It's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Top Michigan Colleges for a Bachelor's ranking - to help you make that decision.
We analyzed 34 colleges and universities across Michigan to determine which ones have the best bachelor's degree programs. Our ranking methodology focuses on different objective factors to make this determination of the best schools. In the next few paragraphs, we'll talk a little about what we use in our analysis and why.
Higher Than Average Earnings
To determine the overall quality of a graduate school, one factor we look at is the average early-career salary of those receiving a bachelor's degree from the school. A bachelor's degree holder from a school in Michigan makes an average starting salary of $41,004, but the students who attended schools in the top 25 of our list make an average of $42,883.
Starting Salary ( 29535 to 51216 )
Taking Out Student Loans
Another factor that we look at to determine a school's ranking is the average debt load that students take on while they are working on their bachelor's degree.
During their time at college, bachelor's degree seekers from schools in Michigan take out an average of $27,379.
We consider this number in conjunction with average post-graduation earnings to gauge the difficulty bachelor's recipients will have paying back their loans.
More Ranking Factors That Are Important
We also analyze a number of other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt when coming up with our yearly Best Bachelor's Degree Schools ranking.
On a broad level, other factors that go into our rankings include such things as the demand of the school, the student body caliber, if the school has online options, and the educational resources provided by the school.
You may also want to narrow this list by location to find the best bachelor's degree schools nearest you. Also, check out our other college rankings to help you with your college decision.
Our 2024 rankings named University of Michigan - Ann Arbor the best school in Michigan in terms of overall quality for students working on their bachelor’s degree. U-M is a public institution located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 9,144 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from U-M make an average of $44,289 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $18,344 in student loans. Average monthly loan payments are around $419 for a 10-year repayment plan.
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Michigan State University helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Michigan. Michigan State is a public institution located in East Lansing, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 9,450 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State go into careers with an average salary of $41,077 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $25,805. This translates to an average monthly payment of $428 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Michigan Technological University. It ranked #3 on our 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan list. Michigan Tech is a medium-sized public school situated in Houghton, Michigan. It awarded 1,202 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $58,620 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $25,210 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $294 for a 10-year repayment plan.
A rank of #4 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree in Michigan list means Kettering University is a great place for students working on their degree. Flint, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 435 students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Kettering is $74,542 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $29,397. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $313.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Western Michigan University. It ranked #5 on our 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan list. Western Michigan University is a fairly large public school located in Kalamazoo, Michigan that handed out 3,747 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from WMU go into careers with an average salary of $40,044 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $27,928 after getting their degree. This translates to an average monthly payment of $269 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Wayne State University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan list. Located in Detroit, Michigan, the large public school awarded 4,208 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $41,668 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $27,323 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $173 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Grand Valley State University landed the #7 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan ranking. GVSU is a public institution located in Allendale, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5,263 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from GVSU go into careers with an average salary of $38,792 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $26,196 in student loans. This translates to an average monthly payment of $243 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Hope College landed the #8 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan ranking. Hope College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Holland, Michigan that handed out 831 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $35,540 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $26,467. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $821.
With a ranking of #9, Oakland University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan list. Rochester Hills, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 3,564 students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $42,061 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $26,722 in student loans. Average monthly loan payments are around $174 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Central Michigan University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan ranking. Mount Pleasant, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 3,744 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan go into careers with an average salary of $38,311 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $28,321. This translates to an average monthly payment of $251 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
With a ranking of #11, Madonna University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan list. Located in Livonia, Michigan, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 685 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Madonna make an average of $38,604 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $29,521. Average monthly loan payments are around $260 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Lawrence Technological University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan ranking, coming in at #12. Lawrence Tech is a private not-for-profit institution located in Southfield, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 371 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Lawrence Tech make an average of $71,960 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $27,980. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $385.
Kalamazoo College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan list. Kalamazoo, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 497 students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from K College make an average of $27,476 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $25,025 after getting their degree.
With a ranking of #14, Calvin University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and it awarded 942 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Calvin make an average of $37,089 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $22,305 after getting their degree.
Ferris State University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan ranking. This fairly large public school is located in Big Rapids, Michigan, and it awarded 2,124 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Ferris make an average of $44,766 a year. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $27,055 in student loans. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $188.
University of Michigan - Dearborn landed the #16 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan ranking. UM Dearborn is a public institution located in Dearborn, Michigan. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,626 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $45,129 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $27,333. This translates to an average monthly payment of $213 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Eastern Michigan University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan list. Eastern Michigan is a fairly large public school situated in Ypsilanti, Michigan. It awarded 3,309 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Michigan make an average of $38,415 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $28,587 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $160 for a 10-year repayment plan.
University of Detroit Mercy landed the #18 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan ranking. Located in Detroit, Michigan, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 719 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Detroit Mercy is $44,163 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $28,426. Average monthly loan payments are around $316 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Siena Heights University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan ranking, coming in at #19. Siena Heights University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Adrian, Michigan. It awarded 642 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Siena Heights University make an average of $43,945 a year. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $27,549 in student loans. This translates to an average monthly payment of $227 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Adrian College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan list. Adrian College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Adrian, Michigan that handed out 367 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Adrian is $34,245 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $27,571 in student loans. Average monthly loan payments are around $479 for a 10-year repayment plan.
With a ranking of #21, Davenport University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan list. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and it awarded 922 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Davenport University is $46,290 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $32,552 in student loans. This translates to an average monthly payment of $189 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Saginaw Valley State University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan list. Saginaw Valley State University is located in University Center, Michigan and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,392 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Saginaw Valley State University make an average of $40,376 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $28,475. Average monthly loan payments are around $179 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Albion College landed the #23 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan ranking. Albion College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Albion, Michigan that handed out 376 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Albion is $37,698 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $26,094 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $529 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Aquinas College Michigan came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan ranking. Aquinas College Michigan is a private not-for-profit institution located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 347 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Aquinas College Michigan is $34,323 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $26,455 in student loans.
With a ranking of #25, Northern Michigan University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan list. This medium-sized public school is located in Marquette, Michigan, and it awarded 1,197 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Northern Michigan University make an average of $32,651 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $24,984 after getting their degree. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $205.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
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