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West Michigan's workforce is well served by an outstanding selection of technical programs. Here are just a few.

Aquinas College
Sustainable development degree

Calvin College
Chemistry, biochemistry, engineering degrees

Central Michigan University
MSA with emphasis in software engineering, vehicle design and manufacturing administration

Ferris State University and Ferris State - Grand Rapids
Degrees in automotive, engineering (multiple disciplines), industrial design, industrial technology, quality systems, computer systems, printing

Grand Rapids Community College
Tassell and Thomson Technical Education Centers
Degrees in chemical, electronics, HVAC, plastics, and tooling technologies

Grand Valley State University
Degrees in occupational safety management, engineering (multiple disciplines), manufacturing operations, and product design

Hope College
Degrees in biochemical, chemical, computer, electrical and mechanical engineering

Kendall College of Art and Design
Degrees in furniture and industrial design

Muskegon Community College
Degrees in biomedical electronics, electronics, industrial, machining, materials, welding and automotive technologies, as well as computer-aided drafting and design

Western Michigan University - Grand Rapids
Degrees in engineering management with emphasis in manufacturing, quality, supply chain management, process engineering and tooling design

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West Michigan Higher Education

West Michigan’s regional network of over 20 public universities, as well as 6 regional community colleges, produces some of the most qualified graduates in the country. In Greater Grand Rapids, we have:

More than 72,000 students enrolled in local colleges and universities
Over 30% of our workforce with an associate’s degree or higher
The 4th highest expenditures globally for higher education
The 13th highest expenditures globally for primary and secondary education

World-Class Resources

An alliance among Michigan’s three leading research institutions – Michigan State University, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University – has been described by Detroit news columnist Dan Howes as “the closest thing Michigan has to Silicon Valley – an intellectual powerhouse.” West Michigan also offers:

A plastics program that is the largest and most respected in U.S.
A Rubber Engineering Technology program that is the only bachelor’s degree of its type in the U.S.
The only National Elastomer Center with state-of-the-art laboratories
A Digital Animation Gene Design program
A sustainable business degree program that is among the first of its kind in the U.S., and the only such program in Michigan.

Life Sciences Education

Life science education in West Michigan is supported by:

Three of the nation’s top teaching hospitals: Metro Health, Spectrum Health, and St. Mary's Health Care
The Grand Rapids Medical Education and Research Center
The $90 million Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Secchia Center
Grand Valley State University’s Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences
The Van Andel Institute