Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Eastern Michigan University #315 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Eastern Michigan University sits in the 69.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earn about $2,867 more than similar students at comparable institutions. Azimuth ranks Eastern Michigan University #311 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Students at Eastern Michigan University achieve stronger financial outcomes than similar students at comparable institutions, a pattern driven by the university's concentration in health and applied professional fields. Azimuth's composite ranking reflects how Eastern Michigan University combines earnings beyond expectations with meaningful mobility outcomes for the students it serves in Ypsilanti and across Michigan.
Azimuth ranks Eastern Michigan University #315 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 78.6 percentile for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Ypsilanti, MI, Eastern Michigan University enrolls roughly 10,055 undergraduates. Freshman retention is 68.8% and the six-year graduation rate is 46.4%, figures that sit modestly below the median for comparable institutions. The composite is anchored by mobility and access. 36.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 34.4% are first-generation college students, reflecting a broad-access admissions posture that serves a wide range of Michigan families. Graduates earn about $2,867 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Eastern Michigan University in the 69.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median Health-influenced earnings of $59,616, placing Eastern Michigan University in the 44.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Return on investment sits lower in the composite. Azimuth ranks Eastern Michigan University #695 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 53.1 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Affordability sits in the 65.4 percentile and access in the 84.6 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting a pricing structure shaped by public tuition and broad need-based aid reach. For families weighing long-term value, Eastern Michigan University's profile is defined less by headline earnings than by its ability to serve a diverse student population and convert access into meaningful post-graduation outcomes.
Eastern Michigan University's published cost of attendance is $29,640. Net price by income band reflects the institution's public-tuition structure and need-based aid reach: low-income families pay approximately $13,250, middle-income families pay around $13,748, and higher-income families pay approximately $21,036. Azimuth ranks Eastern Michigan University #493 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Eastern Michigan participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and the institution's aid structure combines grants, loans, and work-study to close the gap between sticker price and what families pay. The difference between published cost of attendance and net price can be substantial — see net price illusion for how that gap shapes affordability decisions. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $16,878; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $59,616, median federal debt of $25,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Eastern Michigan University is a strong fit for students drawn to health, education, and applied professional fields who want an accessible public university in MI with a clear path to stable post-graduation employment. Graduates earn about $2,867 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Eastern Michigan University in the 69.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $59,616, placing Eastern Michigan University in the 44.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Eastern Michigan University enrolls a substantial share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 36.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 34.4% are first-generation — and the institution's broad access profile means it serves students who may not have strong alternatives at more selective institutions. Median debt at graduation is $25,000, a figure worth weighing against the earnings trajectory for the specific programs a student is considering. Fit depends on two realistic filters: program interests should align with Eastern Michigan University's concentration in Health and related applied fields, and students should weigh the earnings range across majors carefully, since outcomes vary meaningfully by program choice at a broad-access institution like this one.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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This is the Eastern Michigan University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Eastern Michigan University's published cost of attendance is $29,640. Net price by income band reflects the institution's public-tuition structure and need-based aid reach: low-income families pay approximately $13,250, middle-income families pay around $13,748, and higher-income families pay approximately $21,036.
Azimuth ranks Eastern Michigan University #493 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Eastern Michigan participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and the institution's aid structure combines grants, loans, and work-study to close the gap between sticker price and what families pay.
The difference between published cost of attendance and net price can be substantial — see [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) for how that gap shapes affordability decisions. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $16,878; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $59,616, median federal debt of $25,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Eastern Michigan University earn median earnings of $59,616 four years after enrollment, placing Eastern Michigan University in the 44.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $2,867 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Eastern Michigan University in the 69.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Eastern Michigan University #695 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Eastern Michigan University also sits in the 43.6 percentile for median low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the four-year horizon, with low-income graduates earning $40,200.
The earnings pattern at Eastern Michigan University reflects a program mix anchored in Health and related applied fields. Nursing stands out as the program combining the broadest graduate cohort with strong median earnings, making it a key driver of the institution's overall return profile.
Nursing, the largest program by scale with 381 graduates, delivers median earnings of $85,611 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #100 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Psychology, General and Business Administration round out the most popular fields, with graduates earning median earnings of $48,346 and $66,233 respectively four years after enrollment.
Among the highest-earning programs, Subject-Specific Teacher Education and Interdisciplinary Studies post median earnings of $48,994 and $56,207 four years after enrollment, with Azimuth ranking Subject-Specific Teacher Education #58 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Midwestern State University Similar quality tier (#10805 ranked) | TX | 94% | $55,747 | #10805 | Compare |
Jacksonville State University Similar quality tier (#10809 ranked) | AL | 78% | $45,235 | #10809 | Compare |
Indiana State University Similar quality tier in Midwest (#10815 ranked) | IN | 81% | $48,387 | #10815 | Compare |
Arkansas State University Similar quality tier (#10818 ranked) | AR | 82% | $42,617 | #10818 | Compare |
Alabama A & M University Similar quality tier (#10794 ranked) | AL | 58% | $40,628 | #10794 | Compare |
Air Transportation
31 graduates
Computer and Information Sciences, General
5 graduates
Construction Management
35 graduates
Economics
9 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
381 graduates
Eastern Michigan University's program mix is anchored in health, education, and applied professional fields — a signature consistent with its regional public university identity in southeastern Michigan. Health programs represent 17% of graduates, making Business the dominant concentration, followed by Education at 9% and Social Sciences at 5%.
The institution's program portfolio spans 77 programs in total, with 44 meeting Azimuth's ranking threshold, collectively serving roughly 3,073 students annually. The strongest economic anchor in the portfolio is Nursing, which combines meaningful cohort scale with solid four-year earnings — making it a key driver of the institution's overall financial outcomes.
Among the most-enrolled programs, Nursing program graduates 381 students and delivers median earnings of $85,611 four years after enrollment, with Azimuth ranking the program #100 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Psychology, General and Business Administration round out the largest cohorts, reflecting the institution's depth in health and applied fields where graduates move directly into stable regional labor markets.
The highest-earning programs at Eastern Michigan University cluster in technical and clinical fields. Nursing leads on earnings, with graduates earning median earnings of $85,611 four years after enrollment — Azimuth ranks the program #100 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Computer Science and Business Administration also deliver strong early-career pay, with graduates earning median earnings of $74,818 and $66,233 respectively four years after enrollment. These programs represent high-mobility, direct-to-workforce pathways where labor-market demand in Michigan and the broader Midwest supports consistent hiring and competitive starting salaries.
For context on how these fields align with national labor trends, see [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/).
