Best Online Education Programs in Sterling Heights, MI (2026)
Sterling Heights, Michigan has a population of about 133,473. The city’s median household income is $78,429 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 31.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 42 accredited schools offering education programs near Sterling Heights, with tuition ranging from $3,112 to $30,419 per year for indexed programs. In the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area, the top-earning education-related role is Education Administrator, K-12 at a median $107,920 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Education Schools to Sterling Heights
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 42 schools in our directory that offer education programs near Sterling Heights. Distances are calculated from Sterling Heights city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Macomb Community College | Warren, MI | 6.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Elevate Salon Institute | Royal Oak, MI | 7.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Rochester University | Rochester Hills, MI | 8.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Oakland Community College | Auburn Hills, MI | 10.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Oakland University | Rochester Hills, MI | 11.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Detroit Mercy | Detroit, MI | 12.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Lawrence Technological University | Southfield, MI | 13.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| College for Creative Studies | Detroit, MI | 15.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Wayne State University | Detroit, MI | 15.5 mi | $14,297 - $30,419 | – |
| Wayne County Community College District | Detroit, MI | 17.6 mi | $3,112 - $12,642 | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Michigan schools on the Michigan education page.
Education Wages Near Sterling Heights
Sterling Heights is part of the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area (BLS area code 19820). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Michigan statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary School Teacher | $75,830 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $75,603 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $63,740 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $63,549 |
| Middle School Teacher | $63,030 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $62,841 |
| Education Teacher, Postsecondary | $62,930 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $62,742 |
| Education Administrator, K-12 | $107,920 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $107,597 |
| Education Administrator, Postsecondary | $98,800 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $98,504 |
| Tutor | $45,970 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $45,833 |
| Educational and Career Counselor | $66,710 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $66,510 |
Source: BLS, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
Sterling Heights at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 133,473 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $78,429 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 31.2% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 100.3 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Education-related employment in Macomb County | 2,396 workers, 173 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Sterling Heights-Area Cities With Education Programs
- Troy, MI – 5.9 mi away (83,641 pop)
- Warren, MI – 6.1 mi away (135,125 pop)
- Madison Heights, MI – 6.3 mi away (30,088 pop)
- Roseville, MI – 7.0 mi away (47,602 pop)
- Royal Oak, MI – 8.0 mi away (59,006 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited education schools are near Sterling Heights, MI?
Our directory has 42 accredited schools offering education programs near Sterling Heights. The closest is Macomb Community College in Warren, MI (6.0 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Wayne County Community College District (17.6 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying education roles near Sterling Heights?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying education-related roles near Sterling Heights are: Education Administrator, K-12 ($107,920), Education Administrator, Postsecondary ($98,800), Secondary School Teacher ($75,830). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Michigan statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Troy instead of Sterling Heights?
Troy, MI is 5.9 miles from Sterling Heights and has its own set of local education programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Sterling Heights an affordable place to study education?
Sterling Heights’s median household income of $78,429 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Sterling Heights while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Michigan public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Related Resources
Data verified: May 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2024; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.