Top 50 Best Doctoral Degree Programs in Michigan by ROI

Every Doctoral Degree program in Michigan ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment across all majors. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Programs in Michigan

Colleges with salary data

Average 20-Yr Net ROI

+$586,713

Across all Michigan programs

Average Annual Cost

$28,598

Cost of attendance

#	College	Major	20-Yr Net ROI	Median Salary	Annual Cost	Avg Debt
1	Wayne State University Grad rate: 58.3%	Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration.	+$1,462,224	$120,470	$26,794	N/A	Full ROI →
2	University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Grad rate: 93.2%	Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering.	+$1,354,320	$116,385	$33,345	N/A	Full ROI →
3	University of Michigan-Flint Grad rate: 45.5%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,264,844	$109,908	$23,329	N/A	Full ROI →
4	University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Grad rate: 93.2%	Research and Experimental Psychology.	+$1,067,340	$102,036	$33,345	N/A	Full ROI →
5	Grand Valley State University Grad rate: 67.4%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$927,588	$93,695	$26,578	N/A	Full ROI →
6	Michigan State University Grad rate: 81.9%	Educational Administration and Supervision.	+$872,308	$91,721	$30,528	N/A	Full ROI →
7	Oakland University Grad rate: 57.3%	Educational Administration and Supervision.	+$830,776	$88,542	$25,016	N/A	Full ROI →
8	Western Michigan University Grad rate: 56.5%	Educational Administration and Supervision.	+$804,920	$87,977	$28,655	N/A	Full ROI →
9	University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Grad rate: 93.2%	Chemistry.	+$709,800	$84,159	$33,345	N/A	Full ROI →
10	Andrews University Grad rate: 68.5%	Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions.	+$607,700	$81,119	$43,670	N/A	Full ROI →
11	Central Michigan University Grad rate: 61.8%	Communication Disorders Sciences and Services.	+$605,500	$77,569	$26,470	N/A	Full ROI →
12	Western Michigan University Grad rate: 56.5%	Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology.	+$603,820	$77,922	$28,655	N/A	Full ROI →
13	Ferris State University Grad rate: 48.6%	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	+$603,516	$77,389	$26,066	N/A	Full ROI →
14	Oakland University Grad rate: 57.3%	Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions.	+$575,436	$75,775	$25,016	N/A	Full ROI →
15	Wayne State University Grad rate: 58.3%	Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions.	+$573,884	$76,053	$26,794	N/A	Full ROI →
16	Wayne State University Grad rate: 58.3%	Educational Administration and Supervision.	+$561,564	$75,437	$26,794	N/A	Full ROI →
17	University of Michigan-Flint Grad rate: 45.5%	Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions.	+$541,284	$73,730	$23,329	N/A	Full ROI →
18	Central Michigan University Grad rate: 61.8%	Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions.	+$531,800	$73,884	$26,470	N/A	Full ROI →
19	Central Michigan University Grad rate: 61.8%	Educational Administration and Supervision.	+$457,960	$70,192	$26,470	N/A	Full ROI →
20	Grand Valley State University Grad rate: 67.4%	Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions.	+$419,468	$68,289	$26,578	N/A	Full ROI →
21	Michigan State University Grad rate: 81.9%	Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology.	+$255,048	$60,858	$30,528	N/A	Full ROI →
22	Central Michigan University Grad rate: 61.8%	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	+$230,960	$58,842	$26,470	N/A	Full ROI →
23	University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Grad rate: 93.2%	Music.	+$92,260	$53,282	$33,345	N/A	Full ROI →
24	Wayne State University Grad rate: 58.3%	Library Science and Administration.	-$15,216	$46,598	$26,794	N/A	Full ROI →
25	Michigan School of Psychology	Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology.	-$29,620	$40,519	N/A	N/A	Full ROI →
26	Michigan State University Grad rate: 81.9%	Music.	-$31,052	$46,553	$30,528	N/A	Full ROI →
27	Western Michigan University Grad rate: 56.5%	Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions.	-$37,160	$45,873	$28,655	N/A	Full ROI →

How ROI is calculated

20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.