by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Michigan, narrowing things down is no easy task. This list ranks **20** programs by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed 20 graduate schools on more than 20 objective measures 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.
Here is the early-career salary range across the top-ranked graduate schools:
Here are the top-ranked graduate schools:
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor tops our 2027 ranking of the best graduate schools in Michigan. This public school is set in Ann Arbor, MI. About 93% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Early-career graduates earn a median of $66,254. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor students take on a median of $19,137 in debt.
Michigan State University came in at #2 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Michigan. Michigan State University is a public school based in East Lansing, MI. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,079, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $54,166. Graduates carry a median of $25,213 in student loans.
You'll be in good company at Michigan Technological University, which ranked #3 this year. Set in Houghton, MI, Michigan Technological University is a public institution. Michigan Technological University graduates 68% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $20,532, while out-of-state students pay about $44,807. Early-career graduates earn a median of $64,652. Students borrow a median of $25,800 to complete a degree here.
University Of Detroit Mercy came in at #4 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Michigan. This private not-for-profit school is set in Detroit, MI. University Of Detroit Mercy graduates 67% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,946. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $76,755. University Of Detroit Mercy students take on a median of $29,053 in debt.
Out of the 20 graduate schools in Michigan in this year's ranking, Western Michigan University landed the #5 spot. Set in Kalamazoo, MI, Western Michigan University is a public institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $15,987 in tuition and fees, 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.
Grand Valley State University landed the #6 spot in Michigan this year. Grand Valley State University is a public school based in Allendale, MI. About 67% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,502, compared with $21,894 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,179 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $26,378 in student loans.
Ferris State University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Big Rapids, MI, Ferris State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,778. Median early-career earnings reach $54,608. Ferris State University students take on a median of $23,562 in debt.
Oakland University came in at #8 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Rochester Hills, MI. Oakland University graduates 58% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $17,167, compared with $24,735 for out-of-state students. Oakland University graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,785. Oakland University students take on a median of $25,972 in debt.
Central Michigan University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Central Michigan University is a public school based in Mount Pleasant, MI. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,480. Central Michigan University graduates report median early-career earnings of $50,688. The median student debt is $27,857.
Wayne State University came in at #10 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Detroit, MI. Wayne State University graduates 58% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,159, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,469 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,689 to complete a degree here.
University Of Michigan Dearborn ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Dearborn, MI, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a public institution. University Of Michigan Dearborn graduates 58% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $15,640, compared with $32,896 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $62,536. Students borrow a median of $26,516 to complete a degree here.
Andrews University placed #12 among the best graduate schools in Michigan. This private not-for-profit school is set in Berrien Springs, MI. Andrews University posts a six-year graduation rate of 72%. Students from in state pay about $35,056 in tuition and fees. Andrews University graduates report median early-career earnings of $62,634. Students borrow a median of $26,314 to complete a degree here.
Cornerstone University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Grand Rapids, MI, Cornerstone University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 63% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $23,000 in tuition and fees. Cornerstone University graduates report median early-career earnings of $44,501. Students borrow a median of $29,243 to complete a degree here.
Concordia University Ann Arbor placed #14 among the best graduate schools in Michigan. Concordia University Ann Arbor is a private not-for-profit school based in Ann Arbor, MI. About 49% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,410. Early-career graduates earn a median of $54,043. Students borrow a median of $27,248 to complete a degree here.
University Of Michigan Flint ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Flint, MI, University Of Michigan Flint is a public institution. About 40% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,236, with out-of-state students paying around $27,790. Early-career graduates earn a median of $51,692. The median student debt is $31,016.
Eastern Michigan University landed the #16 spot in Michigan this year. Based in Ypsilanti, MI, Eastern Michigan University is a public institution. Eastern Michigan University graduates 46% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,990. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,887 early in their careers. Eastern Michigan University students take on a median of $28,781 in debt.
Michigan School Of Professional Psychology ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Michigan School Of Professional Psychology is a private not-for-profit school based in Farmington Hills, MI. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $45,114.
Baker College Of Flint placed #18 among the best graduate schools in Michigan. This private not-for-profit school is set in Owosso, MI. Baker College Of Flint graduates 30% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,000. Graduates go on to earn a median of $46,774 early in their careers. Baker College Of Flint students take on a median of $30,688 in debt.
Western Theological Seminary landed the #19 spot in Michigan this year. Located in Holland, MI, Western Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution.
Thomas M Cooley Law School came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Set in Lansing, MI, Thomas M Cooley Law School is a private not-for-profit institution. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $60,878.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs 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.