Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Michigan
Colleges ranked by how many years of extra earnings, above a high school graduate’s, cover four years of net price.
Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Michigan19 schools
19 schools qualify, ranked by payback years.
How this list is made
- Schools in Michigan.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Academic Excellence grade B+ or better (the top 35% of rated colleges).
- Has median earnings ten years after enrolling and a net price from federal data (College Scorecard), and those earnings are above a high school graduate’s ($48,360 a year: median weekly earnings of $930 for full-time workers with a high school diploma, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Payback years = four years of net price ÷ (earnings − a high school graduate’s earnings). Ordered by payback years, fewest first. A simple estimate: it leaves out interest, taxes and earnings growth.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Pays back in about 1.5 years
- Earnings $83,648 ten years out
- 2
Michigan Technological University
Houghton, MI · PublicTop 9% for earnings
- Pays back in about 1.9 years
- Earnings $78,198 ten years out
- 3
Chamberlain University-Michigan
Troy, MI · Private for-profitTop 1% for graduation
- Pays back in about 2.5 years
- Earnings $92,405 ten years out
- 4
University of Detroit Mercy
Detroit, MI · Private nonprofitTop 14% for earnings
- Pays back in about 2.7 years
- Earnings $71,030 ten years out
- 5
Kettering University
Flint, MI · Private nonprofitTop 3% for earnings
- Pays back in about 3.0 years
- Earnings $94,823 ten years out
- 6
University of Michigan-Dearborn
Dearborn, MI · PublicTop 14% for low net price
- Pays back in about 3.4 years
- Earnings $59,649 ten years out
- 7
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI · Public#3 in Michigan
- Pays back in about 4.2 years
- Earnings $67,253 ten years out
- 8
Kalamazoo College
Kalamazoo, MI · Private nonprofit#4 in Michigan
- Pays back in about 4.4 years
- Earnings $65,590 ten years out
- 9
Albion College
Albion, MI · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Pays back in about 5.5 years
- Earnings $58,799 ten years out
- 10
Lawrence Technological University
Southfield, MI · Private nonprofitTop 15% for earnings
- Pays back in about 6.3 years
- Earnings $69,151 ten years out
- 11
Northwood University
Midland, MI · Private nonprofitTop 23% for earnings
- Pays back in about 7.4 years
- Earnings $63,075 ten years out
- 12
Grand Valley State University
Allendale, MI · PublicTop 25% for graduation
- Pays back in about 8.4 years
- Earnings $56,118 ten years out
- 13
Calvin University
Grand Rapids, MI · Private nonprofit#6 in Michigan
- Pays back in about 9.2 years
- Earnings $58,375 ten years out
- 14
Wayne State University
Detroit, MI · PublicTop 24% for low net price
- Pays back in about 9.9 years
- Earnings $53,493 ten years out
- 15
Andrews University
Berrien Springs, MI · Private nonprofitTop 18% for graduation
- Pays back in about 10.4 years
- Earnings $53,187 ten years out
- 16
Hope College
Holland, MI · Private nonprofit#5 in Michigan
- Pays back in about 10.8 years
- Earnings $58,427 ten years out
- 17
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- Pays back in about 11.7 years
- Earnings $53,562 ten years out
- 18
Alma College
Alma, MI · Private nonprofit#13 in Michigan
- Pays back in about 13.0 years
- Earnings $54,742 ten years out
- 19
Aquinas College
Grand Rapids, MI · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Pays back in about 54.3 years
- Earnings $49,584 ten years out
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | $13,138 | $19,500 | $83,648 | 93% |
| Michigan Technological University | $14,182 | $24,990 | $78,198 | 68% |
| Chamberlain University-Michigan | $28,045 | $20,919 | $92,405 | 100% |
| University of Detroit Mercy | $15,232 | $23,250 | $71,030 | 67% |
| Kettering University | $34,660 | $27,000 | $94,823 | 71% |
| University of Michigan-Dearborn | $9,492 | $22,500 | $59,649 | 58% |
| Michigan State University | $19,680 | $23,250 | $67,253 | 81% |
| Kalamazoo College | $19,072 | $26,077 | $65,590 | 76% |
| Albion College | $14,301 | $27,000 | $58,799 | 62% |
| Lawrence Technological University | $32,918 | $27,000 | $69,151 | 61% |
| Northwood University | $27,232 | $20,842 | $63,075 | 63% |
| Grand Valley State University | $16,317 | $24,500 | $56,118 | 67% |
| Calvin University | $22,992 | $23,250 | $58,375 | 74% |
| Wayne State University | $12,766 | $21,250 | $53,493 | 58% |
| Andrews University | $12,547 | $26,000 | $53,187 | 72% |
| Hope College | $27,182 | $26,800 | $58,427 | 80% |
| Western Michigan University | $15,273 | $26,188 | $53,562 | 58% |
| Alma College | $20,694 | $27,000 | $54,742 | 63% |
| Aquinas College | $16,626 | $23,000 | $49,584 | 65% |
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 5
- Arizona 3
- Arkansas 5
- California 54
- Colorado 6
- Connecticut 13
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 15
- Georgia 9
- Illinois 19
- Indiana 19
- Iowa 15
- Kansas 3
- Kentucky 5
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 7
- Maryland 14
- Massachusetts 38
- Minnesota 17
- Missouri 13
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 4
- New Jersey 16
- New York 67
- North Carolina 15
- Ohio 28
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 9
- Pennsylvania 54
- Rhode Island 8
- South Carolina 6
- Tennessee 7
- Texas 17
- Utah 4
- Vermont 5
- Virginia 19
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 13