2026 Best Graduate Degrees Schools in Michigan
Looking for the best Graduate Degrees degree programs in Michigan? We have ranked 160 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Grad Degree evaluated 134 schools to compile this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Graduate Degrees Degree Schools in Michigan
Here are the top-ranked schools:
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking in Michigan. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public school based in Ann Arbor, MI. About 93% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $19,137. Read the full report on University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
You'll be in good company at Michigan Technological University, which ranked #2 this year. Michigan Technological University is a public school based in Houghton, MI. About 68% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $20,532, compared with $44,807 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,800 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. Get the full Michigan Technological University report
You'll be in good company at Michigan State University, which ranked #3 this year. Set in East Lansing, MI, Michigan State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. Students from in state pay about $18,079 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $25,213. See the full Michigan State University profile
A rank of #4 makes Lawrence Technological University one of the top choices in Michigan. This private not-for-profit school is set in Southfield, MI. Lawrence Technological University posts a six-year graduation rate of 60%. In-state tuition and fees run about $44,760. Lawrence Technological University Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $27,799 in debt. See the full Lawrence Technological University profile
Ferris State University came in at #5 on this year's Graduate Degrees ranking in Michigan. Based in Big Rapids, MI, Ferris State University is a public institution. Ferris State University graduates 56% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $14,778. Ferris State University Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $23,562 in debt. See the full Ferris State University profile
Grand Valley State University placed #6 among Graduate Degrees schools in Michigan. Based in Allendale, MI, Grand Valley State University is a public institution. Grand Valley State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 67%. In-state tuition and fees average $15,502, while out-of-state students pay about $21,894. Grand Valley State University Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $26,378 in debt. More on Grand Valley State University
University Of Michigan Dearborn placed #7 among Graduate Degrees schools in Michigan. Set in Dearborn, MI, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Students from in state pay about $15,640 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,896. Graduates carry a median of $26,516 in student loans. Get the full University Of Michigan Dearborn report
University Of Detroit Mercy came in at #8 in this year's ranking. 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%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,946. Students borrow a median of $29,053 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. Get the full University Of Detroit Mercy report
Saginaw Valley State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Set in University Center, MI, Saginaw Valley State University is a public institution. About 48% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,930, while out-of-state students pay about $30,450. Graduates carry a median of $28,091 in student loans. Read the full report on Saginaw Valley State University
Western Michigan University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Set in Kalamazoo, MI, Western Michigan University is a public institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,987, while out-of-state students pay about $19,952. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $27,981. Get the full Western Michigan University report
Oakland University came in at #11 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Rochester Hills, MI. Oakland University posts a six-year graduation rate of 58%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,167, while out-of-state students pay about $24,735. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $25,972. More on Oakland University
Spring Arbor University landed the #12 spot in Michigan this year. Spring Arbor University is a private not-for-profit school based in Spring Arbor, MI. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. In-state tuition and fees average $34,014. Graduates carry a median of $28,268 in student loans. Get the full Spring Arbor University report
Central Michigan University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Located in Mount Pleasant, MI, Central Michigan University is a public institution. Central Michigan University posts a six-year graduation rate of 59%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,480. Students borrow a median of $27,857 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. Read more about Central Michigan University
Wayne State University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Located in Detroit, MI, Wayne State University is a public institution. Wayne State University graduates 58% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,159, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $26,689. Read more about Wayne State University
Concordia University Ann Arbor landed the #15 spot in Michigan this year. Concordia University Ann Arbor is a private not-for-profit school based in Ann Arbor, MI. Concordia University Ann Arbor posts a six-year graduation rate of 49%. In-state tuition and fees average $35,410. Concordia University Ann Arbor Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $27,584 in debt. See the full Concordia University Ann Arbor profile
University Of Michigan Flint did well this year, earning the #16 position. University Of Michigan Flint is a public school based in Flint, MI. The six-year graduation rate is 40%. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,236, with out-of-state students paying around $27,790. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $31,016. See the full University Of Michigan Flint profile
Eastern Michigan University came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Set in Ypsilanti, MI, Eastern Michigan University is a public institution. About 46% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,990. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $28,781. Read more about Eastern Michigan University
Madonna University did well this year, earning the #18 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Livonia, MI. Madonna University graduates 60% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $28,440. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $26,896. Read more about Madonna University
Andrews University placed #19 among Graduate Degrees schools in Michigan. Set in Berrien Springs, MI, Andrews University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. In-state tuition and fees average $35,056. Students borrow a median of $26,314 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. More on Andrews University
Baker College Of Flint placed #20 among Graduate Degrees schools in Michigan. Based in Owosso, MI, Baker College Of Flint is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 30%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,000. Graduates carry a median of $30,688 in student loans. More on Baker College Of Flint
Northern Michigan University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. This public school is set in Marquette, MI. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,322, compared with $19,944 for out-of-state students. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $22,608. Get the full Northern Michigan University report
Cornerstone University placed #22 among Graduate Degrees schools in Michigan. Cornerstone University is a private not-for-profit school based in Grand Rapids, MI. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $23,000. Cornerstone University Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $29,243 in debt. See the full Cornerstone University profile
Davenport University did well this year, earning the #23 position. Based in Grand Rapids, MI, Davenport University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. Students from in state pay about $24,466 in tuition and fees. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $30,603. More on Davenport University
Henry Ford Community College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Read more about Henry Ford Community College
Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College came in at #25 in this year's ranking. More on Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College
Rest of the Top 50 Best Graduate Degrees Degree Schools in Michigan
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
Oakland Community College landed the #26 spot in Michigan this year. Get the full Oakland Community College report
Dorsey Business Schools Wayne ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Get the full Dorsey Business Schools Wayne report
Dsdt
Dsdt ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Read more about Dsdt
Alma College
Alma College came in at #29 in this year's ranking. See the full Alma College profile
School Of Missionary Aviation Technology came in at #30 in this year's ranking. Get the full School Of Missionary Aviation Technology report
Ecumenical Theological Seminary came in at #31 in this year's ranking. See the full Ecumenical Theological Seminary profile
St Clair County Community College landed the #32 spot in Michigan this year. Read the full report on St Clair County Community College
Douglas J Aveda Institute did well this year, earning the #33 position. See the full Douglas J Aveda Institute profile
Macomb Community College placed #34 among Graduate Degrees schools in Michigan. See the full Macomb Community College profile
Michigan Career And Technical Institute came in at #35 in this year's ranking. See the full Michigan Career And Technical Institute profile
Brighton Institute Of Cosmetology placed #36 among Graduate Degrees schools in Michigan. See the full Brighton Institute Of Cosmetology profile
Empire Beauty School Michigan came in at #37 in this year's ranking. More on Empire Beauty School Michigan
Dorsey College Woodhaven did well this year, earning the #38 position. More on Dorsey College Woodhaven
M J Murphy Beauty College Of Mount Pleasant did well this year, earning the #39 position. Get the full M J Murphy Beauty College Of Mount Pleasant report
Delta College
Delta College placed #40 among Graduate Degrees schools in Michigan. Read more about Delta College
Kirtland Community College ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. More on Kirtland Community College
Southwestern Michigan College landed the #42 spot in Michigan this year. Get the full Southwestern Michigan College report
Ross Medical Education Center Saginaw placed #43 among Graduate Degrees schools in Michigan. See the full Ross Medical Education Center Saginaw profile
Jackson Community College ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Get the full Jackson Community College report
Ross Medical Education Center Canton placed #45 among Graduate Degrees schools in Michigan. Read more about Ross Medical Education Center Canton
The Salon Professional Academy Battle Creek placed #46 among Graduate Degrees schools in Michigan. Get the full The Salon Professional Academy Battle Creek report
Ross Medical Education Center Kalamazoo placed #47 among Graduate Degrees schools in Michigan. Read the full report on Ross Medical Education Center Kalamazoo
Panda Scholars Beauty School came in at #48 in this year's ranking. Get the full Panda Scholars Beauty School report
Grace Bible College did well this year, earning the #49 position. Get the full Grace Bible College report
Ross Medical Education Center Brighton did well this year, earning the #50 position. See the full Ross Medical Education Center Brighton profile
More Graduate Degrees Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Grad Degree (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: State · 134 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 160 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).