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 **39** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual reviewed 39 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:
Learn more about these excellent graduate schools below:
Leading the list is University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, our #1 graduate school in Michigan. Based in Ann Arbor, MI, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Graduates go on to earn a median of $66,254 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,137 to complete a degree here.
You'll be in good company at Michigan State University, which ranked #2 this year. Michigan State University is a public school based in East Lansing, MI. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. Students from in state pay about $18,079 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,166 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,213 to complete a degree here.
Out of the 39 graduate schools in Michigan in this year's ranking, Michigan Technological University landed the #3 spot. Michigan Technological University is a public school based in Houghton, MI. About 68% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $20,532 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $44,807. Median early-career earnings reach $64,652. Michigan Technological University students take on a median of $25,800 in debt.
The strong outcomes at Kettering University earned it the #4 place in Michigan. Based in Flint, MI, Kettering University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. Students from in state pay about $46,425 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $87,338 early in their careers. The median student debt is $28,913.
Lawrence Technological University came in at #5 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Michigan. This private not-for-profit school is set in Southfield, MI. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,760. Lawrence Technological University graduates report median early-career earnings of $74,924. Students borrow a median of $27,799 to complete a degree here.
University Of Detroit Mercy placed #6 among the best graduate schools in Michigan. Located in Detroit, MI, University Of Detroit Mercy is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of Detroit Mercy posts a six-year graduation rate of 67%. In-state tuition and fees average $32,946. Early-career graduates earn a median of $76,755. University Of Detroit Mercy students take on a median of $29,053 in debt.
Calvin College landed the #7 spot in Michigan this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Grand Rapids, MI. Calvin College posts a six-year graduation rate of 74%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,350. Median early-career earnings reach $44,220. Graduates carry a median of $22,707 in student loans.
Grand Valley State University landed the #8 spot in Michigan this year. Set in Allendale, MI, Grand Valley State University is a public institution. About 67% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,502, while out-of-state students pay about $21,894. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $50,179. The median student debt is $26,378.
Walsh College Of Accountancy And Business Administration landed the #9 spot in Michigan this year. Set in Troy, MI, Walsh College Of Accountancy And Business Administration is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $22,629. Median early-career earnings reach $67,414. The median student debt is $16,728.
Cleary University came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Located in Howell, MI, Cleary University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 38% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $26,102. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $58,385. Students borrow a median of $22,067 to complete a degree here.
Oakland University landed the #11 spot in Michigan this year. Based in Rochester Hills, MI, Oakland University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. In-state tuition and fees run about $17,167, compared with $24,735 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $54,785. Typical student debt is $25,972.
Alma College came in at #12 in this year's ranking. 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 average $49,552. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,740 early in their careers. Alma College students take on a median of $27,248 in debt.
Western Michigan University landed the #13 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%. Students from in state pay about $15,987 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,952 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,966 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $27,981.
University Of Michigan Dearborn placed #14 among the best graduate schools in Michigan. Set 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, compared with $32,896 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $62,536. Typical student debt is $26,516.
Northwood University Michigan placed #15 among the best graduate schools in Michigan. This private not-for-profit school is set in Midland, MI. Northwood University Michigan posts a six-year graduation rate of 63%. Students from in state pay about $34,400 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,791 early in their careers. Northwood University Michigan students take on a median of $25,344 in debt.
Wayne State University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Located 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, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. Median early-career earnings reach $55,469. Students borrow a median of $26,689 to complete a degree here.
Central Michigan University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Mount Pleasant, MI, Central Michigan University is a public institution. Central Michigan University posts a six-year graduation rate of 59%. In-state tuition and fees average $15,480. Median early-career earnings reach $50,688. Students borrow a median of $27,857 to complete a degree here.
Sacred Heart Major Seminary came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Based in Detroit, MI, Sacred Heart Major Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $24,140.
Andrews University landed the #19 spot in Michigan this year. Set in Berrien Springs, MI, Andrews University is a private not-for-profit institution. Andrews University graduates 72% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,056. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $62,634. Typical student debt is $26,314.
Ferris State University placed #20 among the best graduate schools in Michigan. This public school is set in Big Rapids, MI. Ferris State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 56%. In-state tuition and fees average $14,778. Early-career graduates earn a median of $54,608. Typical student debt is $23,562.
Concordia University Ann Arbor ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Ann Arbor, MI, Concordia University Ann Arbor is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $35,410. Concordia University Ann Arbor graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,043. Students borrow a median of $27,248 to complete a degree here.
Spring Arbor University ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Spring Arbor University is a private not-for-profit school based in Spring Arbor, MI. Spring Arbor University posts a six-year graduation rate of 63%. Students from in state pay about $34,014 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,080 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $28,268 in student loans.
University Of Michigan Flint came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Located in Flint, MI, University Of Michigan Flint is a public institution. University Of Michigan Flint posts a six-year graduation rate of 40%. Students from in state pay about $14,236 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $27,790. University Of Michigan Flint graduates report median early-career earnings of $51,692. Typical student debt is $31,016.
Saginaw Valley State University landed the #24 spot in Michigan this year. This public school is set in University Center, MI. Saginaw Valley State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 48%. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,930, while out-of-state students pay about $30,450. Saginaw Valley State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $50,012. Typical student debt is $28,091.
Eastern Michigan University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Ypsilanti, MI, Eastern Michigan University is a public institution. About 46% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $16,990. Eastern Michigan University graduates report median early-career earnings of $47,887. Typical student debt is $28,781.
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), 2027 edition. Graduate schools are scored on 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.
