Northwestern Michigan College is located in Traverse City, which overlaps the border between Leelanau and Grand Traverse counties. The school serves the surrounding region, with an annual enrollment of more than 50,000. Certificate programs and associate's degrees are available in a wide variety of academic and vocational disciplines, ranging from accounting to physics to culinary arts. The college also has agreements in place with universities in the region, allowing it to function as a satellite campus for students who wish to get a full undergraduate or graduate degree without leaving the area.
North Central Michigan College is in Petoskey, 67 miles northeast of Traverse City on the lower peninsula's northern tip. North Central offers associate's degrees and certificate programs in a number of disciplines, mostly technical in nature. Courses are available on campus, online or in a hybrid format that mixes classroom time with self-directed online study.
Kirtland Community College is in Roscommon, about 67 miles southeast of Leelanau's southeastern corner. Kirtland offers associate's degrees in computers, business management, arts, teaching and applied science. Students may transfer their credits to universities in the region if they wish to pursue a bachelor's degree in their field.
Montcalm Community College is in Sidney, about 150 miles west of Leelanau County. The school offers a range of vocational programs, certificates and associate's degrees, and students may transfer their credits to outside universities for credit toward a higher degree. A range of non-credit courses are also available.