by our College Data Analytics TeamUniversity Of Michigan Ann Arbor ranks #1 of 47 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges in Michigan ranking, which scores schools on more than 20 measures of academic quality and student outcomes. The top 25 colleges average a 65% six-year graduation rate and $72,482 in median earnings five years after graduation.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
With all of the college options in Michigan, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. Our ranking highlights **47** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual reviewed 47 colleges using more than 20 objective factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor leads the 47 ranked colleges in Michigan, followed by Michigan State University (#2) and University Of Detroit Mercy (#3). Here are the top-ranked colleges:
Leading the list is University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, our #1 college in Michigan. This public school is set in Ann Arbor, MI. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates report median early-career earnings of $66,254. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor students take on a median of $19,137 in debt.
Out of the 47 colleges in Michigan in this year's ranking, Michigan State University landed the #2 spot. Michigan State University is a public school based in East Lansing, MI. Michigan State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 81%. Students from in state pay about $18,079 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,166 early in their careers. The median student debt is $25,213.
Out of the 47 colleges in Michigan in this year's ranking, University Of Detroit Mercy landed the #3 spot. Set in Detroit, MI, University Of Detroit Mercy is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $32,946 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $76,755. University Of Detroit Mercy students take on a median of $29,053 in debt.
You'll be in good company at Hope College, which ranked #4 this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Holland, MI. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. In-state tuition and fees run about $39,484. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,644 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $26,334.
You'll be in good company at Michigan Technological University, which ranked #5 this year. Based in Houghton, MI, Michigan Technological University is a public institution. Michigan Technological University graduates 68% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $20,532 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $44,807. Early-career graduates earn a median of $64,652. Michigan Technological University students take on a median of $25,800 in debt.
Calvin College placed #6 among the best colleges in Michigan. Based in Grand Rapids, MI, Calvin College is a private not-for-profit institution. Calvin College graduates 74% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $39,350. Median early-career earnings reach $44,220. Graduates carry a median of $22,707 in student loans.
Grand Valley State University placed #7 among the best colleges in Michigan. Based in Allendale, MI, Grand Valley State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. Students from in state pay about $15,502 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,894. Median early-career earnings reach $50,179. Students borrow a median of $26,378 to complete a degree here.
Walsh College Of Accountancy And Business Administration came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Walsh College Of Accountancy And Business Administration is a private not-for-profit school based in Troy, MI. In-state tuition and fees average $22,629. Graduates go on to earn a median of $67,414 early in their careers. Walsh College Of Accountancy And Business Administration students take on a median of $16,728 in debt.
Lawrence Technological University landed the #9 spot in Michigan this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Southfield, MI. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. In-state tuition and fees average $44,760. Early-career graduates earn a median of $74,924. Students borrow a median of $27,799 to complete a degree here.
Kettering University did well this year, earning the #10 position. Set in Flint, MI, Kettering University is a private not-for-profit institution. Kettering University posts a six-year graduation rate of 71%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $46,425. Early-career graduates earn a median of $87,338. Graduates carry a median of $28,913 in student loans.
Cleary University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. This private not-for-profit school is set in Howell, MI. About 38% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $26,102. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $58,385. Graduates carry a median of $22,067 in student loans.
Oakland University came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Set in Rochester Hills, MI, Oakland University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. In-state tuition and fees average $17,167, while out-of-state students pay about $24,735. Early-career graduates earn a median of $54,785. The median student debt is $25,972.
Ferris State University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Based in Big Rapids, MI, Ferris State University is a public institution. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,778. Median early-career earnings reach $54,608. Students borrow a median of $23,562 to complete a degree here.
Northwood University Michigan ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Set in Midland, MI, Northwood University Michigan is a private not-for-profit institution. Northwood University Michigan graduates 63% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,400. Median early-career earnings reach $50,791. Graduates carry a median of $25,344 in student loans.
Kalamazoo College placed #15 among the best colleges in Michigan. Kalamazoo College is a private not-for-profit school based in Kalamazoo, MI. About 76% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $60,900. Graduates go on to earn a median of $37,374 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,118 to complete a degree here.
Central Michigan University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Mount Pleasant, MI. Central Michigan University graduates 59% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,480. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $50,688. Graduates carry a median of $27,857 in student loans.
Western Michigan University placed #17 among the best colleges in Michigan. Set in Kalamazoo, MI, Western Michigan University is a public institution. Western Michigan University graduates 58% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,987, with out-of-state students paying around $19,952. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,966 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $27,981.
University Of Michigan Dearborn landed the #18 spot in Michigan this year. Located in Dearborn, MI, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a public institution. University Of Michigan Dearborn graduates 58% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,640, while out-of-state students pay about $32,896. Early-career graduates earn a median of $62,536. University Of Michigan Dearborn students take on a median of $26,516 in debt.
Wayne State University came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Set in Detroit, MI, Wayne State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,159, while out-of-state students pay about $34,650. Wayne State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $55,469. Typical student debt is $26,689.
Chamberlain University Michigan placed #20 among the best colleges in Michigan. This private for-profit school is set in Troy, MI. Roughly 100% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,520. Median early-career earnings reach $83,188. Chamberlain University Michigan students take on a median of $39,146 in debt.
Albion College came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Set in Albion, MI, Albion College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 62% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $56,950 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,829 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $26,254.
Siena Heights University ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Based in Adrian, MI, Siena Heights University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 39%. Students from in state pay about $30,778 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $52,293. Siena Heights University students take on a median of $25,790 in debt.
Alma College placed #23 among the best colleges in Michigan. Based in Alma, MI, Alma College is a private not-for-profit institution. Alma College posts a six-year graduation rate of 63%. In-state tuition and fees run about $49,552. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,740 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,248 to complete a degree here.
Saginaw Valley State University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Located in University Center, MI, Saginaw Valley State University is a public institution. About 48% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $12,930 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $30,450. Saginaw Valley State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $50,012. The median student debt is $28,091.
College For Creative Studies came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Located in Detroit, MI, College For Creative Studies is a private not-for-profit institution. College For Creative Studies posts a six-year graduation rate of 71%. In-state tuition and fees average $53,350. Graduates go on to earn a median of $26,638 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $27,655 in student loans.
These 22 colleges rank #26 through #47 of 47 in Michigan. These colleges rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
See our data sources and methodologies.
