by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Michigan, it can be hard to know where to start. This list ranks **26** graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual evaluated 26 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.
This is how starting salaries are distributed among the top-ranked graduate schools:
Explore the leading graduate schools below:
No school ranked higher than University Of Michigan Ann Arbor this year 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, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $66,254. Graduates carry a median of $19,137 in student loans.
Out of the 26 graduate schools in Michigan in this year's ranking, Michigan State University landed the #2 spot. This public school is set in East Lansing, MI. About 81% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Michigan State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,166. Graduates carry a median of $25,213 in student loans.
Out of the 26 graduate schools in Michigan in this year's ranking, Kettering University landed the #3 spot. This private not-for-profit school is set in Flint, MI. About 71% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $46,425. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $87,338. Typical student debt is $28,913.
Michigan Technological University came in at #4 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Michigan. This public school is set in Houghton, MI. About 68% of students finish within six years. 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. Students borrow a median of $25,800 to complete a degree here.
Out of the 26 graduate schools in Michigan in this year's ranking, University Of Detroit Mercy landed the #5 spot. University Of Detroit Mercy is a private not-for-profit school based in Detroit, MI. University Of Detroit Mercy posts a six-year graduation rate of 67%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,946. Early-career graduates earn a median of $76,755. Students borrow a median of $29,053 to complete a degree here.
Grand Valley State University did well this year, earning the #6 position. Based in Allendale, MI, Grand Valley State University is a public institution. Grand Valley State University graduates 67% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $15,502, while out-of-state students pay about $21,894. Median early-career earnings reach $50,179. Graduates carry a median of $26,378 in student loans.
Lawrence Technological University landed the #7 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 run about $44,760. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $74,924. Typical student debt is $27,799.
Calvin College came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Based in Grand Rapids, MI, Calvin College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 74% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $39,350. Calvin College graduates report median early-career earnings of $44,220. Typical student debt is $22,707.
Walsh College Of Accountancy And Business Administration landed the #9 spot in Michigan this year. Located in Troy, MI, Walsh College Of Accountancy And Business Administration is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $22,629 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $67,414. Students borrow a median of $16,728 to complete a degree here.
University Of Michigan Dearborn ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Dearborn, MI, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a public institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,640, while out-of-state students pay about $32,896. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $62,536. Graduates carry a median of $26,516 in student loans.
Oakland University did well this year, earning the #11 position. Set in Rochester Hills, MI, Oakland University is a public institution. 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. Early-career graduates earn a median of $54,785. Typical student debt is $25,972.
Western Michigan University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Kalamazoo, MI, Western Michigan University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. In-state tuition and fees average $15,987, with out-of-state students paying around $19,952. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $48,966. Graduates carry a median of $27,981 in student loans.
Central Michigan University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Central Michigan University is a public school based in Mount Pleasant, MI. Roughly 59% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,480. Early-career graduates earn a median of $50,688. The median student debt is $27,857.
Wayne State University placed #14 among the best graduate schools in Michigan. Based in Detroit, MI, Wayne State University is a public institution. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $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.
Northwood University Michigan did well this year, earning the #15 position. Located in Midland, MI, Northwood University Michigan is a private not-for-profit institution. Northwood University Michigan posts a six-year graduation rate of 63%. In-state tuition and fees average $34,400. Median early-career earnings reach $50,791. Northwood University Michigan students take on a median of $25,344 in debt.
Andrews University landed the #16 spot in Michigan this year. Set in Berrien Springs, MI, Andrews University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. In-state tuition and fees run about $35,056. Andrews University graduates report median early-career earnings of $62,634. The median student debt is $26,314.
Ferris State University landed the #17 spot in Michigan this year. This public school is set in Big Rapids, MI. Ferris State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 56%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,778. Early-career graduates earn a median of $54,608. Students borrow a median of $23,562 to complete a degree here.
Sacred Heart Major Seminary did well this year, earning the #18 position. Set in Detroit, MI, Sacred Heart Major Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $24,140.
Spring Arbor University landed the #19 spot in Michigan this year. Set in Spring Arbor, MI, Spring Arbor University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,014. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,080 early in their careers. The median student debt is $28,268.
Saginaw Valley State University came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Set in University Center, MI, Saginaw Valley State University is a public institution. About 48% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,930, with out-of-state students paying around $30,450. Median early-career earnings reach $50,012. The median student debt is $28,091.
Concordia University Ann Arbor landed the #21 spot in Michigan this year. Set in Ann Arbor, MI, Concordia University Ann Arbor is a private not-for-profit institution. About 49% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $35,410 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,043 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,584 to complete a degree here.
Cleary University did well this year, earning the #22 position. Located in Howell, MI, Cleary University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 38% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,102. Graduates go on to earn a median of $58,385 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $22,067 in student loans.
Cornerstone University placed #23 among the best graduate schools in Michigan. Set in Grand Rapids, MI, Cornerstone University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 63% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,000. Cornerstone University graduates report median early-career earnings of $44,501. The median student debt is $29,243.
University Of Michigan Flint placed #24 among the best graduate schools in Michigan. University Of Michigan Flint is a public school based in Flint, MI. About 40% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $14,236, with out-of-state students paying around $27,790. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $51,692. University Of Michigan Flint students take on a median of $31,016 in debt.
College For Creative Studies came in at #25 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Detroit, MI. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. In-state tuition and fees average $53,350. Median early-career earnings reach $26,638. Typical 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.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
