Compare 16 Political Economy. programs in Michigan. Average earnings: $47,712.
While school rankings suggest predictable outcomes, Political Economy tells a different story. Across 16 programs in Michigan, earnings range from $30,494 to $65,311—variation that tracks program quality, not overall school reputation.
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor's Political Economy program leads with graduates earning $65,311, well above the state average of $47,712. But Michigan State University follows closely at $61,726 with an 84% acceptance rate versus U-M's 18%—demonstrating that accessible programs can deliver strong outcomes.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor graduates borrow $19,500 and face just a 6.3% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. That means loan payments take a minimal bite out of their post-grad income.
Highest program earnings: $65,311
Strong outcomes with 84% acceptance
6.3% payment burden | Excellent
17.4% family burden | Manageable
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $65,311 | 320 | $19,500 | Excellent | $30,250 | Manageable | |
| #2 | $61,726 | 119 | $23,250 | Good | $37,401 | Challenging | |
| #3 | $55,204 | 62 | $27,000 | Good | $23,103 | Challenging | |
| #4 | Aquinas CollegePrivate | $52,667 | 6 | $23,000 | Good | $24,361 | Challenging |
| #5 | $51,687 | 55 | $24,500 | Good | $26,392 | High | |
| #6 | $51,567 | 17 | $25,000 | Good | $18,264 | Challenging | |
| #7 | Oakland UniversityPublic | $50,970 | 49 | $22,750 | Good | $17,858 | Challenging |
| #8 | Wayne State UniversityPublic | $48,921 | 74 | $21,250 | Good | $16,378 | Challenging |
| #9 | $47,293 | 29 | $22,500 | Manageable | $16,132 | Challenging | |
| #10 | $47,068 | 53 | $26,188 | Manageable | $22,488 | High | |
| #11 | $45,809 | 50 | $25,000 | Manageable | $16,878 | High | |
| #12 | Hope CollegePrivate | $44,942 | 23 | $26,800 | Manageable | $48,059 | High |
| #13 | Albion CollegePrivate | $39,066 | 17 | $27,000 | Challenging | $32,317 | High |
| #14 | $36,666 | 23 | $21,474 | Challenging | $17,287 | High | |
| #15 | Calvin UniversityPrivate | $33,993 | 12 | $23,250 | High | $33,900 | High |
| #16 | Kalamazoo CollegePrivate | $30,494 | 14 | $26,077 | High | $49,500 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
