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# Best Teacher Education Colleges in Michigan (2026)

Updated October 1, 2026

Part of [Best Education Colleges in Michigan](/rankings/best-education-colleges-in-michigan/)

This page ranks the 19 schools in Michigan with a reported Teacher Education earnings cohort. Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their Teacher Education graduates four years after completing, or two years for programs that report only a two-year figure, highest first.

[University of Michigan-Ann Arbor](/school/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor/majors/) reports $54,558 in median earnings of Teacher Education graduates four years after completing. Across the 18 schools with a reported completion median, the listed medians combine two-year and four-year completion cohorts and range from $54,558 to $33,993, with a median of $47,249.

For 2 of these schools the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.

12 of the 19 schools are public and 7 are private nonprofit. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ranks 16th on Azimuth's composite ranking among the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally.

University of Michigan-Flint posts the lowest average net price on the list at $7,007.

## The ranked list

19 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Median Teacher Education Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor, MI | $54,558 | $13,138 | $1,043 | 15.6% |
|  | [University of Michigan-Ann Arbor](/school/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor/majors/) reports [$54,558 in median earnings](/school/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor/outcomes/) of Teacher Education graduates four years after completing and ranks 16th on Azimuth's composite ranking among the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (70 graduates), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (14 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($54,558) |
| 2 | Eastern Michigan University · Ypsilanti, MI | $50,007 | $15,407 | $13,250 | 79.6% |
|  | [Eastern Michigan University](/school/eastern-michigan-university/majors/) [admits 80% of applicants](/school/eastern-michigan-university/admissions/) and has an average net price of $15,407. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (153 graduates), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (68 graduates), Special Education and Teaching (40 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Special Education and Teaching ($54,303), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($50,007), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($48,994) |
| 3 | Central Michigan University · Mount Pleasant, MI | $49,677 | $17,597 | $12,185 | 89.8% |
|  | With a [six-year completion rate of 59%](/school/central-michigan-university/outcomes/), [Central Michigan University](/school/central-michigan-university/majors/) ranks 3rd on this list. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (215 graduates), Special Education and Teaching (53 graduates), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (44 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Special Education and Teaching ($50,095), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($49,677), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($49,588) |
| 4 | Hope College · Holland, MI | $49,469 | $27,182 | $17,606 | 79.2% |
|  | [Hope College](/school/hope-college/majors/), a private nonprofit college in Holland, has an [average net price of $17,606](/school/hope-college/cost/) for families earning under $30,000. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (40 graduates), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (37 graduates), Special Education and Teaching (34 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($49,627), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($49,469) |
| 5 | Saginaw Valley State University · University Center, MI | $48,561 | $10,775 | $9,844 | 72.1% |
|  | [Saginaw Valley State University](/school/saginaw-valley-state-university/majors/) posts an [average net price of $10,775](/school/saginaw-valley-state-university/cost/) and a six-year completion rate of 48%. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Special Education and Teaching (82 graduates), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (72 graduates), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (68 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Special Education and Teaching ($50,078), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($49,761), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($48,561) |
| 6 | Wayne State University · Detroit, MI | $48,506 | $12,766 | $11,090 | 81.2% |
|  | [Wayne State University](/school/wayne-state-university/majors/) [ranks 80th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/wayne-state-university/) among the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally and admits 81% of applicants. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (107 graduates), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (86 graduates), Special Education and Teaching (16 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($58,743), Special Education and Teaching ($58,182), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($48,506) |
| 7 | Oakland University · Rochester Hills, MI | $48,396 | $9,120 | $4,422 | 87.8% |
|  | [Oakland University](/school/oakland-university/majors/) reports [$48,396 in median earnings](/school/oakland-university/outcomes/) of Teacher Education graduates four years after completing alongside an average net price of $4,422 for families earning under $30,000. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (130 graduates), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (11 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($48,396) |
| 8 | Western Michigan University · Kalamazoo, MI | $47,898 | $15,273 | $5,263 | 84.6% |
|  | A public university in Kalamazoo, [Western Michigan University](/school/western-michigan-university/majors/) has a [six-year completion rate of 58%](/school/western-michigan-university/outcomes/). |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (111 graduates), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (70 graduates), Special Education and Teaching (15 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Special Education and Teaching ($50,665), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($49,340), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($47,898) |
| 9 | Cornerstone University · Grand Rapids, MI | $47,341 | $20,301 | $20,177 | 77.8% |
|  | [Cornerstone University](/school/cornerstone-university/majors/) [admits 78% of applicants](/school/cornerstone-university/admissions/) and reports an average net price of $20,301. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (17 graduates), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (13 graduates) |
| 10 | Calvin University · Grand Rapids, MI | $47,157 | $22,992 | $19,281 | 70.9% |
|  | [Calvin University](/school/calvin-university/majors/) has a [six-year completion rate of 74%](/school/calvin-university/outcomes/) and an average net price of $19,281 for families earning under $30,000. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (49 graduates), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (32 graduates), Special Education and Teaching (14 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($47,157), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($45,579) |
| 11 | Baker College · Owosso, MI | $46,559 | $13,157 | $11,976 | 81.9% |
|  | [Baker College](/school/baker-college/majors/) reports [$46,559 in median earnings](/school/baker-college/outcomes/) of Teacher Education graduates four years after completing and ranks 970th on Azimuth's composite ranking among the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (29 graduates), Education, General (10 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($46,559) |
| 12 | University of Michigan-Flint · Flint, MI | $45,861 | $7,007 | $1,517 | 70.5% |
|  | [University of Michigan-Flint](/school/university-of-michigan-flint/majors/) holds the lowest average net price on the page at $7,007 and [admits 70% of applicants](/school/university-of-michigan-flint/admissions/). |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (20 graduates), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (15 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($47,731), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($45,861) |
| 13 | Aquinas College · Grand Rapids, MI | $45,713 | $16,626 | $10,725 | 89.9% |
|  | [Aquinas College](/school/aquinas-college/majors/), a private nonprofit college in Grand Rapids, [admits 90% of applicants](/school/aquinas-college/admissions/) and reports a six-year completion rate of 65%. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (30 graduates), Special Education and Teaching (10 graduates) |
| 14 | Ferris State University · Big Rapids, MI | $45,053 | $8,624 | $2,556 | 91.4% |
|  | With an [average net price of $8,624,](/school/ferris-state-university/cost/) [Ferris State University](/school/ferris-state-university/majors/) in Big Rapids graduates 47% of its students within six years. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (57 graduates), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (30 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($51,484), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($45,053) |
| 15 | Northern Michigan University · Marquette, MI | $45,008 | $14,085 | $7,697 | 84.0% |
|  | [Northern Michigan University](/school/northern-michigan-university/majors/) [ranks 674th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/northern-michigan-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and posts an admission rate of 84%. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (42 graduates), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (31 graduates), Special Education and Teaching (9 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($46,002), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($45,008) |
| 16 | Alma College · Alma, MI | $44,458 | $20,694 | $17,162 | 57.0% |
|  | Alma College reports median earnings of $44,458 for its Teacher Education graduates four years after completing, alongside a six-year completion rate of 63%. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (22 graduates), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (17 graduates), Special Education and Teaching (6 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($44,458) |
| 17 | Rochester Christian University · Rochester Hills, MI | $43,039 | $21,456 | $18,463 | 97.7% |
|  | Rochester Christian University admits 98% of applicants, and its Teacher Education graduates earn a median of $43,039 four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (79 graduates) |
| 18 | Lake Superior State University · Sault Ste Marie, MI | $35,060 | $12,822 | $3,516 | Not reported |
|  | [Lake Superior State University](/school/lake-superior-state-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $35,060](/school/lake-superior-state-university/outcomes/) for its Teacher Education graduates two years after completing, with an average net price of $12,822. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (15 graduates) |
| 19 | University of Michigan-Dearborn · Dearborn, MI | $33,993 | $9,492 | $7,211 | 55.6% |
|  | [University of Michigan-Dearborn](/school/university-of-michigan-dearborn/majors/) [ranks 88th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/university-of-michigan-dearborn/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and has an average net price of $7,211 for families earning under $30,000. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (31 graduates), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (15 graduates), Special Education and Teaching (6 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($49,236) |

## How this list is ordered

Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their Teacher Education graduates four years after completing, or two years for programs that report only a two-year figure, highest first. The figure reflects federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled, measured after completing for most programs. For 2 of the 19 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The figures cited on this page cover the 18 schools with a reported completion median. The spread from University of Michigan-Ann Arbor to the bottom of the list is $20,565.

## Related rankings

-   Education Colleges
-   [Best Colleges in Michigan](/rankings/best-colleges-in-michigan/)
-   [Best Education Colleges in California](/rankings/best-education-colleges-in-california/)
-   [Best Teacher Education Colleges in Florida](/rankings/best-teacher-education-colleges-in-florida/)
-   [Best Teacher Education Colleges in Texas](/rankings/best-teacher-education-colleges-in-texas/)
-   [Best Teacher Education Colleges in Minnesota](/rankings/best-teacher-education-colleges-in-minnesota/)
-   Teacher Education Colleges in Michigan for Social Mobility