Michigan Has One of the Best Community Colleges in America

Community colleges are really the backbone of our educational system. My dad was a high school counselor, and he would always champion the local community colleges are great places to get an education. Not only are community colleges more affordable than traditional universities, but they also often offer practical degrees and trade education. Now, a new study is highlighting the best community colleges in America. As it turns out, Michigan has one of the best community colleges in America.

The new study comes from Wallethub. In it, then mention that the cost of going to college is a big consideration when picking a college. They also point out that tuition rates keep raising each year, making many students not able to pay for a university education without taking out large loans. Add inflation into the mix, and it's even harder. "Other than serving as an affordable, and in some cases free, option for education, community colleges have a number of attractive qualities," Wallethub adds. "They often provide more flexible schedules, smaller class sizes and rigorous coursework."

The No. 1 best community college in the United States, according to the study, is the State Technical College of Missouri. Its total score is almost 71 points, which is quite a bit higher than their No. 2 pick, which is Manhattan Area Technical College at just about 68 points. Manhattan Area Technical College comes in at No. 3.

So, which Michigan community college is among the best community colleges in America? It's Kellogg Community College coming in at No. 33 on the list. Its total score is 62.63. No. 2 for Michigan on the list is Gogebic Community College, followed by Washtenaw Community College, Lansing Community College and Kalamazoo Valley Community College. I actually took several chemistry classes at Lansing Community College and really enjoyed the instruction. Also, my late uncle used to teach at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, so it's nice to see it on this list. Find the full tally here.

Wealthy areas are the kind of places where you’ll find beautiful homes, well-manicured streets, and a sense of luxury in the air. Along with the stunning residences, these areas offer top-notch services like private schools, exclusive clubs, and upscale shopping centers. Safety is a priority too, with gated communities, private security, and advanced security systems ensuring peace of mind. Of course, you can’t forget about wealthy areas flooded with well-kept parks, golf courses, and country clubs. But what is the wealthiest county in Michigan?

A recent study by SmartAsset shows the wealthiest counties in the U.S. To figure out which counties are rolling in the dough, they looked at investment income, property value, and how much cash each person is raking in on average.

"We started the analysis by calculating the Investment Index for each county by evenly weighing the Ordinary Dividends, Qualified Dividends, and Net Capital Gains. From there, we calculated the Median Home Value and the Per Capita Income for each county, and ranked them on all three metrics," SmartAsset wrote.

The study revealed that Leelanau County, nestled near Traverse City and known for its wineries along the Lake Michigan coast, takes the crown as Michigan's wealthiest county. With its picturesque Leelanau Peninsula and a population of approximately 23,000, this small northern Michigan county has the highest per-capita wealth in the state. Nationally, Leelanau County had an overall rank of 266.

When it comes to the richest counties in the nation, California counties consistently find themselves at the top of the ranking. San Mateo County, San Francisco County, Santa Clara County, and Marin County all secured spots in the top five richest counties in the United States. However, breaking California's streak, Nantucket County in Massachusetts claimed the fifth spot on the ranking.

Check out the full study here. And take a look below to see which counties in Michigan are the wealthiest.

Median Income: $69, 393
Investment Income: $47, 522
Median Home Value: $373, 836
National Rank: 497

Median Income: $86, 275
Investment Income: $48, 897
Median Home Value: $334, 448
National Rank: 310

Median Income: $88, 908
Investment Income: $25, 044
Median Home Value: $362, 766
National Rank: 287

Median Income: $79, 198
Investment Income: $44, 796
Median Home Value: $373, 627
National Rank: 271

Median Income: $72, 709
Investment Income: $56, 192
Median Home Value: $509, 272
National Rank: 266