2026 Best Value Teaching Schools in Michigan
Looking for the best-value Teaching degree programs in Michigan? This list ranks 160 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To arm you with the information you need, Teaching Degree Search reviewed 20 schools to build this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Teaching Degree Schools in Michigan
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Ferris State University tops our 2026 ranking of the best-value Teaching degree schools in Michigan. Based in Big Rapids, MI, Ferris State University is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,778. Graduates carry a median of $23,562 in student loans. Median earnings reach $54,735 ten years out. Set against $23,562 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 91% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about Ferris State University
Saginaw Valley State University came in at #2 on this year's best-value Teaching ranking in Michigan. This public school is set in University Center, MI. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,930, compared with $30,450 for out-of-state students. The median Teaching program debt is $28,091. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $51,955. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted. Read more about Saginaw Valley State University
A rank of #3 makes Central Michigan University one of the best values in Michigan. Set in Mount Pleasant, MI, Central Michigan University is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,480. Central Michigan University Teaching students take on a median of $27,857 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $55,874. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%. More on Central Michigan University
You'll get strong value at Spring Arbor University, which ranked #4 this year. Set in Spring Arbor, MI, Spring Arbor University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $34,014. Spring Arbor University Teaching students take on a median of $28,268 in debt. Median earnings reach $51,732 ten years out. Set against $28,268 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Spring Arbor University has an acceptance rate of 52%. Get the full Spring Arbor University report
A rank of #5 makes Grand Valley State University one of the best values in Michigan. Grand Valley State University is a public school based in Allendale, MI. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,502, with out-of-state students paying around $21,894. Graduates carry a median of $26,378 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $56,118 ten years after entry. Set against $26,378 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 83% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full Grand Valley State University report
Northern Michigan University offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. Based in Marquette, MI, Northern Michigan University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,322, with out-of-state students paying around $19,944. Students borrow a median of $22,608 to complete their Teaching program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $47,107. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 84% of those who apply are admitted. More on Northern Michigan University
University Of Michigan Flint placed #7 among the best-value Teaching schools in Michigan. Based in Flint, MI, University Of Michigan Flint is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,236, compared with $27,790 for out-of-state students. Typical Teaching student debt is $31,016. Median earnings reach $53,230 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $31,016 median debt. University Of Michigan Flint has an acceptance rate of 70%. Read the full report on University Of Michigan Flint
Michigan State University placed #8 among the best-value Teaching schools in Michigan. Michigan State University is a public school based in East Lansing, MI. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,079, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Students borrow a median of $25,213 to complete their Teaching program here. Michigan State University alumni report median earnings of $67,253 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Michigan State University has an acceptance rate of 85%. Get the full Michigan State University report
Western Michigan University landed the #9 spot for value in Michigan this year. This public school is set in Kalamazoo, MI. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,987, while out-of-state students pay about $19,952. Typical Teaching student debt is $27,981. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $53,562. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 85% of those who apply are admitted. More on Western Michigan University
Concordia University Ann Arbor ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. Based in Ann Arbor, MI, Concordia University Ann Arbor is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $35,410. Concordia University Ann Arbor Teaching students take on a median of $27,584 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $56,075. That is a strong return on a $27,584 median debt. Concordia University Ann Arbor has an acceptance rate of 69%. Get the full Concordia University Ann Arbor report
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #11 in this year's value ranking. Based in Ann Arbor, MI, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Typical Teaching student debt is $19,137. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor alumni report median earnings of $83,648 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor has an acceptance rate of 16%. Read more about University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Eastern Michigan University came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. Located in Ypsilanti, MI, Eastern Michigan University is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,990. Typical Teaching student debt is $28,781. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $51,793. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Eastern Michigan University has an acceptance rate of 80%. More on Eastern Michigan University
University Of Michigan Dearborn came in at #13 in this year's value ranking. This public school is set in Dearborn, MI. In-state tuition and fees average $15,640, compared with $32,896 for out-of-state students. University Of Michigan Dearborn Teaching students take on a median of $26,516 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $59,649 ten years after entry. Set against $26,516 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted. See the full University Of Michigan Dearborn profile
Oakland University came in at #14 in this year's value ranking. Oakland University is a public school based in Rochester Hills, MI. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,167, with out-of-state students paying around $24,735. Oakland University Teaching students take on a median of $25,972 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $58,612 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 88% of those who apply are admitted. See the full Oakland University profile
Wayne State University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. This public school is set in Detroit, MI. In-state tuition and fees average $16,159, compared with $34,650 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $26,689 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $53,493. Set against $26,689 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 81% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full Wayne State University report
Calvin College landed the #16 spot for value in Michigan this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Grand Rapids, MI. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,350. Calvin College Teaching students take on a median of $22,707 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $58,375 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 71%. See the full Calvin College profile
Cornerstone University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Grand Rapids, MI. Students from in state pay about $23,000 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $29,243 to complete their Teaching program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $47,314. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%. See the full Cornerstone University profile
Hope College offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. Hope College is a private not-for-profit school based in Holland, MI. In-state tuition and fees average $39,484. Graduates carry a median of $26,334 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $58,427 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $26,334 median debt. About 79% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full Hope College report
Madonna University landed the #19 spot for value in Michigan this year. Based in Livonia, MI, Madonna University is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,440. Madonna University Teaching students take on a median of $26,896 in debt. Madonna University alumni report median earnings of $59,058 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $26,896 median debt. About 63% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full Madonna University report
Alma College landed the #20 spot for value in Michigan this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Alma, MI. In-state tuition and fees run about $49,552. Students borrow a median of $27,248 to complete their Teaching program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $54,742. That is a strong return on a $27,248 median debt. The acceptance rate is 57%. Get the full Alma College report
Lakewood School Of Therapeutic Massage came in at #22 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Lakewood School Of Therapeutic Massage
Michigan College Of Beauty Monroe placed #23 among the best-value Teaching schools in Michigan. Read the full report on Michigan College Of Beauty Monroe
Miat College Of Technology ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. Get the full Miat College Of Technology report
Lake Michigan College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. See the full Lake Michigan College profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Teaching Degree Schools in Michigan
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
Michigan Barber School Inc ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. See the full Michigan Barber School Inc profile
Dorsey Business Schools Southgate placed #27 among the best-value Teaching schools in Michigan. Read more about Dorsey Business Schools Southgate
Thomas M Cooley Law School ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. See the full Thomas M Cooley Law School profile
West Michigan College Of Barbering And Beauty came in at #29 in this year's value ranking. Get the full West Michigan College Of Barbering And Beauty report
Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College placed #30 among the best-value Teaching schools in Michigan. See the full Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College profile
Gogebic Community College placed #31 among the best-value Teaching schools in Michigan. Read the full report on Gogebic Community College
Douglas J Aveda Institute landed the #32 spot for value in Michigan this year. More on Douglas J Aveda Institute
Albion College
Albion College came in at #33 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Albion College
Mid Michigan Community College ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. More on Mid Michigan Community College
Great Lakes Boat Building School offered strong value this year, earning the #35 position. More on Great Lakes Boat Building School
Schoolcraft College landed the #36 spot for value in Michigan this year. Read the full report on Schoolcraft College
Panda Scholars Beauty School came in at #37 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Panda Scholars Beauty School report
Ross Medical Education Center Midland came in at #38 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Ross Medical Education Center Midland
Paul Mitchell The School Michigan offered strong value this year, earning the #39 position. See the full Paul Mitchell The School Michigan profile
Southwest Michigan Beauty School ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. Read more about Southwest Michigan Beauty School
Andrews University ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. See the full Andrews University profile
Dorsey Business Schools Saginaw came in at #42 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Dorsey Business Schools Saginaw
Kuyper College
Kuyper College came in at #43 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Kuyper College
Dorsey Business Schools Dearborn placed #44 among the best-value Teaching schools in Michigan. Read the full report on Dorsey Business Schools Dearborn
Brighton Institute Of Cosmetology placed #45 among the best-value Teaching schools in Michigan. Get the full Brighton Institute Of Cosmetology report
Protege Academy Mount Pleasant landed the #46 spot for value in Michigan this year. See the full Protege Academy Mount Pleasant profile
The Salon Professional Academy Battle Creek came in at #47 in this year's value ranking. See the full The Salon Professional Academy Battle Creek profile
Chamberlain University Michigan placed #48 among the best-value Teaching schools in Michigan. Read the full report on Chamberlain University Michigan
Dymond Designs Beauty School ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. Read more about Dymond Designs Beauty School
Monroe County Community College landed the #50 spot for value in Michigan this year. See the full Monroe County Community College profile
More Teaching Value Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Teaching Degree Search (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Best Colleges For Money · Scope: State · 20 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).
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