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2024 Best Colleges in Michigan

57 Colleges
$54,057 Avg Salary*
37% Avg 4-Year Grad Rate*

It's not easy to decide which college to attend when you have so many options available. At College Factual, we're committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our Top Michigan Colleges ranking.

Our analysis looked at 57 schools in Michigan to determine which ones were the best in terms of overall quality. Our ranking is based on over 20 objective factors, including post graduate earnings, freshman retention, and graduation rate. We steer clear of subjective measures since they don't give a clear picture when determining how one school compares to another.

Get more details on our ranking methodology.

Customizing Your List

We know that one set of rankings doesn't always help you determine the best school for you, so we've created the ability to narrow your list by location and field of study as well as alternative rankings that prioritize different factors such as those of importance to veterans and returning adults or those who value diversity and value for your money.

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One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head!

Top Colleges in Michigan

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

1

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor tops this year’s ranking as the best school in Michigan for overall quality. U-M is a public institution located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 15,915 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school boasts an average 4-year graduation rate of 80%, which is excellent when compared to the national rate of 33%. During the early years of their career, graduates from U-M make an average of $75,842 a year.

Read More…

2
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Michigan State University. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Colleges in Michigan list. Located in East Lansing, Michigan, the large public school handed out 13,487 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $61,101 during the early years of their career..

Read full report on Michigan State University

3

The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Michigan Technological University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Michigan. Michigan Tech is a medium-sized public school situated in Houghton, Michigan. It awarded 1,820 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 1.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Michigan Tech is $73,541 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Michigan Technological University

4
Kettering crest
Kettering University
Flint, Michigan

Out of the 57 schools in Michigan that were part of this year’s ranking, Kettering University landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Flint, Michigan, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 637 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Kettering make an average of $93,893 per year during the early years of their career.

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5
WMU crest
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan

Out of the 57 schools in Michigan that were part of this year’s ranking, Western Michigan University landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the fairly large public school handed out 5,153 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, graduates from WMU make an average of $49,652 a year.

Full Western Michigan University Report

6
Macomb Community College crest
Macomb Community College
Warren, Michigan

Macomb Community College landed the #6 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Michigan ranking. Macomb Community College is located in Warren, Michigan and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,648 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.

Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Macomb Community College go into careers with an average salary of $38,114 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Macomb Community College

7
Wayne State crest
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan

With a ranking of #7, Wayne State University did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Michigan list. Wayne State is a large public school situated in Detroit, Michigan. It awarded 7,239 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, graduates from Wayne State make an average of $46,679 a year.

Full Wayne State University Report

8
Hope crest
Hope College
Holland, Michigan

Hope College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Michigan ranking. Located in Holland, Michigan, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 831 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Hope is $53,796 during the early years of their career.

Full Hope College Report

9

Grand Valley State University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Michigan ranking, coming in at #9. GVSU is a large public school situated in Allendale, Michigan. It awarded 6,502 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from GVSU is $50,273 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Grand Valley State University

10
Central Michigan crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Central Michigan University landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Michigan ranking. Central Michigan is a public institution located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 5,662 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan go into careers with an average salary of $49,644 during the early years of their career.

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11
Oakland crest
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, Michigan

Oakland University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Colleges in Michigan list. Oakland University is a fairly large public school located in Rochester Hills, Michigan that handed out 4,697 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 3.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Oakland go into careers with an average salary of $52,912 during the early years of their career.

Full Oakland University Report

12
Calvin crest
Calvin University
Grand Rapids, Michigan

Calvin University landed the #12 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Michigan ranking. Located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 1,047 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 1.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Calvin make an average of $49,930 per year during the early years of their career.

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13
K College crest
Kalamazoo College
Kalamazoo, Michigan

Kalamazoo College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Michigan ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and it awarded 497 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 1.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from K College is $55,286 during the early years of their career.

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14
Madonna crest
Madonna University
Livonia, Michigan

Madonna University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Colleges in Michigan list. Located in Livonia, Michigan, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 1,098 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Madonna make an average of $50,362 per year during the early years of their career.

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15
Andrews crest
Andrews University
Berrien Springs, Michigan

With a ranking of #15, Andrews University did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Michigan list. Located in Berrien Springs, Michigan, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 864 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Andrews is $51,909 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Andrews University

16
Ferris crest
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, Michigan

Ferris State University landed the #16 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Michigan ranking. This fairly large public school is located in Big Rapids, Michigan, and it awarded 3,575 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Ferris make an average of $51,832 per year during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Ferris State University

17

University of Michigan - Dearborn ranked #17 on this year’s Best Colleges in Michigan list. This medium-sized public school is located in Dearborn, Michigan, and it awarded 2,451 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 3.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from UM Dearborn is $56,525 during the early years of their career.

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18

University of Detroit Mercy did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Michigan ranking, coming in at #18. Located in Detroit, Michigan, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 1,635 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $55,881 during the early years of their career..

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19

Lawrence Technological University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Michigan ranking, coming in at #19. Lawrence Tech is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Southfield, Michigan. It awarded 673 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 4.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Lawrence Tech make an average of $67,434 per year during the early years of their career.

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20
Eastern Michigan crest
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, Michigan

Eastern Michigan University landed the #20 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Michigan ranking. Located in Ypsilanti, Michigan, the fairly large public school awarded 4,425 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 $46,112 during the early years of their career..

Full Eastern Michigan University Report

21
Siena Heights University crest
Siena Heights University
Adrian, Michigan

Siena Heights University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Colleges in Michigan list. Siena Heights University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Adrian, Michigan. It awarded 741 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $48,321 during the early years of their career..

Full Siena Heights University Report

22
Jackson College crest
Jackson College
Jackson, Michigan

Jackson College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Colleges in Michigan list. Jackson College is a public institution located in Jackson, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 622 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $35,902 during the early years of their career..

Full Jackson College Report

23
Adrian crest
Adrian College
Adrian, Michigan

Adrian College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Colleges in Michigan list. Adrian is a private not-for-profit institution located in Adrian, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 447 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, graduates from Adrian make an average of $51,378 a year.

Read full report on Adrian College

24
Davenport University crest
Davenport University
Grand Rapids, Michigan

Davenport University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Colleges in Michigan list. Located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 1,579 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Davenport University is $38,868 during the early years of their career.

Full Davenport University Report

25
Saginaw Valley State University crest
Saginaw Valley State University
University Center, Michigan

Saginaw Valley State University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Colleges in Michigan list. Saginaw Valley State University is a public institution located in University Center, Michigan. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,699 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $46,231 during the early years of their career..

Full Saginaw Valley State University Report

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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