Federal data
Highest earning liberal arts programs in Michigan
Michigan liberal arts programs, ranked by median earnings one year after completion, from the College Scorecard field-of-study file (September 18, 2026). Only programs with at least 30 counted graduates in the earnings sample are shown, and at least 5 programs must qualify for this list to exist.
| Rank | School | City | Sector | Median earnings, 1 year after | Graduates counted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spring Arbor University | Spring Arbor | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $47,121 | 30 |
| 2 | Baker College | Owosso | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $42,426 | 54 |
| 3 | Ferris State University | Big Rapids | Public, 4-year | $38,583 | 75 |
| 4 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor | Public, 4-year | $38,065 | 54 |
| 5 | University of Michigan-Dearborn | Dearborn | Public, 4-year | $37,742 | 45 |
| 6 | Oakland University | Rochester Hills | Public, 4-year | $36,157 | 148 |
| 7 | Grand Valley State University | Allendale | Public, 4-year | $35,767 | 108 |
| 8 | Wayne State University | Detroit | Public, 4-year | $25,046 | 105 |
Earnings cover federally aided graduates only, as published by College Scorecard.
How to read this. A smaller program can show a high or low figure from just a few graduates, and this earnings figure only ever covers students who received federal aid, so it does not describe every graduate.
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