Company Profile
Baker College Professional Services, Inc.
Company Overview
Since 1911, Baker College has been preparing people for successful careers. Today, we are the largest, independent, not-for-profit College in the State of Michigan-and one of the ten largest private colleges in the United States.
Baker College is a career college. We believe that going to college should lead you directly to a great career. Everything at Baker - from our programs, to our facilities and support services - is guided by that belief. Each Baker College campus feels very personal and friendly, with small class sizes, and individual attention.
Baker College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The Higher Learning Commission provides an opportunity for us to maintain our accreditation through a continuous quality improvement process referred to as the Academic Quality Improvement Program or AQIP.
Accreditation affirms that Baker College provides a quality of education recognized by the educational community and other authorities. It is your assurance that the college meets endorsed standards, has a clearly defined process of continuous review and improvement, and is accountable for achieving what it has set out to do-to fully prepare graduates to enter their chosen professions.
At Baker College, our sole interest is providing quality higher education, and preparing our students for career success. Instead of earning profits for shareholders, we serve the interests of our students. This enables us to maintain affordable tuition, and invest in education and career resources, such as free tutoring, new technologies and equipment, lifetime employment assistance, and more.
Company History
The beginnings of Baker College trace back to the turn of the 20th century, with the founding of Muskegon College by Woodbridge Ferris—who later became Governor of Michigan and then a U.S. Senator.
Just two decades later, Eldon E. Baker—an educator who built a highly successful business college in Winfield, Kansas—moved to Flint and founded Baker Business University, which stood at the corner of Court Street and South Saginaw.
In 1965, these two institutions came together under a single academic group headed by Robert Jewell of Muskegon. Throughout the years that followed, the schools continued to thrive and the group began to expand its outreach through the acquisition of other schools and locations.
Today, we are known as Baker College, the largest not-for-profit, independent college in Michigan. We have over 28,000 students in more than 150 programs, taught at nine on-ground campuses, multiple extensions campuses, and online.
Most importantly, we remain dedicated to our original mission: to provide quality higher education and training that enable graduates to be successful throughout challenging and rewarding careers.
1888
Woodbridge Ferris founded Muskegon College.
1911
Eldon E. Baker founded Baker Business University.
1965
Robert Jewell purchased Flint’s Baker Business University and brought both schools under a single management group.
1969
Muskegon College became a non-profit corporation.
1974
The two colleges received authorization to grant an Associate of Business degree. Baker Business University became Baker Junior College.
1977
Baker Junior College became a non-profit corporation.
1981
The Colleges were approved to grant an Associate of Applied Science degree.
1983
The Owosso extension of Baker Junior College was established on the property of the former John Wesley College.
1985
After each college received regional accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, the three campuses merged to form the Baker College System. Muskegon College began offering extension classes in Cadillac.
1986
The Baker College System was authorized to grant a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. Baker Junior College became Baker College of Flint.
1988
The renovated Mandeville School property became Baker College of Flint, its current site.
1990
Baker College acquired locations in Pontiac, Mount Clemens, and Port Huron, forming Baker College of Eastern Michigan. Muskegon College changed its name to Baker College of Muskegon.
1991
The Cadillac extension of Baker College of Muskegon opened a new 40-acre campus site.
1992
The Pontiac campus relocated and became Baker College of Auburn Hills.
1994
The Center for Graduate Studies opened in Flint, launching the System’s first graduate degree program. Jackson Business Institute was acquired to create Baker College of Jackson.
1995
Baker College of Flint added its Cass City extension.
1996
Baker College began offering online classes to students throughout the United States and foreign countries.
1997
Baker College of Muskegon moved to a new, 40-acre site.
2000
Baker College of Mount Clemens became Baker College of Clinton Township and began offering an Associate of Nursing degree.
2001
Record enrollment was achieved with more than 21,000 students across the System. Baker College Online enrollment topped 4,000, reinforcing its position as a leader in distance education. The Center for Graduate Studies was granted full accreditation from the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education.
2002
Baker College gained preliminary approval to offer the Elementary and Secondary Teacher Preparation programs. The Nursing program was expanded to Flint and Owosso. Baker College enrolled over 25,000 students, making it the largest private college in Michigan.
2003
Baker College of Allen Park became the newest addition to the Baker College System.
2005
Baker College of Jackson added the Coldwater extension. Baker College reached record-high enrollment of nearly 34,000.
2006
Baker College was accepted by the Higher Learning Commission as a participant in the highly innovative (AQIP) Academic Quality Improvement Program accreditation process.
2007
The Baker College Center for Graduate Studies received approval from the Higher Learning Commission to offer a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree, becoming the fourth graduate program at Baker College. Baker College of Owosso opened the state-of-the-art Auto/Diesel Institute of Michigan.
2008
Baker College of Muskegon broke ground on the 40,000 square foot Culinary Institute of Michigan (CIM). System enrollment grew to over 38,000. Baker College of Flint students dethroned Texas A&M to win first place in the National Collegiate Cyber Defense competition. Baker College of Flint opened the Center for Transportation Technologies in a former auto dealership.
2009
Fall enrollment surpassed 43,000 students. Baker College of Flint successfully defended its Cyber Defense team Championship title.
2010
Baker College of Cadillac opened the Center for Transportation Technology in Lake City.
2011
The Baker College Center for Graduate Studies awarded the first Doctor of Business Administration degree at its June ceremony.
2012
Baker College was granted accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education to grant a Bachelor of Nursing degree. Ground was broken for the construction of a new Culinary Institute of Michigan facility along the St. Clair River in Port Huron.
2013
The Baker College Center for Graduate Studies received permission from the Higher Learning Commission to grant a Master Degree in Educational Effectiveness. The Baker College Center for Graduate Studies acquired St. Francis School of Law, which is a start-up, online law college.
Notable Products / Brands
Accelerated Business College
Notable Accomplishments / Recognition
As a career college, our goal is to create a direct path from your education to a fulfilling career. One way we measure our success is by tracking all Baker College graduates to better understand what happens after they earn their degree. Are they employed? Have they decided to further their education? Where are they working?
We are proud to say that Baker College has one of the highest graduate employment rates in the nation. 97% of our available graduates are employed.
Benefits
Our human resource professionals can assist you with any employment-related issue. We can explain your benefits, clarify College policies, shed light on how to comply with state and federal labor laws, and more.
For further information, contact:
[email protected]