Best College ROI in Mi 2026
50 colleges in Mi analyzed for return on investment. Aquinas College leads with a ROI Score of 96/100 (STRONG BUY).
Mi has 50 colleges tracked in the Department of Education's College Scorecard, split between 21 public institutions and 29 private ones. Across the 50 schools with enough data to score, graduates of the top-paying major at each school carry a median federal debt of $24K and earn $82K in their first year out — the gap that determines whether a degree pays back.
94% of Mi colleges earn an A or B on the ROI Score, with the rest landing at C or below. First-year earnings top out at Hope College (median $95K on Computer and Information Sciences). The lowest median debt comes from University of Michigan-Ann Arbor at $19K.
All numbers come from the latest College Scorecard release, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients only — graduates who paid cash or used private loans aren't in this dataset, so actual median debt at high-income schools may be lower than shown. The ROI Score weights debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), BLS job outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%).
Top 3 Best ROI Colleges in Mi
Aquinas College
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Tops Mi's ROI rankings on its Mathematics program. Graduates earn a median $78K in their first year against $20K in median debt.
Hillsdale College
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Second-best ROI in the state, driven by Mathematics. Five-year median earnings: $126K.
Hope College
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Third on the ROI Score with Computer and Information Sciences. Graduation rate 10000%, debt $21K.
Top 20 Colleges by ROI in Mi
| # | School | Best Major | Median Debt | 1yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aquinas College(private) | Mathematics | $20K | $78K | A (96) |
| 2 | Hillsdale College(private) | Mathematics | $20K | $78K | A (96) |
| 3 | Hope College(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 4 | Kalamazoo College(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 5 | Michigan Technological University(public) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 6 | Saginaw Valley State University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 7 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $19K | $95K | A (96) |
| 8 | Alma College(private) | Computer Science | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 9 | Baker College(private) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 10 | College for Creative Studies(private) | Computer Software and Media Applications | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 11 | Ferris State University(public) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 12 | Grand Valley State University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 13 | Kettering University(private) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 14 | Lawrence Technological University(private) | Computer Science | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 15 | Michigan State University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $21K | $95K | A (95) |
| 16 | Oakland University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 17 | University of Detroit Mercy(private) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $24K | $95K | A (95) |
| 18 | University of Michigan-Dearborn(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 19 | Western Michigan University(public) | Computer Science | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 20 | Calvin University(private) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
College debt and earnings data for Mi is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Aquinas College has the best ROI in Mi with a score of 96/100 (STRONG BUY). The top major is Mathematics, with $78K in first-year median earnings against $20K in median debt.
Across 50 Mi colleges with ROI data, graduates carry a median debt of about $24K on the best-paying major at each school. First-year median earnings on those same programs average $82K.
Hope College graduates earn the most one year out, with median first-year pay of $95K on its top major (Computer and Information Sciences). After five years, those graduates earn a median of $147K.
Mi has 50 colleges in our database (21 public, 29 private). Of the 50 with reportable ROI, 94% earn an A or B grade.
The ROI Score (0-100) weighs debt-to-income ratio (35%), earnings premium over a high school graduate (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%). Scores are graded A-F with verdicts from "Strong Buy" to "Avoid." Data comes from the College Scorecard and BLS occupational projections.
ROI Score: debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), debt vs. national average (10%).