Southfield, Michigan Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Southfield, Michigan: median public in-state tuition $34,852 (+532.3% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $51,904 (-4.6% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 85.9% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $9,500 (-28.4% vs U.S.) 3,435 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 6 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 3,435 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $34,852 (+532.3% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $51,904 (-4.6% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 85.9% (-2.1 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $32,918 (+230.2% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $9,500 (-28.4% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $14,211
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 60.6%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 76.7%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Southfield serve students across Michigan with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 6 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 3,435 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $34,852. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Southfield, Michigan and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Southfield 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southfield, Michigan | $34,852 | $32,918 | $9,500 | 60.6% | 3,435 |
| Michigan (state median) | $5,445 | $7,368 | $13,000 | 56.0% | 368,613 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Southfield, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southfield, Michigan | $51,904 | 85.9% | 76.7% | 9.9% | — | 59.1% | 0.33 |
| Michigan (state median) | $55,123 | 91.3% | 78.1% | 5.5% | — | 69.5% | 0.46 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southfield, Michigan | $34,852 | $32,918 | $9,500 | 60.6% | 3,435 | $51,904 | 85.9% |
| 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 | $15,898 | $17,125 | 66.9% | 27,730 | $53,493 | 89.2% |
| Grand Rapids | $24,466 | $17,707 | $21,389 | 61.9% | 20,279 | $48,449 | 89.9% |
| Kalamazoo | $15,252 | $15,273 | $26,038 | 66.8% | 18,714 | $59,576 | 91.1% |
| Dearborn | $9,604 | $5,076 | $18,375 | 37.6% | 14,595 | $59,649 | 88.1% |
| Warren | $14,063 | $10,522 | $9,500 | N/A | 14,113 | N/A | N/A |
| Rochester Hills | $22,229 | $15,288 | $23,612 | 50.8% | 13,143 | $53,660 | 89.8% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top college in Southfield, 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, 60.6%, Lawrence Technological University
Lawrence Technological University
Top 2 colleges in Southfield, 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, 92.6%, Lawrence Technological University
Lawrence Technological University
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 79.2%, Arizona College of Nursing-Southfield
Arizona College of Nursing-Southfield
Top 2 most selective colleges in Southfield, 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, 55.9%, Lawrence Technological University
Lawrence Technological University
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Rank 2, Admission Rate, 100.0%, Arizona College of Nursing-Southfield
Arizona College of Nursing-Southfield
Top 2 colleges in Southfield, 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, $85,169, Arizona College of Nursing-Southfield
Arizona College of Nursing-Southfield
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $80,671, Lawrence Technological University
Lawrence Technological University
Top 2 colleges in Southfield, 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, $100,145, Lawrence Technological University
Lawrence Technological University
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $87,378, Arizona College of Nursing-Southfield
Arizona College of Nursing-Southfield
Top 2 colleges in Southfield, 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, $58,827, Lawrence Technological University
Lawrence Technological University
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $32,840, Arizona College of Nursing-Southfield
Arizona College of Nursing-Southfield
Top 2 colleges in Southfield, 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, $66,979, Lawrence Technological University
Lawrence Technological University
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $33,491, Arizona College of Nursing-Southfield
Arizona College of Nursing-Southfield
Top 2 colleges in Southfield, 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, $69,151, Lawrence Technological University
Lawrence Technological University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $34,657, Arizona College of Nursing-Southfield
Arizona College of Nursing-Southfield
Top 2 colleges in Southfield, 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, $161,335, Lawrence Technological University
Lawrence Technological University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $-25,702, Arizona College of Nursing-Southfield
Arizona College of Nursing-Southfield
Top 2 most affordable colleges in Southfield, 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, $32,918, Lawrence Technological University
Lawrence Technological University
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Rank 2, Net Price, $38,786, Arizona College of Nursing-Southfield
Arizona College of Nursing-Southfield
Top 2 colleges in Southfield, 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, 78.4%, Lawrence Technological University
Lawrence Technological University
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 75.0%, Arizona College of Nursing-Southfield
Arizona College of Nursing-Southfield
In-state tuition: Southfield, Michigan vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Southfield, Michigan median in-state tuition is $34,852, +532.3% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Southfield, Michigan vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Southfield, Michigan is $9,500 (-28.4% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $14,211.
Median earnings (10 years out): Southfield, Michigan vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Southfield, Michigan center around $51,904 (-4.6% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Southfield, Michigan vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 85.9% at the median Southfield, Michigan campus (-2.1 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
Southfield, Michigan median public in-state tuition is $34,852, about +532.3% vs the national median. Versus the Great Lakes region, tuition is +519.6%.
Median graduate debt is $9,500 (-28.4% below the U.S. median of $13,271). 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 Southfield, Michigan are $51,904, about -4.6% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 85.9% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (-2.1 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 76.7% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 9.9% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 59.1% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Lawrence Technological University (92.6%), Arizona College of Nursing-Southfield (79.2%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Southfield, Michigan is 60.6% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Southfield?
This city profile covers 6 campuses in Southfield, Michigan with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Southfield?
Median in-state tuition in Southfield is $34,852 and median net price is $32,918. For Michigan overall, medians are $5,445 and $7,368; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Southfield?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Southfield is $51,904 vs $55,123 for Michigan and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Southfield colleges?
Median completer debt in Southfield is $9,500 vs $13,000 for Michigan and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Southfield?
Top campuses on this page include Lawrence Technological University (graduation) and Lawrence Technological University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Southfield?
Among 6 College Scorecard campuses in Southfield, Michigan, none are flagged as HBCUs or tribal colleges in IPEDS, and none meet our 25% Hispanic-enrollment HSI proxy or report a religious affiliation in IPEDS.
Sources & related
- Michigan college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON