Best colleges for economics in Michigan
Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in economics, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for economics in Michigan24 schools
24 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in Michigan.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Offers a bachelor’s program in economics, from the College Scorecard field-of-study data (credential level 3).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Hillsdale College
Hillsdale, MI · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Michigan
- Bachelor’s program in economics
- 2
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Bachelor’s program in economics
- Value grade A+ · Top 3%
- 3
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI · Public#3 in Michigan
- Bachelor’s program in economics
- Value grade B+ · Top 26%
- 4
Kalamazoo College
Kalamazoo, MI · Private nonprofit#4 in Michigan
- Bachelor’s program in economics
- Value grade B+ · Top 34%
- 5
Hope College
Holland, MI · Private nonprofit#5 in Michigan
- Bachelor’s program in economics
- Value grade B-
- 6
Calvin University
Grand Rapids, MI · Private nonprofit#6 in Michigan
- Bachelor’s program in economics
- Value grade B
- 7
Michigan Technological University
Houghton, MI · PublicTop 9% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in economics
- Value grade A · Top 7%
- 8
University of Detroit Mercy
Detroit, MI · Private nonprofitTop 14% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in economics
- Value grade A · Top 10%
- 9
Alma College
Alma, MI · Private nonprofit#13 in Michigan
- Bachelor’s program in economics
- Value grade B-
- 10
University of Michigan-Dearborn
Dearborn, MI · PublicTop 14% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in economics
- Value grade A · Top 8%
- 11
Wayne State University
Detroit, MI · PublicTop 24% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in economics
- Value grade A- · Top 20%
- 12
Grand Valley State University
Allendale, MI · PublicTop 25% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in economics
- Value grade B · Top 36%
- 13
Aquinas College
Grand Rapids, MI · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in economics
- Value grade B · Top 45%
- 14
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, MI · PublicTop 12% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in economics
- Value grade A · Top 9%
- 15
Cornerstone University
Grand Rapids, MI · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in economics
- Value grade B-
- 16
Albion College
Albion, MI · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in economics
- Value grade B+ · Top 30%
- 17
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in economics
- Value grade B · Top 41%
- 18
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in economics
- Value grade B · Top 47%
- 19
Northern Michigan University
Marquette, MI · PublicGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in economics
- Value grade B · Top 37%
- 20
University of Michigan-Flint
Flint, MI · PublicTop 8% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in economics
- Value grade B+ · Top 21%
- 21
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MI · PublicTop 11% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in economics
- Value grade A- · Top 11%
- 22
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, MI · PublicSolid: Compass grade C+
- Bachelor’s program in economics
- Value grade B · Top 42%
- 23
Adrian College
Adrian, MI · Private nonprofitSolid: Compass grade C+
- Bachelor’s program in economics
- Value grade B-
- 24
Concordia University Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI · Private nonprofitSolid: Compass grade C+
- Bachelor’s program in economics
- Value grade C+
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsdale College | — | — | — | 90% |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | About $13,000 | $19,500 | $83,648 | 93% |
| Michigan State University | About $20,000 | $23,250 | $67,253 | 81% |
| Kalamazoo College | About $19,000 | $26,077 | $65,590 | 76% |
| Hope College | About $27,000 | $26,800 | $58,427 | 80% |
| Calvin University | About $23,000 | $23,250 | $58,375 | 74% |
| Michigan Technological University | About $14,000 | $24,990 | $78,198 | 68% |
| University of Detroit Mercy | About $15,000 | $23,250 | $71,030 | 67% |
| Alma College | About $21,000 | $27,000 | $54,742 | 63% |
| University of Michigan-Dearborn | About $9,000 | $22,500 | $59,649 | 58% |
| Wayne State University | About $13,000 | $21,250 | $53,493 | 58% |
| Grand Valley State University | About $16,000 | $24,500 | $56,118 | 67% |
| Aquinas College | About $17,000 | $23,000 | $49,584 | 65% |
| Oakland University | About $9,000 | $22,750 | $58,612 | 58% |
| Cornerstone University | About $20,000 | $25,000 | $47,314 | 62% |
| Albion College | About $14,000 | $27,000 | $58,799 | 62% |
| Western Michigan University | About $15,000 | $26,188 | $53,562 | 58% |
| Central Michigan University | About $18,000 | $27,000 | $55,874 | 59% |
| Northern Michigan University | About $14,000 | $21,474 | $47,107 | 52% |
| University of Michigan-Flint | About $7,000 | $25,000 | $53,230 | 40% |
| Ferris State University | About $9,000 | $21,000 | $54,735 | 47% |
| Eastern Michigan University | About $15,000 | $25,000 | $51,793 | 46% |
| Adrian College | About $25,000 | $27,000 | $55,504 | 48% |
| Concordia University Ann Arbor | About $33,000 | $25,750 | $56,075 | 48% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 8
- Arizona 4
- Arkansas 8
- California 54
- Colorado 14
- Connecticut 18
- District of Columbia 8
- Florida 22
- Georgia 15
- Hawaii 3
- Idaho 4
- Illinois 34
- Indiana 25
- Iowa 17
- Kansas 10
- Kentucky 13
- Louisiana 4
- Maine 5
- Maryland 15
- Massachusetts 39
- Minnesota 21
- Mississippi 5
- Missouri 18
- Nebraska 7
- New Hampshire 6
- New Jersey 18
- New York 73
- North Carolina 25
- North Dakota 3
- Ohio 41
- Oklahoma 7
- Oregon 14
- Pennsylvania 53
- Rhode Island 7
- South Carolina 12
- South Dakota 5
- Tennessee 16
- Texas 24
- Utah 7
- Vermont 4
- Virginia 27
- Washington 13
- West Virginia 7
- Wisconsin 19