2023 Best Value Teaching Schools in Michigan
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Prices
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for teaching students. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Also there are many trade schools and bootcamps that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Teaching Degree Search has created its Best Value Teaching Schools in Michigan ranking. This report analyzed 20 schools in Michigan to see which ones offered the best value programs for teaching students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.
In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.
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Top Value Teaching Schools in Michigan
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Ferris State University the best value school in Michigan for teaching students working on their degree. Ferris is a public institution located in Big Rapids, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 139 degrees in 2020-2021.
Ferris undergraduate students pay an average of $13,188 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $25,330 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $189, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Ferris graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $47,887 during the early year of their career.
The excellent programs at Saginaw Valley State University helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best value teaching schools in Michigan. Located in University Center, Michigan, the medium-sized public school awarded 237 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Saginaw Valley State University are $26,144 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $29,456 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $179, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Saginaw Valley State University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,305 during the early years of their career.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Central Michigan University is a great place for teaching students who want to get the most value for their educational dollar. Central Michigan is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 559 degrees to qualified students.
Central Michigan undergraduate students pay an average of $13,094 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $29,288 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $251 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Central Michigan, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $45,509 during the early years of their career.
The excellent programs at Spring Arbor University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best value teaching schools in Michigan. Located in Spring Arbor, Michigan, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 73 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Spring Arbor are $31,080 a year. On average, students take out $33,133 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Spring Arbor graduates make an average of $42,187 annually.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Grand Valley State University is a great place for teaching students who want to get the most value for their educational dollar. GVSU is located in Allendale, Michigan and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 597 degrees to qualified students.
GVSU undergraduate students pay an average of $19,628 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $25,527 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $243 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, GVSU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $43,501 during the early year of their career.
Northern Michigan University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Teaching Schools in Michigan list. Northern Michigan University is a public institution located in Marquette, Michigan. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 140 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Northern Michigan University are $18,828 per year. On average, students take out $23,035 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $205 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Northern Michigan University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $33,476 during the early years of their career.
University of Michigan - Flint came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Teaching Schools in Michigan ranking. UM Flint is a medium-sized public school situated in Flint, Michigan. It awarded 147 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UM Flint are $24,058 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $31,408 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from UM Flint, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $46,976 during the early years of their career.
Michigan State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for teaching students. It came in at #8 on the list. Michigan State is a public institution located in East Lansing, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 767 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Michigan State are $41,290 per year. On average, students take out $24,447 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $428. During the early years of their career, Michigan State graduates make an average of $47,302 annually.
Michigan State also made our Best Teaching Schools in Michigan list, coming in at #5.
Western Michigan University landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value teaching programs. WMU is a public institution located in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 456 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at WMU are $16,768 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $27,986 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $269, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, WMU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $43,765 during the early year of their career.
Concordia University, Ann Arbor landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value teaching programs. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 48 degrees in 2020-2021.
Concordia University, Ann Arbor undergraduate students pay an average of $31,830 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $28,337 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $401, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Concordia University, Ann Arbor graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $44,949 during the early year of their career.
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value teaching programs. Ann Arbor, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 248 students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at U-M are $55,097 a year. On average, students take out $17,682 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $419 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, U-M graduates make an average of $58,051 annually.
U-M also took the #4 spot in our Best Teaching Schools in Michigan rankings.
Eastern Michigan University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for teaching students. It came in at #12 on the list. Eastern Michigan is located in Ypsilanti, Michigan and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 561 degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Eastern Michigan are $15,500 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $29,932 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $160 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Eastern Michigan graduates make an average of $43,401 annually.
University of Michigan - Dearborn landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value teaching programs. Located in Dearborn, Michigan, the medium-sized public school awarded 136 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
UM Dearborn undergraduate students pay an average of $28,048 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $28,473 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $213. During the early years of their career, UM Dearborn graduates make an average of $53,986 annually.
Oakland University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for teaching students. It came in at #14 on the list. Rochester Hills, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 428 students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Oakland are $24,735 a year. On average, students take out $26,781 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $174, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Oakland graduates make an average of $50,418 annually.
Wayne State University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Teaching Schools in Michigan ranking. Located in Detroit, Michigan, the large public school handed out 488 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Wayne State are $32,727 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $28,531 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $173, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Wayne State graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $48,414 during the early year of their career.
Calvin University landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value teaching programs. Located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 149 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Calvin are $38,240 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,374 in student loans.After graduating from Calvin, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $38,043 during the early years of their career.
Calvin not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #2 on our Best Teaching Schools in Michigan list.
Cornerstone University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Teaching Schools in Michigan ranking. Cornerstone is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 67 degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Cornerstone are $27,040 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $29,571 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Cornerstone, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,116 during the early years of their career.
Hope College landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value teaching programs. Located in Holland, Michigan, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 79 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Hope undergraduate students pay an average of $36,650 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $22,982 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $821, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Hope graduates make an average of $35,540 annually.
Hope also took the #1 spot in our Best Teaching Schools in Michigan rankings.
Madonna University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for teaching students. It came in at #19 on the list. Livonia, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 60 students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Madonna are $24,900 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $30,543 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $260, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Madonna graduates make an average of $45,638 annually.
Alma College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for teaching students. It came in at #20 on the list. Located in Alma, Michigan, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 46 degrees in 2020-2021.
Alma undergraduate students pay an average of $43,872 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $23,308 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Alma, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,745 during the early years of their career.
Alma not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #3 on our Best Teaching Schools in Michigan list.
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 20 schools only.
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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