About Us

DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.

DECA Members Gain 21st Century Skills

Through participation in DECA activities, 97% of DECA members say they learned how to communicate thoughts and ideas, how to organize a presentation and more about what businesses expect from employees while gaining problem-solving skills.

DECA Members are Prepared to Become Leaders

More than 92% of DECA members say their experience empowered them to be an effective leader and connected school to the real world. 

Nearly 82% of DECA members say DECA helped them recognize the benefit of community service.

DECA Members are Motivated for the Future

DECA members say their experience prepared them academically for college and career (91%), influenced their college plans (64%), influenced their career plans (73%) and influenced their interest in entrepreneurship and owning a business (66%).


About Michigan DECA

Michigan DECA is an association of high school students who are planning careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. 

Michigan DECA has more than 8,000 members in 155 high school and area career centers across the state of Michigan.  (Globally, DECA Inc. has more than 222,000 members in more than 3,700 chapters.)

Michigan DECA is a tax-exempt, not for profit 501(C)(3) educational association and is affiliated with National DECA located in Reston, Virginia. Michigan DECA is supported by a grant from the Michigan Department of Education, to the College of Engineering & Technology at Eastern Michigan University. Our office is located at Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan 48197; (734) 487-DECA.

Michigan was one of 17 charter states to affiliate with DECA in 1947. Today, there are associations representing membership in all 50 United States, Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico and Germany.. Of those 54 chartered associations, Michigan has grown to be the ninth largest in terms of membership. Besides having a large membership, Michigan DECA is also an innovator in many different ways. From competitive events to corporate partnerships, Michigan DECA is always striving to provide as many opportunities as possible to its student members.

Throughout the year, high school members are offered the opportunity to participate in many conferences that focus on DECA’s four main goals: Vocational Understanding, Leadership Development, Civic Consciousness, and Social Intelligence. Members have the opportunity to attend the State Leadership Conference, District Competitions, the State Career Development Conference, and represent our state of Michigan at the International Career Development Conference.  20

DECA is committed to creating and maintaining a healthy and respectful environment for all of our emerging leaders and entrepreneurs. Our philosophy is to ensure all members, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or socio-economic status, are treated equally and respectfully. Any behavior in the form of discrimination, harassment or bullying will not be tolerated. It is the responsibility of all members to uphold and contribute to this climate.