by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the graduate school options in Michigan, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. This list ranks 144 programs by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual evaluated graduate schools across over 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.
The best graduate school for you depends on what you want to study. Narrow your list by location and field of study, or explore other rankings below. Start by picking a degree level:
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our tool College Combat to weigh schools on the factors you care about most.
Learn more about these excellent graduate schools below:
Leading the list is University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, our #1 graduate school in Michigan. Located in Ann Arbor, MI, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Median early-career earnings reach $66,254. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor students take on a median of $19,137 in debt.
You'll be in good company at Michigan State University, which ranked #2 this year. This public school is set in East Lansing, MI. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. In-state tuition and fees average $18,079, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $54,166. Students borrow a median of $25,213 to complete a degree here.
Michigan Technological University came in at #3 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Michigan. Michigan Technological University is a public school based in Houghton, MI. Michigan Technological University posts a six-year graduation rate of 68%. In-state tuition and fees average $20,532, compared with $44,807 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $64,652. Typical student debt is $25,800.
A rank of #4 makes Hope College one of the top graduate schools in Michigan. Based in Holland, MI, Hope College is a private not-for-profit institution. Hope College graduates 80% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $39,484. Median early-career earnings reach $39,644. Graduates carry a median of $26,334 in student loans.
The strong outcomes at University Of Detroit Mercy earned it the #5 place in Michigan. This private not-for-profit school is set in Detroit, MI. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. Students from in state pay about $32,946 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $76,755. Graduates carry a median of $29,053 in student loans.
Calvin College did well this year, earning the #6 position. Based in Grand Rapids, MI, Calvin College is a private not-for-profit institution. Calvin College graduates 74% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,350. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $44,220. Calvin College students take on a median of $22,707 in debt.
Kettering University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Flint, MI, Kettering University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $46,425. Graduates go on to earn a median of $87,338 early in their careers. The median student debt is $28,913.
Grand Valley State University did well this year, earning the #8 position. Set in Allendale, MI, Grand Valley State University is a public institution. Grand Valley State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 67%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,502, compared with $21,894 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $50,179. Students borrow a median of $26,378 to complete a degree here.
Lawrence Technological University did well this year, earning the #9 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Southfield, MI. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. Students from in state pay about $44,760 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $74,924. Typical student debt is $27,799.
Walsh College Of Accountancy And Business Administration landed the #10 spot in Michigan this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Troy, MI. In-state tuition and fees average $22,629. Median early-career earnings reach $67,414. The median student debt is $16,728.
Ferris State University placed #11 among the best graduate schools in Michigan. Ferris State University is a public school based in Big Rapids, MI. Ferris State University graduates 56% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,778. Ferris State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,608. Students borrow a median of $23,562 to complete a degree here.
Oakland University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Oakland University is a public school based in Rochester Hills, MI. About 58% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,167, while out-of-state students pay about $24,735. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $54,785. Graduates carry a median of $25,972 in student loans.
Chamberlain University Michigan placed #13 among the best graduate schools in Michigan. Based in Troy, MI, Chamberlain University Michigan is a private for-profit institution. Roughly 100% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $21,520. Early-career graduates earn a median of $83,188. The median student debt is $39,146.
University Of Michigan Dearborn ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Dearborn, MI, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a public institution. University Of Michigan Dearborn posts a six-year graduation rate of 58%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,640, compared with $32,896 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $62,536. The median student debt is $26,516.
Kalamazoo College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Kalamazoo, MI, Kalamazoo College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. Students from in state pay about $60,900 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $37,374. Graduates carry a median of $26,118 in student loans.
Western Michigan University landed the #16 spot in Michigan this year. Located in Kalamazoo, MI, Western Michigan University is a public institution. Western Michigan University posts a six-year graduation rate of 58%. In-state tuition and fees run about $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. The median student debt is $27,981.
Northwood University Michigan did well this year, earning the #17 position. Based in Midland, MI, Northwood University Michigan is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,400. Early-career graduates earn a median of $50,791. Graduates carry a median of $25,344 in student loans.
Central Michigan University did well this year, earning the #18 position. Set in Mount Pleasant, MI, Central Michigan University is a public institution. About 59% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $15,480. Central Michigan University graduates report median early-career earnings of $50,688. Typical student debt is $27,857.
Cleary University did well this year, earning the #19 position. Set in Howell, MI, Cleary University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 38% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $26,102. Cleary University graduates report median early-career earnings of $58,385. Cleary University students take on a median of $22,067 in debt.
Wayne State University came in at #20 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Detroit, MI. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. In-state tuition and fees average $16,159, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. Wayne State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $55,469. Wayne State University students take on a median of $26,689 in debt.
Alma College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Alma, MI, Alma College is a private not-for-profit institution. Alma College posts a six-year graduation rate of 63%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,552. Median early-career earnings reach $42,740. Alma College students take on a median of $27,248 in debt.
Albion College landed the #22 spot in Michigan this year. Based in Albion, MI, Albion College is a private not-for-profit institution. Albion College posts a six-year graduation rate of 62%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,950. Early-career graduates earn a median of $40,829. Graduates carry a median of $26,254 in student loans.
Siena Heights University did well this year, earning the #23 position. Based in Adrian, MI, Siena Heights University is a private not-for-profit institution. Siena Heights University posts a six-year graduation rate of 39%. In-state tuition and fees run about $30,778. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $52,293. Siena Heights University students take on a median of $25,790 in debt.
Saginaw Valley State University placed #24 among the best graduate schools in Michigan. This public school is set in University Center, MI. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,930, while out-of-state students pay about $30,450. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $50,012. Saginaw Valley State University students take on a median of $28,091 in debt.
College For Creative Studies placed #25 among the best graduate schools in Michigan. College For Creative Studies is a private not-for-profit school based in Detroit, MI. College For Creative Studies graduates 71% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $53,350. Median early-career earnings reach $26,638. The median student debt is $27,655.
Not far behind, these graduate schools also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.
