Grand Rapids, Michigan Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for Grand Rapids, Michigan shows: median public in-state tuition $24,466 (+343.9% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $48,449 (-10.8% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 89.9% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $21,389 (+59.2% vs U.S.) 20,279 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 10 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 20,279 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $24,466 (+343.9% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $48,449 (-10.8% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 89.9% (+2.0 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $17,707 (+77.7% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $21,389 (+59.2% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $14,004
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 61.9%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 80.2%
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Overview
EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in Grand Rapids, Michigan—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against Michigan and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Grand Rapids vs Michigan & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Rapids, Michigan | $24,466 | $17,707 | $21,389 | 61.9% | 20,279 |
| Michigan (state median) | $5,445 | $7,368 | $13,000 | 55.5% | 368,899 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Grand Rapids, Michigan vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Rapids, Michigan | $48,449 | 89.9% | 80.2% | 5.6% | — | 71.9% | 0.50 |
| Michigan (state median) | $55,123 | 91.3% | 78.1% | 5.5% | — | 69.5% | 0.46 |
| United States | $54,323 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Michigan (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Rapids, Michigan | $24,466 | $17,707 | $21,389 | 61.9% | 20,279 | $48,449 | 89.9% |
| Ann Arbor | $17,736 | $16,694 | $16,405 | 70.4% | 42,746 | $69,862 | 91.7% |
| East Lansing | $16,458 | $19,680 | $9,833 | 80.7% | 41,771 | $67,253 | 93.6% |
| Detroit | $19,655 | $13,999 | $17,125 | 66.9% | 27,782 | $53,493 | 89.2% |
| Kalamazoo | $15,252 | $15,273 | $26,000 | 66.8% | 18,794 | $59,576 | 91.1% |
| Warren | $14,063 | $10,522 | $9,500 | N/A | 14,113 | N/A | N/A |
| Flint | $14,704 | $14,344 | $15,406 | 55.6% | 11,021 | $74,026 | 92.4% |
| Mount Pleasant | $8,745 | $11,949 | $27,000 | 58.7% | 10,249 | $55,874 | 93.4% |
| Lansing | $19,520 | $15,524 | $15,740 | 36.0% | 8,539 | N/A | N/A |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Outcomes by sector in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Median campus-level metrics within each ownership type (public, private nonprofit, private for-profit).
| Sector | Campuses | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working share (8 yr) | Retention | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private nonprofit | 4 | $48,449 | 89.9% | 80.2% | 5.6% | — | 71.9% |
Top 10 colleges in Grand Rapids, Michigan by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 74.1%, Calvin University
Calvin University
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 65.4%, Aquinas College
Aquinas College
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Rank 3, Graduation Rate, 61.9%, Cornerstone University
Cornerstone University
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Rank 4, Graduation Rate, 56.6%, Davenport University
Davenport University
Top 10 colleges in Grand Rapids, Michigan by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 91.8%, Aquinas College
Aquinas College
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 90.6%, Calvin University
Calvin University
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Rank 3, Employment Outcome, 89.2%, Cornerstone University
Cornerstone University
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Rank 4, Employment Outcome, 87.9%, Davenport University
Davenport University
Top 10 most selective colleges in Grand Rapids, Michigan (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 70.9%, Calvin University
Calvin University
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Rank 2, Admission Rate, 77.8%, Cornerstone University
Cornerstone University
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Rank 3, Admission Rate, 89.9%, Aquinas College
Aquinas College
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Rank 4, Admission Rate, 97.8%, Davenport University
Davenport University
Top 10 colleges in Grand Rapids, Michigan by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $73,682, Calvin University
Calvin University
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $72,486, Davenport University
Davenport University
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Rank 3, Entry-Level Earnings, $63,311, Aquinas College
Aquinas College
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Rank 4, Entry-Level Earnings, $53,327, Cornerstone University
Cornerstone University
Top 10 colleges in Grand Rapids, Michigan by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $95,410, Calvin University
Calvin University
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $78,357, Davenport University
Davenport University
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Rank 3, Early-Career Earnings, $76,274, Aquinas College
Aquinas College
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Rank 4, Early-Career Earnings, $67,148, Cornerstone University
Cornerstone University
Top 10 colleges in Grand Rapids, Michigan by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $48,039, Calvin University
Calvin University
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $47,041, Davenport University
Davenport University
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Rank 3, Mid-Career Earnings, $42,598, Cornerstone University
Cornerstone University
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Rank 4, Mid-Career Earnings, $40,161, Aquinas College
Aquinas College
Top 10 colleges in Grand Rapids, Michigan by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $53,142, Calvin University
Calvin University
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $46,514, Aquinas College
Aquinas College
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Rank 3, 8-Yr Earnings, $45,964, Cornerstone University
Cornerstone University
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Rank 4, 8-Yr Earnings, $44,540, Davenport University
Davenport University
Top 10 colleges in Grand Rapids, Michigan by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $58,375, Calvin University
Calvin University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $49,584, Aquinas College
Aquinas College
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Rank 3, 10-Yr Earnings, $47,314, Cornerstone University
Cornerstone University
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Rank 4, 10-Yr Earnings, $45,099, Davenport University
Davenport University
Top 10 colleges in Grand Rapids, Michigan by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $141,990, Calvin University
Calvin University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $133,136, Aquinas College
Aquinas College
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $127,350, Davenport University
Davenport University
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Rank 4, 10-Yr ROI, $114,876, Cornerstone University
Cornerstone University
Top 10 most affordable colleges in Grand Rapids, Michigan (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $16,626, Aquinas College
Aquinas College
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Rank 2, Net Price, $17,707, Davenport University
Davenport University
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Rank 3, Net Price, $20,301, Cornerstone University
Cornerstone University
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Rank 4, Net Price, $22,992, Calvin University
Calvin University
Top 10 colleges in Grand Rapids, Michigan by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 86.8%, Calvin University
Calvin University
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 82.0%, Davenport University
Davenport University
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Rank 3, First-Year Retention, 78.3%, Aquinas College
Aquinas College
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Rank 4, First-Year Retention, 78.3%, Cornerstone University
Cornerstone University
In-state tuition: Grand Rapids, Michigan vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Grand Rapids, Michigan median in-state tuition is $24,466, +343.9% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Grand Rapids, Michigan vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Grand Rapids, Michigan is $21,389 (+59.2% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $14,004.
Median earnings (10 years out): Grand Rapids, Michigan vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Grand Rapids, Michigan center around $48,449 (-10.8% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Grand Rapids, Michigan vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 89.9% at the median Grand Rapids, Michigan campus (+2.0 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Grand Rapids, Michigan median public in-state tuition is $24,466, about +343.9% vs the national median. Versus the Great Lakes region, tuition is +334.9%.
Median graduate debt is $21,389 (+59.2% above the U.S. median of $13,432). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Grand Rapids, Michigan are $48,449, about -10.8% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 89.9% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (+2.0 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 80.2% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 5.6% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 71.9% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Aquinas College (91.8%), Calvin University (90.6%), Cornerstone University (89.2%), Davenport University (87.9%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Within Grand Rapids, Michigan, sector medians diverge: Private nonprofit median 10-yr earnings $48,449 (4 campuses). Public campuses often dominate enrollment while private nonprofits can show higher earnings medians at selective institutions.
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Grand Rapids, Michigan is 61.9% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in Grand Rapids?
EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 10 campuses in Grand Rapids, Michigan with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Grand Rapids?
EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in Grand Rapids is $24,466 and median net price is $17,707. For Michigan overall, medians are $5,445 and $7,368; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in Grand Rapids?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in Grand Rapids is $48,449 vs $55,123 for Michigan and $54,323 nationally.
What is student debt like for Grand Rapids colleges?
EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in Grand Rapids is $21,389 vs $13,000 for Michigan and $13,432 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Grand Rapids?
EDsmart Data analysis: top campuses on this page include Calvin University (graduation) and Calvin University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Grand Rapids?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 10 campuses in Grand Rapids, Michigan, 5 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Christian Reformed Church (2), Roman Catholic (1), Interdenominational (1).
Sources & related
- Michigan college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
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