Michigan·Computer and Mathematical Occupations·SOC 15-1253

Best Software Quality Assurance Analyst programs in Michigan, ranked by enrollment

Develop and execute software tests to identify software problems and their causes. Test system modifications to prepare for implementation.

62 schools in Michigan run programs that feed this job, graduating 5,811 people a year. The job pays a median of $98,720 in Michigan across about 3,480 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Also calledSoftware Test EngineerSoftware Quality EngineerQuality Assurance Analyst (QA Analyst)Software Quality Assurance Engineer (SQA Engineer)Beta TesterGame TesterData ModelerTest Engineer
Graduates / yr
5,811
in Michigan
Median pay · Michigan
$98,720
BLS OEWS May 2025
Jobs in state
3,480
people employed
Schools
62
with a feeder program
Avg graduation rate
46%
across those schools
Median net price
$21,132
per year, IPEDS

Fields of study in Michigan that lead to this job

Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.

15 programs in Michigan that lead to this job

Ranked by graduates per year in Michigan (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are national College Scorecard figures reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. Each program also links to its own Michigan page.

Degree programs that lead to this occupation, ranked by graduates per year
#ProgramGraduates / yrShare of pipelineSchoolsGrad earnings (1 yr)Median debt
1
CIP 11.0101In Michigan
2,976
51.2%
22$57,986$24,286
2
CIP 11.0103In Michigan
765
13.2%
17$57,986$24,286
3
CIP 11.0701In Michigan
740
12.7%
25$70,374$23,250
4
CIP 14.0901In Michigan
697
12.0%
14$78,333$24,098
5
CIP 11.0201In Michigan
307
5.3%
20$46,719$20,729
6
CIP 11.0202In Michigan
116
2.0%
6$46,719$20,729
7
CIP 14.0903In Michigan
105
1.8%
5$78,333$24,098
8
CIP 11.0501In Michigan
26
0.4%
3$51,805$46,000
9
CIP 15.1202In Michigan
24
0.4%
4$48,829$21,696
10
CIP 11.0204In Michigan
21
0.4%
3$46,719$20,729
11
CIP 11.0205In Michigan
15
0.3%
1$46,719$20,729
12
CIP 11.0104In Michigan
7
0.1%
2$57,986$24,286
13
CIP 11.0203In Michigan
5
0.1%
1$46,719$20,729
14
CIP 15.1204In Michigan
5
0.1%
1$48,829$21,696
15
CIP 15.1201In Michigan
2
0.0%
1$48,829$21,696

Top 25 schools in Michigan

Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 19 of the 62 schools in this state.

Schools ranked by graduates per year into this occupation
#SchoolGraduates / yrTop feeder programGrad earnings (1 yr)Grad rateNet priceAcceptance
1University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI Public · 3 feeder programs
1,789Computer and Information Sciences, General$113,63493%16%
2Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI Public · 2 feeder programs
611Computer and Information Sciences, General$86,19281%85%
3Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI Public · 4 feeder programs
568Information Technology$53,53959%90%
4Grand Valley State University
Allendale, MI Public · 3 feeder programs
335Computer and Information Sciences, General$74,36067%83%
5University of Michigan - Dearborn
Dearborn, MI Public · 4 feeder programs
311Computer and Information Sciences, General$77,27358%56%
6Oakland University
Rochester Hills, MI Public · 3 feeder programs
278Computer and Information Sciences, General$66,53758%88%
7Wayne State University
Detroit, MI Public · 3 feeder programs
240Computer and Information Sciences, General$77,37158%81%
8Michigan Technological University
Houghton, MI Public · 3 feeder programs
198Computer Science$69,91068%92%
9Lawrence Technological University
Southfield, MI Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs
131Computer Science$67,39261%$32,67956%
10Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI Public · 3 feeder programs
124Computer Science$60,97958%85%
11Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, MI Public · 3 feeder programs
112Computer Science46%80%
12Washtenaw Community College
Ann Arbor, MI Public · 5 feeder programs
81Computer Programming/Programmer, General33%
13Oakland Community College
Auburn Hills, MI Public · 3 feeder programs
80Computer Software Engineering21%
14Kettering University
Flint, MI Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs
76Computer Science$83,75171%$30,88079%
15University of Michigan - Flint
Flint, MI Public · 3 feeder programs
69Computer and Information Sciences, General40%70%
16DSDT
Detroit, MI Private for-profit · 2 feeder programs
65Computer Programming, Specific Applications41%$24,540
17Davenport University
Grand Rapids, MI Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
59Computer Science$60,03157%$22,12698%
18Walsh College
Troy, MI Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
55Information Technology$54,929
19Saginaw Valley State University
University Center, MI Public · 3 feeder programs
45Computer and Information Sciences, General$68,03748%72%
20Macomb Community College
Warren, MI Public · 3 feeder programs
42Information Technology18%
21Schoolcraft Community College District
Livonia, MI Public · 1 feeder programs
42Computer Programming/Programmer, General18%
22Baker College
Owosso, MI Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs
39Computer Science$67,83936%$15,49382%
23Wayne County Community College District
Detroit, MI Public · 4 feeder programs
39Computer Programming/Programmer, General22%
24Mott Community College
Flint, MI Public · 2 feeder programs
37Computer Programming/Programmer, General32%
25Calvin University
Grand Rapids, MI Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
35Computer Science$73,14574%$22,39171%

All 62 schools in Michigan

Every school in Michigan with a program that feeds this job, ordered by graduates per year. Earnings are shown for the ranked schools above; open a school profile for the rest.

All schools in Michigan that feed this occupation
SchoolCityControlGraduates / yrFeeder programs
University of Michigan - Ann ArborAnn ArborPublic1,7893
Michigan State UniversityEast LansingPublic6112
Central Michigan UniversityMount PleasantPublic5684
Grand Valley State UniversityAllendalePublic3353
University of Michigan - DearbornDearbornPublic3114
Oakland UniversityRochester HillsPublic2783
Wayne State UniversityDetroitPublic2403
Michigan Technological UniversityHoughtonPublic1983
Lawrence Technological UniversitySouthfieldPrivate not-for-profit1314
Western Michigan UniversityKalamazooPublic1243
Eastern Michigan UniversityYpsilantiPublic1123
Washtenaw Community CollegeAnn ArborPublic815
Oakland Community CollegeAuburn HillsPublic803
Kettering UniversityFlintPrivate not-for-profit762
University of Michigan - FlintFlintPublic693

What software quality assurance analysts and testers earn in Michigan

What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.

Median annual in Michigan
$98,720
Mean annual
$96,880
Jobs in state
3,480
What the range looks like
10th pct$52,460Median$98,72090th pct$135,830
Versus the national median
-5.3%

U.S. median $104,300. Michigan pays below the national figure.

Job concentration
0.66×

1.00× means the state has its expected share of these jobs.

Metro areas in Michigan

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
$102,390median
2,140 jobs
Ann Arbor, MI
$97,250median
260 jobs
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI
$88,780median
260 jobs
Lansing-East Lansing, MI
$77,950median
200 jobs

Job outlook

Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.

Projected growth 2024–34
+10.0%
Much faster than average
Openings per year
14,000
new jobs plus replacements
Employment change
20,200
201,700 → 221,900
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree

Growth and openings are national. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish employment projections at state level, so these figures describe the occupation across the whole U.S., not this state alone.

How to get in

The full skills, tools, and day-to-day breakdown lives on the national Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers page.

How to become a Software Quality Assurance Analyst

Job zone 4 of 5 · SVP 7.0 to < 8.0
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree

Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Top skills

Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningCritical ThinkingSpeakingWritingMonitoring

The same job in other states

Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.

Related careers in Michigan

Every major mapped to this job

The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.

All 15 majors mapped to Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers15 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
  • 11.0101Computer and Information Sciences, General
  • 11.0103Information Technology
  • 11.0104Informatics
  • 11.0201Computer Programming/Programmer, General
  • 11.0202Computer Programming, Specific Applications
  • 11.0203Computer Programming, Vendor/Product Certification
  • 11.0204Computer Game Programming
  • 11.0205Computer Programming, Specific Platforms
  • 11.0501Computer Systems Analysis/Analyst
  • 11.0701Computer Science
  • 14.0901Computer Engineering, General
  • 14.0903Computer Software Engineering
  • 15.1201Computer Engineering Technology/Technician
  • 15.1202Computer/Computer Systems Technology/Technician
  • 15.1204Computer Software Technology/Technician

Common questions

Answers for people weighing software quality assurance analysts and testers programs in Michigan.

What degree do you need to become a Software Quality Assurance Analyst?+

Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Computer and Information Sciences, General, which awarded 2,976 degrees in Michigan in 2024-25, 51.2% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.

Which college majors lead to becoming a Software Quality Assurance Analyst?+

The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 15 programs to this occupation. The largest are Computer and Information Sciences, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Programming, plus 2 more. Together they graduate about 5,811 people a year in Michigan.

How much do software quality assurance analysts and testers earn in Michigan?+

The median is $98,720 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 5.3% below the U.S. median of $104,300. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.

Is demand for software quality assurance analysts and testers growing?+

BLS projects a +10.0% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, much faster than average, with roughly 14,000 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.

How many schools offer programs for this career in Michigan?+

62 institutions in Michigan reported graduates from at least one of the 15 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.

What other job titles do software quality assurance analysts and testers work under?+

Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Software Test Engineer, Software Quality Engineer, Quality Assurance Analyst (QA Analyst), Software Quality Assurance Engineer (SQA Engineer) among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 15-1253.

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in other statesCaliforniaTexasNew YorkFloridaIllinoisMassachusettsNorth CarolinaGeorgia

About the data on this page

Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024–25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).

  • BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics

    May 2025

    Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.

  • BLS Employment Projections

    2024–34

    Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.

  • IPEDS Completions

    2024-25 (provisional)

    Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.

  • College Scorecard, Field of Study

    2020-21 cohorts

    Median graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.

  • Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes

    latest available

    Graduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.

  • NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk

    CIP 2020 / SOC 2018

    Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.

  • O*NET Database 30.3

    30.3

    Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.

    Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA

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