Colleges with the lowest student debt in Michigan
Colleges whose graduates leave with the least federal student debt.
Colleges with the lowest student debt in Michigan20 schools
20 schools qualify, ranked by median debt.
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 the median federal loan debt of graduates from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by median debt, lowest first.
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+
- Median debt $19,500
- 93% graduate
- 2
Northwood University
Midland, MI · Private nonprofitTop 23% for earnings
- Median debt $20,842
- 63% graduate
- 3
Chamberlain University-Michigan
Troy, MI · Private for-profitTop 1% for graduation
- Median debt $20,919
- 100% graduate
- 4
- 5
University of Michigan-Dearborn
Dearborn, MI · PublicTop 14% for low net price
- Median debt $22,500
- 58% graduate
- 6
Aquinas College
Grand Rapids, MI · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Median debt $23,000
- 65% graduate
- 7Tie
- 7Tie
- 7Tie
University of Detroit Mercy
Detroit, MI · Private nonprofitTop 14% for earnings
- Median debt $23,250
- 67% graduate
- 10
Grand Valley State University
Allendale, MI · PublicTop 25% for graduation
- Median debt $24,500
- 67% graduate
- 11
Michigan Technological University
Houghton, MI · PublicTop 9% for earnings
- Median debt $24,990
- 68% graduate
- 12Tie
Andrews University
Berrien Springs, MI · Private nonprofitTop 18% for graduation
- Median debt $26,000
- 72% graduate
- 12Tie
College for Creative Studies
Detroit, MI · Private nonprofitTop 20% for graduation
- Median debt $26,000
- 71% graduate
- 14
- 15
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- Median debt $26,188
- 58% graduate
- 16
- 17Tie
- 17Tie
- 17Tie
Lawrence Technological University
Southfield, MI · Private nonprofitTop 15% for earnings
- Median debt $27,000
- 61% graduate
- 17Tie
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% |
| Northwood University | $27,232 | $20,842 | $63,075 | 63% |
| Chamberlain University-Michigan | $28,045 | $20,919 | $92,405 | 100% |
| Wayne State University | $12,766 | $21,250 | $53,493 | 58% |
| University of Michigan-Dearborn | $9,492 | $22,500 | $59,649 | 58% |
| Aquinas College | $16,626 | $23,000 | $49,584 | 65% |
| Michigan State University | $19,680 | $23,250 | $67,253 | 81% |
| Calvin University | $22,992 | $23,250 | $58,375 | 74% |
| University of Detroit Mercy | $15,232 | $23,250 | $71,030 | 67% |
| Grand Valley State University | $16,317 | $24,500 | $56,118 | 67% |
| Michigan Technological University | $14,182 | $24,990 | $78,198 | 68% |
| Andrews University | $12,547 | $26,000 | $53,187 | 72% |
| College for Creative Studies | $34,617 | $26,000 | $44,860 | 71% |
| Kalamazoo College | $19,072 | $26,077 | $65,590 | 76% |
| Western Michigan University | $15,273 | $26,188 | $53,562 | 58% |
| Hope College | $27,182 | $26,800 | $58,427 | 80% |
| Kettering University | $34,660 | $27,000 | $94,823 | 71% |
| Alma College | $20,694 | $27,000 | $54,742 | 63% |
| Lawrence Technological University | $32,918 | $27,000 | $69,151 | 61% |
| Albion College | $14,301 | $27,000 | $58,799 | 62% |
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 4
- Arkansas 5
- California 61
- Colorado 6
- Connecticut 13
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 21
- Georgia 9
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 16
- Kansas 4
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 9
- Maryland 15
- Massachusetts 46
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 19
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 16
- New York 75
- North Carolina 18
- Ohio 33
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 60
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 10
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 21
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15