by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Michigan, narrowing things down is no easy task. Our ranking highlights **56** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual analyzed 56 colleges using more than 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.
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Learn more about these excellent colleges below:
Our analysis found University Of Michigan Ann Arbor to be the best college in Michigan. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public school based in Ann Arbor, MI. 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. 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. This public school is set in East Lansing, MI. Michigan State University graduates 81% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $18,079, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Michigan State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,166. Typical student debt is $25,213.
Michigan Technological University came in at #3 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Michigan. This public school is set in Houghton, MI. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. In-state tuition and fees average $20,532, while out-of-state students pay about $44,807. Median early-career earnings reach $64,652. Michigan Technological University students take on a median of $25,800 in debt.
Out of the 56 colleges in Michigan in this year's ranking, Hope College landed the #4 spot. Hope College is a private not-for-profit school based in Holland, MI. Hope College graduates 80% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,484. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $39,644. Typical student debt is $26,334.
The strong outcomes at University Of Detroit Mercy earned it the #5 place 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%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,946. Median early-career earnings reach $76,755. Students borrow a median of $29,053 to complete a degree here.
Calvin College did well this year, earning the #6 position. Set 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. Median early-career earnings reach $44,220. Calvin College students take on a median of $22,707 in debt.
Kettering University landed the #7 spot in Michigan this year. Located in Flint, MI, Kettering University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $46,425 in tuition and fees. Kettering University graduates report median early-career earnings of $87,338. Graduates carry a median of $28,913 in student loans.
Grand Valley State University landed the #8 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. Students from in state pay about $15,502 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,894 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $50,179. Graduates carry a median of $26,378 in student loans.
Lawrence Technological University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This private not-for-profit school is set in Southfield, MI. Lawrence Technological University graduates 60% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $44,760. Graduates go on to earn a median of $74,924 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,799 to complete a degree here.
Walsh College Of Accountancy And Business Administration placed #10 among the best colleges in Michigan. Based in Troy, MI, Walsh College Of Accountancy And Business Administration is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $22,629. Walsh College Of Accountancy And Business Administration graduates report median early-career earnings of $67,414. Typical student debt is $16,728.
Ferris State University placed #11 among the best colleges in Michigan. Based in Big Rapids, MI, Ferris State University is a public institution. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,778. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,608 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $23,562 in student loans.
Oakland University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. 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. Graduates carry a median of $25,972 in student loans.
Chamberlain University Michigan landed the #13 spot in Michigan this year. Located in Troy, MI, Chamberlain University Michigan is a private for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 100%. In-state tuition and fees run about $21,520. Chamberlain University Michigan graduates report median early-career earnings of $83,188. Typical student debt is $39,146.
University Of Michigan Dearborn did well this year, earning the #14 position. 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 average $15,640, with out-of-state students paying around $32,896. Early-career graduates earn a median of $62,536. Students borrow a median of $26,516 to complete a degree here.
Kalamazoo College did well this year, earning the #15 position. Kalamazoo College is a private not-for-profit school based in Kalamazoo, MI. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $60,900. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $37,374. Graduates carry a median of $26,118 in student loans.
Western Michigan University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Western Michigan University is a public school based in Kalamazoo, MI. Western Michigan University posts a six-year graduation rate of 58%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,987, while out-of-state students pay about $19,952. Median early-career earnings reach $48,966. Graduates carry a median of $27,981 in student loans.
Northwood University Michigan landed the #17 spot in Michigan this year. 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%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,400. Northwood University Michigan graduates report median early-career earnings of $50,791. Students borrow a median of $25,344 to complete a degree here.
Central Michigan University placed #18 among the best colleges in Michigan. Based in Mount Pleasant, MI, Central Michigan University is a public institution. Roughly 59% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,480. Central Michigan University graduates report median early-career earnings of $50,688. The median student debt is $27,857.
Cleary University came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Located in Howell, MI, Cleary University is a private not-for-profit institution. Cleary University graduates 38% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,102. Early-career graduates earn a median of $58,385. Students borrow a median of $22,067 to complete a degree here.
Wayne State University came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Located in Detroit, MI, Wayne State University is a public institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,159, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. Median early-career earnings reach $55,469. Typical student debt is $26,689.
Alma College placed #21 among the best colleges in Michigan. Based 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. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $42,740. The median student debt is $27,248.
Albion College came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Located in Albion, MI, Albion College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $56,950. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $40,829. Albion College students take on a median of $26,254 in debt.
Siena Heights University landed the #23 spot in Michigan this year. Located in Adrian, MI, Siena Heights University is a private not-for-profit institution. Siena Heights University graduates 39% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,778. Early-career graduates earn a median of $52,293. Graduates carry a median of $25,790 in student loans.
Saginaw Valley State University placed #24 among the best colleges in Michigan. Set in University Center, MI, Saginaw Valley State University is a public institution. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,930, with out-of-state students paying around $30,450. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $50,012. Graduates carry a median of $28,091 in student loans.
College For Creative Studies ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Detroit, MI, College For Creative Studies is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $53,350 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $26,638. Students borrow a median of $27,655 to complete a degree here.
Not far behind, these colleges also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Colleges 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.
