by our College Data Analytics Team
[Marketing](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/marketing/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The highest-paying schools turn a marketing degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 24 schools on the early-career earnings of their marketing graduates.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send marketing graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Leading the list is Michigan State University, our #1 for marketing graduate salaries in Michigan. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a public institution. Early-career marketing graduates from Michigan State University make a median of around $88,000 per year.
A rank of #2 makes Central Michigan University one of the highest-paying schools for marketing. Set in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a public institution. After graduating, marketing degree recipients from Central Michigan University typically earn about $80,069 annually.
A rank of #3 makes Schoolcraft College one of the highest-paying schools for marketing. Schoolcraft College is a public school located in the city of Livonia. Marketing graduates of Schoolcraft College earn a median of about $57,235 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Michigan Technological University earned it the #4 place for marketing. Set in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a public institution. After graduating, marketing degree recipients from Michigan Technological University typically earn about $62,635 annually.
Macomb Community College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in marketing, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a public institution. Marketing graduates of Macomb Community College earn a median of about $47,732 a year early in their careers.
Lake Superior State University landed the #6 spot for marketing salaries this year. Set in the town of Sault Ste Marie, Lake Superior State University is a public institution. Marketing graduates of Lake Superior State University earn a median of about $60,340 a year early in their careers.
Western Michigan University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying marketing schools. Set in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a public institution. Students who complete the marketing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $70,079.
University Of Michigan Dearborn came in at #8 for marketing graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a public institution. Students who complete the marketing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $76,210.
Oakland University placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for marketing. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a public institution. Early-career marketing graduates from Oakland University make a median of around $65,296 per year.
Grand Valley State University earned the #10 position for marketing graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a public institution. After graduating, marketing degree recipients from Grand Valley State University typically earn about $69,915 annually.
Walsh College Of Accountancy And Business Administration placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for marketing. Located in the city of Troy, Walsh College Of Accountancy And Business Administration is a private not-for-profit institution. Marketing graduates of Walsh College Of Accountancy And Business Administration earn a median of about $77,512 a year early in their careers.
Ferris State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying marketing schools. Set in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a public institution. Marketing graduates of Ferris State University earn a median of about $75,891 a year early in their careers.
Saginaw Valley State University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying marketing schools. Saginaw Valley State University is a public school located in the suburb of University Center. Students who complete the marketing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $67,719.
Wayne State University landed the #14 spot for marketing salaries this year. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a public institution. Marketing graduates of Wayne State University earn a median of about $58,487 a year early in their careers.
Delta College came in at #15 for marketing graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of University Center, Delta College is a public institution. Early-career marketing graduates from Delta College make a median of around $43,144 per year.
Baker College Of Flint landed the #16 spot for marketing salaries this year. Located in the town of Owosso, Baker College Of Flint is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, marketing degree recipients from Baker College Of Flint typically earn about $58,115 annually.
Eastern Michigan University landed the #17 spot for marketing salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a public institution. Students who complete the marketing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $57,811.
Davenport University earned the #18 position for marketing graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Grand Rapids, Davenport University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the marketing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $57,634.
Concordia University Ann Arbor came in at #19 for marketing graduate earnings this year. Concordia University Ann Arbor is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Marketing graduates of Concordia University Ann Arbor earn a median of about $62,299 a year early in their careers.
Northwood University Michigan landed the #20 spot for marketing salaries this year. Set in the city of Midland, Northwood University Michigan is a private not-for-profit institution. Marketing graduates of Northwood University Michigan earn a median of about $57,494 a year early in their careers.
Northern Michigan University came in at #21 for marketing graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Marquette, Northern Michigan University is a public institution. Marketing graduates of Northern Michigan University earn a median of about $51,209 a year early in their careers.
Adrian College placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for marketing. Located in the town of Adrian, Adrian College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the marketing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $51,054.
University Of Michigan Flint placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for marketing. University Of Michigan Flint is a public school located in the city of Flint. Students who complete the marketing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $48,719.
Cornerstone University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying marketing schools. Cornerstone University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Grand Rapids. After graduating, marketing degree recipients from Cornerstone University typically earn about $42,627 annually.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their marketing graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 24 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
