizen. With a strong emphasis on hands-on learning, Olivet prepares graduates to excel in their careers as conscientious, effective leaders who make a meaningful impact on the world.

Learn More View College
Siena Heights University header photo

Siena Heights University
Adrian, Michigan

+

A Catholic university offering students a wide range of opportunities to earn their undergraduate or graduate degree. Undergraduate students can attend the main campus, online classes, or several degree completion centers, allowing ambitious students to learn regardless of where they are. Devoted faculty and ample resources allow students to learn and develop skills on an elevated level. The university’s diverse offering of programs equips students to become confident and purposeful leaders in any industry they choose.

Learn More View College
Spring Arbor University header photo

Spring Arbor University
Spring Arbor, Michigan

+

A values-based liberal arts college offering undergraduate students over 100 areas of study, and graduate students over fourteen branch sites to earn their degree. The college is committed to creating and fostering a community of caring faculty and involved students who work together to find and pursue opportunity. Students receive an education that encourages them to participate and lead in the professional world, and Spring Arbor faculty and staff help them develop these skills every step of the way.

Learn More View College

Small college talent in action.

MCA’s 15 member colleges and universities boast a remarkably diverse array of both faculty and students. Meet just a few of them, and see why we’re so bullish on the future of private college talent in our state.

Faculty Spotlight

Stacy Jackson

Dr. Stacy Jackson

The Kenneth J. Weller ’48 Professor of Management, Department Chair
Hope College

With more than two decades of teaching experience and nearly three decades of business experience, Stacy leads Hope College’s Economics and Business Department. He oversees the department’s entrepreneurship, leadership and global business initiatives and teaches courses on strategy and leadership. Stacy has consulted for clients like NASA, Ernst & Young, Herman Miller, Southwest Airlines, and more. Many of his recent projects have focused on the difficulties of managing strategic growth while maintaining core differentiating values. He remains active in consulting and executive education for clients in North America, Europe and Asia.

Student Spotlight

Andre Price headshot

Andre Price

Computer Science
University of Detroit Mercy

Andre is president of the Detroit Mercy Chess Club, Chief of Staff of the Student Government Association, and a College of Engineering and Science student ambassador. He has completed three internships at Ford Motor Company, where he contributed as a software intern for Ford’s electric vehicles and as a vehicle hardware engineering integration intern, participating in the launch of the 2024 Mustang.

We Are the Independents

Learn more about the collective power and possibilities of our MCA’s 15 member colleges at this unique campaign website. Meet standout students and alumni, learn the value of independent colleges, and much more.

To learn more about Michigan Colleges Alliance, or Michigan Career Connect, please contact us.

We would love to know how our programs could benefit your organization. We’re always looking for creative ways to engage our state’s major employers.