Best colleges for Economics in Michigan
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Michigan State University and Wayne State University are the top bachelor's Economics programs in Michigan by graduate earnings. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $68,416, College Scorecard. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Michigan State University and Hillsdale College award the most Economics degrees in Michigan: 687, 328 and 36 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 23 Michigan colleges offer Economics and award 1,238 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Economics program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. It explores how economies function and how individuals respond to various incentives, making…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Public · Bachelor's degree | $68,416 | 687 | 93% | — | $19,690 |
| 2 | Michigan State University East Lansing Public · Bachelor's degree | $54,013 | 328 | 81% | — | $24,250 |
| 3 | Wayne State University Detroit Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,648 | 27 | 58% | — | $24,681 |
| 4 | Grand Valley State University Allendale Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $53,985 | 5 | 67% | — | $27,000 |
| 5 | University of Michigan-Dearborn Dearborn Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $49,665 | 9 | 58% | — | $28,381 |
| 6 | Albion College Albion Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $48,756 | 19 | 62% | $16,537 | $27,000 |
| 7 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $48,636 | 12 | 59% | — | $27,000 |
| 8 | Calvin University Grand Rapids Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $43,746 | 7 | 74% | $22,391 | $20,000 |
| 9 | Kalamazoo College Kalamazoo Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $42,508 | 19 | 76% | $19,279 | $27,000 |
| 10 | Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $30,569 | 9 | 46% | — | $26,536 |
Colleges awarding the most Economics degrees in Michigan
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Public | 687 | $68,416 |
| 2 | Michigan State University East Lansing Public | 328 | $54,013 |
| 3 | Hillsdale College Hillsdale Private not-for-profit | 36 | Not reported |
| 4 | Wayne State University Detroit Public | 27 | $50,648 |
| 5 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo Public | 20 | Not reported |
| 6 | Albion College Albion Private not-for-profit | 19 | $48,756 |
| 7 | Kalamazoo College Kalamazoo Private not-for-profit | 19 | $42,508 |
| 8 | University of Detroit Mercy Detroit Private not-for-profit | 17 | Not reported |
| 9 | Northern Michigan University Marquette Public | 17 | Not reported |
| 10 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant Public | 12 | $48,636 |
ShowHide the other 13 Michigan colleges offering Economics
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Michigan University | Ypsilanti | Public | 9 |
| University of Michigan-Dearborn | Dearborn | Public | 9 |
| Calvin University | Grand Rapids | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Oakland University | Rochester Hills | Public | 6 |
| Cornerstone University | Grand Rapids | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Grand Valley State University | Allendale | Public | 5 |
| Andrews University | Berrien Springs | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Michigan Technological University | Houghton | Public | 3 |
| Alma College | Alma | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Ferris State University | Big Rapids | Public | 2 |
| Hope College | Holland | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Alpena Community College | Alpena | Public | 1 |
| University of Michigan-Flint | Flint | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Economists (SOC 19-3011).
Top skills
What Economists earn in Michigan
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Economics programs in Michigan.
Which Michigan colleges award the most Economics degrees?+
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (687 graduates a year), Michigan State University (328 graduates a year) and Hillsdale College (36 graduates a year) award the most Economics degrees in Michigan, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 23 Michigan colleges offer Economics.
What is the best college for Economics in Michigan?+
By graduate earnings, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor leads among bachelor's Economics programs in Michigan, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $68,416, College Scorecard. Michigan State University and Wayne State University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is the largest, with 687 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Economics program in Michigan has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor tops the list at $68,416. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Economists earn in Michigan?+
The average annual wage for Economists in Michigan is $117,980 (median $106,350), across about 320 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Economics program?+
The Economics program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. It explores how economies function and how individuals respond to various incentives, making…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, mathematics, reading comprehension, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Economists?+
The national job outlook is about +1.2% growth with around 900 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Master's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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